Dec 2012 - What`s On Live

Transcription

Midlands Cover - Dec_24-7 Cover 26/11/2012 14:45 Page 2
MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON ISSUE 324 DECEMBER 2012
THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
MIDLANDS
’
What s On
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
£1.80
ISSUE 324 DECEMBER 2012
FESTIVE
MADNES
S
SUGG
INSIDE
SB
TROUSERRINGS HIS BAGGY
S TO BIRM
INGHAM
Here’s Jonny!
Jonathan Wilkes
interview inside
The Trocks
all-male divas return
to the Midlands
interview inside
Josie Long
talks Romance
And Adventure
interview inside
THE DEFINITIVE
LISTINGS GUIDE
MAGAZINE GROUP
ellie goulding
Halcyon days in Brum...
ISSN 1462-7035
PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS
What’sOn
Grand_whatson FP Dec_Layout 1 26/11/2012 11:16 Page 1
Great Theatre at the Grand!
SAT 8 DEC - SUN 20 JAN
MON 28 JAN - SAT 2 FEB
MON 4 - SAT 9 FEB
MURDER, MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE...
BILL KENWRIGHT BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH AGATHA CHRISTIE LTD PRESENTS
THE 8TH THRILLING PRODUCTION FROM
‘A COMPANY
THAT CLEARLY
UNDERSTANDS
AND LOVES
CHRISTIE’S WORK’
THE EXPRESS
SUN 17 - TUES 19 FEB
TUES 12 - SAT 16 FEB
‘BRILLIANT! IT EXPLODES LIKE GLITTERING FIREWORKS’
BILL KENWRIGHT
BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP PRESENTS
WED 20 FEB
Russia’s acclaimed ballet company
returns to Wolverhampton following
a sensational seasn in 2012
The Nutcracker
Coppélia
Swan Lake
Performed by
LYRICS BY
MUSIC BY
TIM RICE
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
The Russian State
Ballet & Orchestra
of Siberia
ALSO BOOKING
TUES 26 FEB - SAT 2 MARCH
TUES 19 - SAT 30 MARCH
TUES 22 JANUARY
SHAKESPEARE 4 KIDZ:
THE TEMPEST
THURS 24 JANUARY
REAL DIAMOND
A BIRTHDAY CONCERT
FRI 25 JANUARY
JACKSON LIVE IN CONCERT
SAT 26 JANUARY
THE SOLDIERS
SUN 27 JANUARY
THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
FRI 22 FEBRUARY
SPOT’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
SAT 23 FEBRUARY
BILLY FURY YEARS
SUN 24 FEBRUARY
CIRCUS HILARIOUS
Follow us on
@WolvesGrand
Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand
Box Office 01902
42 92 12
BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk
Contents December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 14:38 Page 1
December
2012
INSIDE:
Editor:
Davina Evans
davina@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281708
The Trocks
Editorial Assistants:
Brian O’Faolain
the boys are back in town...
interview inside p9
brian@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281707
Adrian Parker
adrian.parker@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281714
Sales & Marketing:
Jon Cartwright
j.cartwright@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281703
Chris Horton
chris@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281704
Josie Long
Subscriptions:
Adrian Parker
interview inside 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
Accounts Administrator
Julia Perry
julia@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281717
Win tickets to see Leona Lewis when she performs alongside JLS and
Scouting For Girls at Free Radio Live 2012 at the LG Arena
Website Development:
Jim Pallett
Contributors:
Graham Bostock,
James Cameron-Wilson,
Anita Champaneri,
Alev Dervish, Jessica
Matthews, Jack Rolfe,
Jan Watts
Head Office:
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Tel: 01743 281777
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e-mail: info@whatsonlive.co.uk
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We endorse the recycling
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would encourage you to
pass it on to others to
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Jonathan Wilkes
News p4
Music p17
VISIT:
whatsonlive.co.uk
Comedy p30
Theatre p33
Film/DVD p49
Visual Arts p57
Follow What’s On...
Events p61
Clubbing/Gay p77
Like us on...
Books/TV p78
Eating Out p79
TO GET THE VERY
LATEST LISTING
INFORMATION,
Festive Madness
in Birmingham p17
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December 2012
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MAGAZINE GROUP
interview inside p6
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31
News December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 14:40 Page 1
News
A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Big prizes up for grabs in
Leamington...
The latest iPad, a Steiff teddy, a studio photo
shoot, jewellery and a meal at Leamington’s
Queens restaurant are just some of the
prizes on offer to shoppers taking part in the
Golden Ticket competition in Leamington
Spa this month. Every time someone shops
in a participating retail outfit, they will receive
a Golden Ticket which will enter them into a
pre-Christmas main prize draw. Last year, the
initiative - supported by BID Leamington and
retailers from across the spa town - saw six
thousand tickets submitted by shoppers
hoping to win a prize. For further information
and a full list of prizes, visit www.leamingtongoldenticket.co.uk
25%
discou
nt
for Wh
at’s O
n
reade
rs
Exciting season for Coventry art gallery...
Rolling back the prices to
mark tenth anniversary...
Danish tanning and treatments specialist
Consol has announced that it’s to mark ten
years of operations in Birmingham by offering sunbed tanning treatments at 2002
prices for a limited period. Between 6 and 9
December, customers can use the tanning
facilities at
Consol studios in
Shirley, Moseley,
Yardley,
Erdington and
Acocks Green for
just 25p a
minute. To find
out more about
Consol, and to
view their full
range of facilities
and products,
visit www.consol.eu
Dudley gets funding for High
Street regeneration project...
A regeneration focus group has been
launched to oversee plans to invest
£100,000 into Dudley’s town centre. The
plans include refurbishing empty shops, setting up specialist Sunday markets, increasing the number of community events and
improving tourism and links with existing
attractions, including Dudley Zoo and Dudley
Museum and Art Gallery.
4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is set to present three challenging and thought-provoking exhibitions as part of its Contemporary Arts Season. A series of compelling yet disturbing
mask-like sculptures and large-scale drawings by Adie Blundall, questioning the nature of human
existence, launches the initiative. It’s followed by Caught In The Crossfire, a multi-artist exhibition
which examines the brutality of war and the desire for peace. The exhibition sees contemporary
works by Banksy and Cornelia Parker displayed alongside historical pieces by John Piper and
Muirhead Bone... Discarded body parts and their relationship to myths, history and cutting-edge
stem cell research form the basis for the third and final exhibition in the series, Gina Czarnecki’s
Wasted (pictured).
Meanwhile, The Herbert is offering What’s On readers a 25% discount on all admissions to its
Dinosaurs Uncovered exhibition with the production of a copy of our December issue. This fantastic offer is valid from 1 December to 6 January inclusive.
Have you got a memory
you’d like to share?
Birmingham’s Repertory Theatre is looking
for local people to submit their ‘treasured
memories’ of the theatre for a new oral history archive which will form part of the REP100
centenary-year project. Volunteers from the
theatre will be camping out in the city’s
Centenary Square in
a special REP100
caravan during the
Christmas season,
to welcome all those
who want to stop by
and share their
memories.
boys), the troupe next year head out on a
debut Irish and UK tour, stopping off at
Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in May to perform their new show, Footstorm. Under the
leadership of choreographer Alan Kenefick often referred to as the Michael Flatley of his
generation - Prodijig have performed for
numerous dignitaries, including Her Majesty
The Queen and the President of Kazakhstan.
They’ve also been given the thumbs-up by
Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, who describes
them as ‘disgustingly good’.
Got To Dance winners unveil
new live show
Through the fusion of modern moves with
traditional Irish choreography, innovative
dance troupe Prodijig have received plenty
of plaudits and acclaim since winning Sky
One’s Got To Dance show earlier this year.
Comprising seven dancers (five girls and two
Prodijig
Prodijig
News December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 14:40 Page 2
Lady Cora hits the road...
Acclaimed Downton Abbey actress
Elizabeth McGovern - aka Lady Cora - is
heading out on tour next year with her upand-coming band Sadie And The Hotheads.
The American-born star is said to have a
‘unique, soaring voice’ and will take up lead
vocal duties during the band’s eight-date
UK tour, which sees them stopping off at
Birmingham’s Adrian Boult Hall on 8
February and Worcester’s Huntingdon Hall
on the 9th.
Sadie And The Hotheads
Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman in the Broadway production of Ghost The Musical, photo by Joan Marcus
Last orders called on
Birmingham’s Central Library
The third and final phase of preparations for
the changeover of services from Central
Library to the new Library of Birmingham is
now under way. The huge task of packing
and moving millions of books, archive and
photographic material means there will be
no further physical access to the archive
collections until the new library opens on 3
September 2013.
An extended closing at the Central Library
during the Christmas holiday will allow for
reconfiguration within the building. All floors
from the third
upwards will be
closed from 4
January. The Central
Library - apart from
reception, tourist
information and box
office - closes for the
final time on
Saturday 29 June.
Christmas dates for new
Shropshire theatre company
Recently formed theatre company Vested
Interest is this month presenting its first theatrical offering. The company was founded
by Vicki Duckett and Verity Brown, who
shared a mutual interest in exploring their
writing potential and producing original and
imaginative theatre productions. The company’s first show, The Perfect Season - a
lighthearted portrayal of how people both
celebrate and survive Christmas - shows at
The Hive in Shrewsbury on 19 and 20
December.
Midlands premiere of Ghost announced
Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre is set to host the Midlands premiere of Ghost The Musical
when the hit show goes out on tour next year. Matthew Warchus’ stage version of the awardwinning film starring Patrick Swayzee, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg has received
much critical acclaim since opening on Broadway and in the West End, and will show at the
Grand from 3 to 15 June... Ghost is just one of many high-profile attractions in an exciting
new season at the theatre. Other highlights include the world premiere of Cadfael: The Virgin
In The Ice in March, Don Warrington and Gwen Taylor in Driving Miss Daisy in April, Andrew
Lloyd Webber’s Evita in August and former King of the Jungle Joe Pasquale, Michaela
Strachan and Leslie Grantham starring in a panto version of The Sleeping Beauty next
Christmas.
Twenty years on, and still a little crazy...
IN BRIEF
Acclaimed
presenter in the
Midlands...
Songs of Praise presenter, journalist, writer
and speaker Pam
Rhodes is heading to
Birmingham this month
to join the Brass Times
Quintet for their
Christmas concert.
Pam will compere the
traditional celebration
of words, music and
songs at Bromsgrove’s
Lickey Church on 14
December. For further
information call Rachel
Dickins on 01562
886681, or email
Brasstimes@me.com
Professional Association of Alexander Teachers
Recreational Course in the Alexander Technique
Starting Early January 2013
New Midlands home for
touring ballet company
Fast becoming a force to be reckoned with
in the world of ballet, touring company
Ballet Theatre UK has announced it’s to set
up permanent home in the Midlands. The
company - which has been hailed by The
Independent newspaper as one of the top
five dance ensembles in the UK - recently
moved to a hired studio space in Leicester,
and will make a long-term commitment to
the region when it moves into its own ballet
studio in Hinckley in January.
With next year marking their twentieth anniversary, Shropshirebased satirical singing trio Three Men In A Bowtie are currently on
the lookout for venues in which to perform a birthday tour.
The threesome began performing silly songs and manic monologues at Shrewsbury School in 1993. Four hundred village halls,
ten tents, three cowsheds and an opera house later, they’re now
looking to welcome their fifty thousandth audience member!
Comprising madcap dairy farmer Martin ‘Monologue’ Jones, BBC
Radio Four producer Chris Eldon Lee and storyteller/musician
Sally Tongue, the group is joined for the tour by ‘agriculture’s
answer to Dame Edna
Everage’, Freda the Female
Farmer. Suitable subjects for
ridicule in their new show
include badgers, pylons, sat
navs, internet love, robot milkers and, er, listing magazines!
If you know of a venue where
Three Men And A Bowtie can
perform, contact Chris Eldon
Lee on 01743 368652.
If you have had lessons in the Alexander Technique for about a
year or attended an Introductory Evening Class, or a module in the
Alexander Technique at a university or equivalent then you are eligible
to join the PAAT Recreational Course. The Recreational Course will
offer guidance in deepening your understanding, knowledge and
application of the Technique – and you get to do it in company.
The 12-week course is held in Birmingham.
For an application form, please contact the PAAT Secretary
on 01743 241478 or email rec@paat.org.uk
Pam Rhodes
www.paat.org.uk
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5
Jonathan Wilkes feature_Layout 1 26/11/2012 11:05 Page 1
“
If I wasn’t very
good then
people would
have recognised
that by now and I
doubt I’d still be
working.
”
Here’s Jonny!
Jonathan Wilkes comes home for Christmas...
interview...
Early on in his career, Stoke-on-Trent-born Jonathan Wilkes was probably better known for
being Robbie Williams’ best mate than he was for his stage work. Nowadays it’s a different
story, with Jonny having received plenty of rave reviews down the years for his appearances in
blockbuster West End musicals like The Rocky Horror Show, We Will Rock You and Grease.
Here in the Midlands, he’s got a great reputation as a pantomime performer, having starred in
the Regent Theatre’s festive offering every year between 2005 and 2010. After a year away in
2011, Jonathan’s this Christmas returning to the Regent to star as the love-sick Buttons in
Cinderella. What’s On took the chance to catch up with one of the Potteries’ favourite sons...
Welcome back, Jonny! So tell us, what
was panto like last year without your loyal
Stoke fans?
Yeah, we got sent to Aylesbury last year. The
producer came to me and said, “look, we’re
thinking about having a year away from
Stoke. Will you go to Aylesbury and Stokeify
it?”. I went, “okay, what does that mean?’, to
which he replied, “give it a good show, give
it a bit of heart, and make sure people walk
away having had a great time”. And that’s
what we did. I took all my cast, who I’ve
worked with before, and we did Dick
Whittington, which we’d performed two years
previously in Stoke. Don’t get me wrong, you
couldn’t have asked for a nicer theatre and
you couldn’t have asked for a nicer
audience. Everything about the show was
brilliant, but from my point of view, it just
wasn’t the same. I’d come off stage
wondering what was happening in Stoke. It
was weird, but we still had a great time and
I’d love to go back to Aylesbury at some
stage.
What’s the attraction of appearing in
panto?
I just love it. I love being able to be me up
there on stage; to be relaxed and enjoy
watching people having a good time. I get a
real buzz from people walking away having
had a great time and getting themselves
ready for Christmas. And now that I’m a
family man and I’ve got my little boy, I
appreciate it all the more. It’s hard work but
it’s something that I really do enjoy.
But doesn’t appearing in panto have a
huge impact on your family, inasmuch as
you spend so much time away from them
over the holiday period? You have
Christmas Day off and that’s about it, isn’t
it?
Yeah, it is, unfortunately. And when you work
over Christmas, Christmas Day isn’t called
Christmas Day, it’s called your ‘day off’! I’m
lucky that my wife choreographs the show,
and my little lad will have finished school by
the time we open, so he’ll be with me all the
time in Stoke. His grandparents will be there,
my sister and my family will all be there, so
really it’s great for me. It’s always like a big
extended Christmas. Christmas Day (my day
off) is very special. I love it - I eat as much as
I can, I drink as much as I can, and I try to
sleep as much as I can...
So how do you keep the panto fresh,
coming back to the same audiences year
after year?
I do feel a certain pressure to bring
something new, of course I do. But then a lot
of people don’t like change. Some people
will always moan, “Oh bloody hell, Jonny
Wilkes is back again”. But what I say to
those people is that what you get from me,
and one thing you’ll always get from a cast I
direct, is one hundred percent commitment
every night. I won’t accept anything less. It’s
not cheap to go to the theatre these days,
and people don’t want to feel cheated. It’s
very hard to motivate yourself all the time,
but I come from that old school background
of ‘you’ve got to go on stage and earn your
crust.’ Expectations are a lot higher with
panto nowadays. It’s not like it used to be,
when you could go on stage and have a
mess about. Don’t get me wrong, I still do
that, but I always make sure that the
audience are involved in my mess about.
One of my pet hates is when you get these
little in-jokes going about on stage which
leave the audience feeling isolated. If you’re
going to have a joke and you’re going to
mess about, then make sure the audience
know what it is you’re messing about with.
Panto is probably the only show where you
can get away with doing that. But yeah,
there is a pressure for me to come back and
deliver year in and year out, but it’s a
pressure I enjoy.
So are you ever too old for panto?
No, I don’t think you ever are, really.
And have you ever fancied playing a
Dame?
Erm, I don’t know. I don’t think audiences
are ready for that yet. Maybe one day...
You received much acclaim for your
collaboration with Paddy McGuinness in
Pantos On Strike. Where did the concept
for that come from?
It’s quite sad, but I was watching a panto
and suddenly thought, ‘could you imagine
what it would be like if there was a real world
of pantomime?’ Also, getting the idea from
Shrek - you know, where Pinocchio lived with
the Three Blind Mice - I thought, ‘how weird
would it be if this whole world of pantomime
just happened, and then, all of a sudden,
people decided, “right, that’s it. I’m not
doing it anymore!”’. You know, Snow White
saying she can’t be bothered and Cinderella
saying she’s sick of doing the same old
thing. Obviously, me loving panto, I’d be
absolutely devastated, but someone like
Paddy, who’s never ever done panto - he
doesn’t really get it. He’s a stand-up comic
and he’s not got children, so he doesn’t
really understand it. So I thought, what if
he’s the Ebenezer Scrooge in the world of
panto, and I have to persuade him that it’s
up to me and him (aka Shrek and Donkey)
to go and rescue Pantoland. It really worked
and people absolutely loved it. All the way
through I stayed in love with panto. It was
me being me, and Paddy being the
complete opposite. In the end, though, he
becomes a fan of panto too, and grows to
really love it. It was great, and I’d have loved
to do more but our work schedules dictated
otherwise. One day I might revamp the
whole thing, start afresh and do something
completely different with a cast change.
So back to the beginning - when did you
realise that a career performing was a
viable option?
I still don’t think it is! I can’t believe it’s
something I get paid for. But seriously, I
started performing when I was six years old,
but I guess I didn’t really think about doing it
professionally until I was about sixteen.
Nowadays you write as well. What’s your
favourite aspect of what you do?
Obviously I love the performing, and my
game’s always raised when there’s an
audience there, but I also like the making of
it. Me and Christian Patterson - who’s been
my Dame for so long, and who I consider to
be the best in the business - get given a
template by Eric Potts, who’s a fantastic
writer. We’re then given some space in which
to work-in the creative elements. So the
inventiveness of the panto is something
which I love as well.
What’s been your favourite role to date?
It has to be Frank-N-Furter in Rocky Horror in
2003/2004. I think the role is one of the
greatest parts ever written for a musical, and
I’m a massive fan of the show.
So would you say that’s been the highlight
of your career to date?
Well, yes and no. I’ve performed in so many
great musicals. Playing Guy Masterson for
The Donmar was amazing. Starting a new
production of The Wedding Singer. We Will
Rock You was a great one. Even Grease,
Tommy and Godspell - they were all
highlights. I can’t say I’ve had a dud one.
But I have to say that it’s been really
refreshing this year not to have to go out and
do eight shows a week. This year has been
the first year in ten or twelve years that I’ve
not done a musical. It’s been weird, but it’s
been nice.
What’s behind the decision to take time
out from musicals this year?
My little boy’s six, and I’ve missed out on so
much of his early life. It’s also not a bad
thing to take some time out. I used to go out
on stage in the last few performances and
think, “I can’t really be arsed to do this!”. I
don’t want to get to that place, because I
really love the theatre. I love performing and
I didn’t want to get to a point where I’m
moaning at thirty-four years of age. I still
want to be excited about going to the theatre
every day. I think I’ve had enough time out
now to get my hunger back, so I reckon I’m
ready to tread the boards again...
continued...
And is there a role that you’d really love to
play?
Actually, I think that’s part of the problem.
There hasn’t been a stand-out role where I’ve
gone ‘yeah, I really want to do that’. There’ve
been a few things, but nothing that made me
want to be away from my family six days a
week. That’s what I have to question. When
you’re in your twenties, touring life is
amazing. You get paid to do what you love.
You turn up a six o’clock, you do a show,
then have drinks with your mates. You think
‘God, this is brilliant!’. Then you grow up,
you get a wife, you get a child, and suddenly
you have responsibilities.
You’ve got your own performing arts
academies. How involved are you in the
day-to-day running?
My wife is the main choreographer of the
academy and yes, I’m involved heavily when
it comes to going into performances with the
kids and masterclasses. The academies
have been going now for three-and-a-half
years and they’ve really taken off; more so
than we ever imagined they would. I get a
real buzz these days from watching ‘my
academy children’ progress. Some of these
kids I’ve known since they were five and
they’re now eight. It’s been great watching
their confidence developing, and now some
of the other kids - who I’ve known since they
were thirteen - are going to college. I have a
real feeling of responsibility towards them,
and a very big sense of pride.
Did you set up the academies as a way of
giving something back?
Yes and no, really. It was through panto I
suppose, working in Stoke and getting the
same kids year in and year out. I could see
they were quite restricted in what they were
doing. At the same time I could see that they
had so much talent, and I wanted to try and
nurture it. My wife Nicky saw an opportunity
to extend what they were doing, so we set
up the first Wilkes Academy in Stoke. Three
months later, we set one up in Swindon,
where Nicky’s from and where we now live.
Starting 2013, we’re setting up a three-year
performing arts college. It’s our big dream
and our next big step. Hopefully we can get
some of these kids into employment.
How much of your success do you
attribute to your Stoke roots?
Absolutely loads! We all have to come from
somewhere, and I just happen to come from
Stoke, which has a rich history of good
performers. It’s a very warm and very giving
city. It may not be the most glamorous but
it’s got the biggest heart. I’m proud to be a
Stokey, and without the help of the people of
Stoke-on-Trent, I wouldn’t be where I am
today.
Talking about fellow performers from
Stoke, have you ever been concerned that
being recognised as Robbie Williams’
best mate might sometimes
have overshadowed your
own career?
It maybe got in the
way early on, but
from my point of
view,
everybody’s got a back-story or a birthmark,
and I guess mine’s Robbie. We can’t help
who we are - he’s still my best mate and
that’ll never change. I’m so proud of him;
likewise, he is of me. But having been in the
industry since I was sixteen years old, if I
wasn’t very good then people would have
recognised that by now and I doubt I’d still
be working. Has it hindered me? Maybe a
little bit, but at the same time I wouldn’t
change what I’ve got, I wouldn’t change who I
am, and I certainly wouldn’t change who he is...
And what advice have you been offering
him on fatherhood?
Get your sleep in when you can! That said,
fatherhood generates overpowering
emotions which are hard to relay to
somebody else.
Would you encourage your son to follow
your career path?
Yeah, why not? I would encourage him to do
whatever he wants to do. I don’t care what
he ends up doing as long as he turns out to
be a nice boy with good values. The best
advice I got was to open doors to women
and always have good manners. Good
values stand you in good stead in life, and as
long as you’re a nice person, I don’t care
what you do for a living.
Have you ever had a desire to perform in
a boy band?
Oh God, when I was younger, yeah. I was
always good at team events because of my
football and that, but as a performer I was
always more of a solo artist.
Football played a big role in your
formative years. Was it difficult deciding
between acting and becoming a
footballer?
Not at the time, because I lost heart with
football when I was sixteen and got released
by Everton. So no, it wasn’t a difficult
decision at the time. I think what’s happened
with Soccer Aid is that it’s given my
enthusiasm for football a new lease of life.
I’ve kind of lived the best of both worlds, but
I’m very happy with the decisions that I’ve
made.
Back to Christmas. How do you plan to
spend your ‘day off’?
We’ll be at home. We have an early
performance on Christmas Eve, so I’ll get
home about nine o’clock. My mum’s coming
down, so it’ll be a few glasses of wine with
her and a mince pie or two, then up early
the next morning with my little boy to open
all the presents. Then we’ll have a big ol’
Christmas dinner and I’ll sort a Christmas
quiz - I love a quiz! Then in the evening
we’ve got friends coming round.
So what’s the best Christmas present
you’ve ever received?
Some goalposts for the garden that my mum
and dad bought me when I was about nine.
And finally, what comes after panto?
The main thing for us will be the academy,
and there’ll be a lot of launches across the
country. As for me as a performer, who
knows...
Jonathan Wilkes stars as Buttons in
Cinderella at the Regent Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent, from Thurs 13 December
to Sat 5 January
interview...
From humble beginnings in a second storey loft theatre in Manhattan, the all-male divas of Les
Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo - or The Trocks, as they’re fondly known - have become
worldwide ballet stars. Their unique shows, combining comedy and traditional ballet, have been
seen in over five hundred cities in more than thirty countries. And not only are the Trocks
extremely funny, these hairy-chested fellas in tutus can actually dance too! What’s On caught
up with Italian-born Raffaele Morra (Lariska Dumbchenko) in Paris to find out more....
You’ve been a Trock for nearly twelve
years, Raffaele. What’s the best thing
about being a member of the ensemble?
For me, it’s the comedy - that’s why I joined.
Hearing the audience laugh night after night
really keeps my spirits up. I’m at an age
when usually a dancer is looking to retire,
but to be able to make people laugh keeps
me going and gives me lots of energy.
How do disciplines vary between The
Trocks and a more traditional ballet
troupe?
The discipline is the same; class, rehearsals.
We work hard, just like any other ballet
company. We take our job very seriously and
train to be the best we can. The only
difference is the end product and the
comedy element. We laugh a lot in
rehearsals, especially when we have to
practise a scene in which we’re meant to fall
down or trip over. It has to be rehearsed
properly to make it look effortless, and to
avoid any injury.
How would you define your audience and
fan base?
Our audience is a mixture of people, from
those who regularly attend ballet to those
who’ve never been but are curious to see
what we do. They come for the fun of it, or
come to see our style - and that’s great, as
it’s a brilliant introduction to ballet. When we
perform extracts from Swan Lake, we do it
very simply, so that people can understand
the story. The comedy makes it really easy
for people to follow. This means that if they
go on to see the full-length ballet, they will
have a better understanding of what’s
happening.
What’s the most difficult obstacle you’ve
had to overcome as part of this
ensemble?
As a trained male ballet dancer joining The
Trocks, the first thing I had to learn was to
perform in pointe shoes. This is a very
different technique to what I was used to.
The steps are the same, but I had to learn
how to dance like a ballerina, but without
being as delicate. After all, as a man, I still
have to show strength, energy and attack in
the movement.
What’s the funniest thing that’s happened
to you whilst performing?
That question’s hard to answer. Comedy is
an important part of a Trock’s performance,
so every night is funny!
What’s your all-time favourite scene in
The Trocks’ repertoire?
Each Trock is trained to dance many parts.
Tonight, I’ll be dancing the role of the Prince
and then a nymph, but my favourite role is
that of Odette in Swan Lake. When I dance, I
bring a lot of Italian style to the character.
What takes precedence, the ballet or the
comedy?
The Trocks are highly trained dancers who
have the ability to bring comedy to a role,
which is very difficult to do. There has to be
a balance. One cannot be allowed to
overpower the other; it just wouldn’t work.
How many costume changes will there be
in this latest show?
I am dancing four roles tonight, which means
four costume changes. The main role is the
Dying Swan, which always gets the audience
laughing. I will then go back to the dressing
room and very quickly change costume for
the third act, in which I will dance the role of
one of the nymphs.
In which country would you say you’ve
had the greatest success?
We go on tour to Japan every summer and
have a really amazing time there; they really
love us. They don’t laugh, clap or cheer as
loud as audiences in other countries, but at
the end of the night they’re queuing up
outside the stage door for autographs. Of
course, we have a great fan base in the UK
too, so we’re really looking forward to next
year’s tour.
How long does it take to get ready for
each performance?
It takes about an hour to get ready for the
start of the performance; make-up, wigs,
costume. Sometimes, when you change
roles during a show, you can change part of
your make-up too. Other times it’s just a
quick costume change and a different tiara.
Apart from being able to dance, what’s the
most important attribute needed to
become a Trock?
You have to be able to express yourself. You
have to be an actor, so that you can
exaggerate your performance. You also have
to be able to laugh at yourself. If you can
laugh at yourself, you won’t have any
problem with people laughing at you.
Le Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
perform at Birmingham Hippodrome on Fri
1 and Sat 2 February
Josie Long Feature_Layout 1 26/11/2012 16:23 Page 1
“
When I was a teenager,
I used to get tense; I
wouldn’t be able to eat,
and would freak out
before a show. Now I
just love it, and get really
excited about being on
stage.
”
Josie Long
brings Romance And Adventure to the Midlands...
Josie Long Feature_Layout 1 26/11/2012 16:23 Page 2
interview...
Josie Long’s desire to become a comedian and performer stems from the response she got
entertaining her family and peers as a child. Josie began performing stand-up at the age of
fourteen, and at seventeen won the BBC New Comedy Awards. This month sees her stopping
off in the Midlands with her latest show, Romance And Adventure. What’s On recently caught up
with the Oxford University graduate to find out what makes her tick...
How old were you when you first realised
you were funny?
I suppose I first started really enjoying
making people laugh when I was about eight
or nine. I was really big, and I think it was a
way to distract people from taking the mick
out of me.
What did you used to do to make them
laugh?
Anything that distracted them from my
gigantic frame!
Have you ever used that topic in your
comedy?
Not really, because I’m a lot older now and a
lot happier with myself. I’d much rather talk
about other things...
So did watching other comedy performers
play a big part in your life growing up?
I remember watching Monty Python with
mum and dad when I was young, but it was
more something that I’d enjoy doing on my
own. I’d sneak into my mum and dad’s
bedroom when they were downstairs and
watch comedy on their TV. I remember
watching The Mary Whitehouse Experience
and laughing, not knowing what it meant but
at the same time thinking it was hilarious.
You knew you could make people laugh,
but did you ever imagine it was something
you’d end up doing as an adult?
Yeah, I think I did, because I really wanted to
be a performer - a comedian and an actor. It
was all I ever wanted to be, and a lifestyle
that I wanted for myself. Between the ages of
fourteen and nineteen, I’d go to this comedy
workshop where there were between five
and ten of us. We’d write bits of stand-up
and then perform them to one another. It was
brilliant.
How old were you when you got your first
big break?
I don’t really know. I don’t know what a big
break is. Maybe I’ve not had it? The first
thing I did on TV was when I won the BBC
New Comedy Award. I first made a living
from comedy at the age of twenty-two, when
Stuart Lee took me out on tour. Then, two
years ago, I had my own Radio Four show,
and that was a big deal for me. So I’ve had a
lot of things that I’ve been really pleased
with, but I haven’t had one thing that’s
completely changed my life - which is pretty
good, because I think it could send you a bit
mad if everything changed so quickly.
A lot of comedy comes from experience,
but you started really young. How did you
deal with your relative lack of experiences
on which to draw?
In the first few shows I wrote, I’d talk about
what I’d learned or what I felt was really
important. Or things that I was really
passionate about. Things that seemed
genuine and heartfelt.
You’re often described as the ‘once
whimsical comedian’, as your style of
comedy’s changed of late. What made you
become more political?
I think that ‘whimsical’ statement is a bit silly.
Basically, a lot of critics decided that there
was a genre that was whimsical. I don’t think
they really meant it in the correct context - I
think they just meant a bit nerdy. There were
people who needed to sum up something
that they’d never seen, so they’d read it in an
article and then use those words. Then
someone else uses those words, and on it
goes, without any real substance. Actually, I
think all of my work is on a continuum. I just
write about what I care about, and since the
election, I really care about what the
government is doing, because I disagree with
so much of it. Before, it was maybe about
how to live your life more creatively and how
to live your life more joyfully, which is still what
I cover now, but it’s all a bit more specific.
Do you see comedy as a platform, and do
you think that comedians can make a
difference?
I’d love to think that I was in some way being
helpful. Even if it’s just making people feel
better when previously they’ve been feeling a
sense of despair. I wouldn’t say that what I’m
doing is changing the world, or that I have
any power, because I don’t. It’s just that I feel I
have to talk about these things, about what’s
happening politically, because they’re
important issues. If it’s in your heart, then you
think you’re going in the right direction, but
you never know what the consequences of
your actions might be. You don’t always know
what your audience’s view is, but at least if
you represent yourself adequately and
honestly, you’re impacting on people in a
positive way. If I was just doing really
careless, sexist material, then I’d feel really
awful about myself.
Would you say you have a particular
audience? Are they easy to define?
Just awesome, great, cool dudes who love
having some fun.
Most people see comedy as a means of
escape. Is there a danger that if your
comedy is too political, it may put some
people off?
That’s what’s good about comedy. I really
think my shows are silly, lighthearted and
friendly. I like to think that what I’m doing is
entertaining people but at the same time
talking about things which matter to me and
which I’m interested in. I try to make them
really personal as well, so I’m sort of saying
‘this is what I’m going through, and let me tell
you about it in the funniest way that I can’. It’s
me chatting about my life - and I do bring in a
sort of political standpoint with regard to what
this government is doing - but I wouldn’t say
that’s everything about me. In my current
show, Romance And Adventure, for example,
I talk in lots of stupid voices, I talk about my
housemate and I muck around. I like to think
there’s something for everyone. I also like to
think that as I’m getting more experienced in
writing shows, I can taper things, so that If I
want to say something serious, I can.
You’re coming to the end of your current
tour. Are you already planning your next?
I’m not! For the first time in years and years
I’m not planning my next show, and I’m so
excited! This is my sixth solo show. I did three
in a row, then I took one in Edinburgh off, but
I didn’t have time off because I was still
writing the next show. So in reality, I’ve done
six stand-up shows on the trot.
So what’s behind your decision to take a
break?
I really want to do something different, so that
when I come to write my next stand-up show,
I have a bit more fresh inspiration. I’ve
recently produced a film short, which was so
much fun. I’ve really enjoyed it; it’s been
brilliant!
What’s it about?
It’s a half-hour film about the relationship
between two flatmates - a boy and a girl.
There’s no romance between them. It’s
basically about how your friendships can
influence you, and how we’re taught to rely
on people, and how too much is too much.
It’s very silly! We’re going to send it to film
festivals. Our long-term dream is to get some
kind of streaming deal with a website. It’s
great doing it this way, because we still have
total control.
You once said that you got anxious for
days before a performance. Is this still the
case?
No. When I was a teenager, I used to get
tense; I wouldn’t be able to eat, and would
freak out before a show. Now I just love it, and
get really excited about being on stage.
Once you’d decided you were going to
become a comedian, did you set yourself
a career plan, or has it evolved
organically?
I always wanted to make a living from it. I
wanted to make films, TV shows and do
stand-up. Even though it was ‘I have to do
this, I have to do it professionally and I have
to do as much of it as possible’, on the
whole my main ambition has been to get
better and to write as much as I can. I don’t
have a proper career plan because I don’t
think it’s cool. But at the same time, I’d like
to do a feature film, I’d love to do more work
on television, and I want to do more touring
and hopefully build my audience. So I guess
I do have ambitions, but they’re not to be
really famous, or to be the most successful.
Josie Long will perform at the Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton on Wed 5 December;
Electric Cinema, Birmingham Thurs 6
December; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Sat 8 December
Christmas Gifts _Layout 1 26/11/2012 17:17 Page 1
Christmas Gifts
Stylish presents for the girls...
Finding the right gift can be a bit of a chore. We hope our little
gift guide can help you on your way...
Ear Muffs by Ugg £75
www.houseoffraser.co.uk
Pink Leopard Coin Purse £39
Desert Heat Torsolette and Bikini Brief £101
H! Natural Faux Fur
Hobo Bag £27.30
www.debenhams.com
Caviar Mini Bar from Ciate £20 www.selfridges.com
e
allett
Eye P
Party wn £45
e
m
Extre obbi Bro m
B
o
from elfridges.c
www.s
Damson Gin Liqueur £9.99
www.marksandspencer.com
Essential Skin Care Gift Set from Bodhi
£32 www.bodhi.uk.com
Soft Cotton Boot Socks £19 a pair
www.selfridges.com
Double Kiss Bangle by Rita Patel £230
www.centrepiece-jewellery.co.uk
If you’re looking for a
unique piece of
jewellery for that
someone special, then
check out Centrepiece
Jewellery in the foyer
of Birmingham’s
Symphony Hall, until
24 December
Twist Double Pendant by Alice Gow £250
Feather Bangle by Miranda Sharpe £200
Christmas Gifts
...for the big boys...
Revolve Cufflinks by Alice Gow
£90 www.alicegowdesigns.com
Crosskase Fusion with three-way carry
system £69.99
www.crosskase.com
Gents Watch £299
www.rotarywatches.com
Alexander McQueen Tapestry Loafers £655
www.harveynichols.com
Personalised Silver Gold Artisan
Alchemy Bracelet £89
www.babatude.com
Speaker Dock for iPod and
iPhone £159.99
www.bayanaudio.com
Elton John’s Holiday Classic
Candle by Nest
www.selfridges.com
Stirling Moss No.7 Wash Bag £39.95
www.houseknutsford.co.uk
Ted Baker Stag Hip Flask £25
www.houseknutsford.co.uk
Novelty Pants £14.99
www.bunkerbound.com
Storm Union Jack Messenger £43.99
www.blokesbags.co.uk
...for kids...
Wishbone,
Limited Edition 3-in-1 bike £200
www.selfridges.com
Purple and Pink Furby from £59.99
www.selfridges.com
Doodle & Clim Infant Rocker £95
www.cotswoldtrading.com
Yellow Mellon Onesie, ages 2-13yrs £19.99
www.yellowmellon.com
Food...
Slice Of Chocolate Hamper £27.99
www.ayedo.co.uk
Indulgent
Chocolate Whip £8
www.marksandspencer.com
The Scullery - Luxury Christmas
Pudding £8.99
www.selfridges.com
Novelty & Other...
FrouFrous by Boissier
www.selfridges.com
9
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ab £3 k
he G
t of t a-gift.co.u
if
G
The ind-me.f
www
Alexander McQueen by Kirsten Knox £15.59
www.whsmith.co.uk
Diptyque Scented Christmas
Candle £45 www.selfridges.com
Music December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 11:11 Page 1
Music
Seal
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sat 8 December
Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Seal is a
man who knows how to wow a live audience. His
shows are highly acclaimed for their hugely impressive production values - not that those values
could ever be so brilliant as to put the London-born
superstar's own spectacular talent in the shade, of
course! The fella
whose full name is
Seal Henry Olusegun
Olumide Adeola
Samueleal has won
numerous awards during the course of his
glittering music career,
including Brits and
Grammys aplenty, and
has sold more than
twenty million albums
worldwide.
In fact, all in all, he’s
pretty much a topnotch, homegrown,
twenty-four carat R&B
superstar.
Mumford And Sons
The Rasmus
O2 Academy, Birmingham, Tues 11 December
Hailing from Finland, The Rasmus formed whilst
Lauri, Eero, Pauli and Jarno were still in high
school. Playing their first gig at their school’s preChristmas party, they’ve since gone on to become
Finland’s most successful rock band. Despite Lauri
releasing his solo album, New World, last year, the
band are stronger than ever, and not so long ago
signed a new contract with Universal. Releasing
their eighth album in Europe earlier this year, the
boys’ touring schedule takes in five UK dates. Support comes from The Dirty Youth.
LG Arena, Birmingham, Fri 7 December
Fresh from the autumn release of new album Babel, the posterboys of modern English
folk rock are hitting the road on a massive fourteen-date tour. Putting their success down
to hard work and extensive touring, keyboard player Ben Lovett concedes that the fellas
pretty much live on the road, honing their music in tiny pubs, amphitheatres and anywhere in between. They also outsold Justin Bieber and Madonna in the week they went to
number one in the US Billboard charts.
Madness
LG Arena, Birmingham, Thurs 13 December
Their really high-profile days may be well behind them, but legendary British pop/ska
band Madness continue to draw a crowd, as this latest arena tour ably illustrates. With
hits like On The Wings Of A Dove, One Step Beyond, Baggy Trousers, It Must Be Love
and Our House to recommend them, the band are sure to be offering a high-energy
evening of manic, madcap mayhem. As well as the hits, the boys will be showcasing
tracks from their latest album, Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Liberty Of Norton Folgate.
The Overtones
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Mon 10 December
First they were four; then they were five; now
they’re just busy making the kind of music that’s
seen them become one of the country’s most
highly regarded boybands. The fellas were working
together as painters and decorators when they
were discovered by a Warner Brothers scout, who
heard them singing during their tea break. A multialbum deal was subsequently secured with the
company, with their debut offering featuring a number of original tracks written by the band, including
first single Gambling Man and title-track Good Ol'
Fashioned Love.
BRIAN YEATES ASSOCIATES PROUDLY PRESENT
MADE IN BRUM
★★★ FEATURING ★★★
JASPER CARROTT
BEV BEVAN
TREVOR BURTON
GEOFF TURTON
JOY STRACHAN-BRAIN
DANNY KING
2013 TOUR DATES

11th April
Town Hall, Dudley
01384 812812
OUT& 13th April
12th
SOLD

Arts Complex, Solihull
0121 704 6962

OUT April
17th, 18th & 19th
SOLD
Garrick Theatre, Lichfield
01543 412121

21st April
Concordia Theatre, Hinckley
01455 615005

24th April
Palace Theatre, Mansfield
01623 633133
25th & 26th April

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
0844 871 3011

5th May
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
01743 281281

15th & 16th May
Palace Theatre, Redditch
01527 65203
...truly a night to remember

18th May
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury
01684 295074

23rd May
Opera House, Buxton
0845 1272 190

24th May
Civic Hall, Bedworth
024 7637 6707

25th May
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
01902 429212

30th May
Town Hall, Sutton Coldfield
0121 464 8990
www.brianyeates.co.uk
Music PREVIEWS
The Human League
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sun 2 December
Best known for their UK and US number one
hit Don’t You Want Me, which chart-topped
both sides of the Atlantic in 1981, electronic
New Wave band The Human League was
originally an avant-garde all-male synthesizerbased group. Formed in Sheffield in 1977,
the band’s influence over the years has been
evident in the music of numerous electropop, synthpop and mainstream performers,
including Madonna, La Roux, Moby, Pet
Shop Boys and Little Boots. With over twenty
million albums sold worldwide, the band’s
prominent place in music industry history is
well and truly assured.
WI
TIC N
whats KETS
onlive
.co.u
to ente
r
Peter Andre - Up Close And Personal Tour
k
National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Thursday 6 December
A burgeoning romance with Katy Price amid the I'm A Celebrity creepy crawlies of the Australian jungle, followed by an often-tempestuous marriage to the woman otherwise known as
Jordan did Peter Andre's singing career no harm whatsoever. Indeed, Peter even managed to
emerge from the wreckage of their high-profile liaison with his reputation as a thoroughly decent fella spectacularly enhanced! There's little wonder, then, that his star continues to shine
bright in the musical firmament. Expect all his biggest hits, including Mysterious Girl and Behind Closed Doors, as well as plenty of more recent material.
Nine Below Zero
Cox’s Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon,
Sun 9 December
Rhythm and blues, pub rock and blues rock
music are all present and correct when Nine
Below Zero play a gig. The South London
band originally came together in 1977, releasing first album Live At The Marquee three
years later. The boys broke up in 1983, and it
was seven long years before they decided
they’d been missing each other and got back
together. Success since that time has been
due in no small measure to the fact that
they’ve developed a cult following in Europe,
a situation which should ensure they’ll never
be short of a place to party.
Willy Mason
Sebastian Tellier
The Glee Club, Birmingham, Mon 3 December
HMV Institute, Birmingham, Sat 8 December
Raised by folk singers in Massachusetts,
Willy Mason has just completed a tour with
Ben Howard and a collaboration with one-towatch Lianne La Havas. His rise to fame has
been ably supported by fellow musician
Conor Oberst of Bright
Eyes, who signed him
to his Team Love label
and released his debut
LP Where The Humans
Eat. Willy will be releasing his third album,
Carry On, on the same
day as this Birmingham gig. Support
comes from Nick Mulvey and Ottilia.
Described as ‘quirky’ and ‘avant-garde’ by
Pulse Radio, Sebastien Tellier is living proof
that ‘different is good’. Often compared to
sexpot Serge Gainsbourg, the enigmatic
Parisian scored a support slot with French
band Air after the release of debut album L'incroyable Vérité, and presents a style that
mixes lo fi electronica with odd cabaret and
plenty more. Tellier’s fourth album, My God Is
Blue, was released in the summer and explored the theme of spiritual awakening.
Pretentious Class
The Roadhouse, Birmingham,
Sun 9 December
Orbital
O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sun 9 December
Brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll came to
prominence back in the late-1980s, the electronic dance music duo scoring an unexpected hit with rave anthem Chime. But it was
their 1995 appearance at Glastonbury that really propelled Orbital into orbit. Plenty of
high-profile work followed, including contributions to soundtracks for movies such as The
Saint and Event Horizon. The brothers split in
2004 after seven albums, but once again
pooled their considerable resources in 2009
at the Big Chill Festival, going on to release
new album Wonky in Spring 2012.
Calling themselves ‘a good old-fashioned
rock’n’roll band’, this all-male West Midlands
group of five released debut EP Panda-monium earlier this year. Touring furiously since
late 2011, they supported Dave McPhearson
of 'InMe' at The Flapper in Birmingham a
while back, and are gaining an impressive
reputation for their energetic live performances. The Picture supports.
Climax Blues Band
Lichfield Guildhall, Sat 8 December
Local boys the Climax Blues Band (they originated in Staffordshire) have been plying their
blues rock-soft rock trade since before Neil
Armstrong walked on the moon, and have
had almost as many line-up changes as
they’ve written songs (okay, this is an exaggeration, but you get our drift). But then,
forty-plus years is a long old time, so comings and goings are hardly a surprise. As
you’d undoubtedly expect, given their
longevity, the band has released no shortage
of albums, and enjoyed a UK top ten hit with
Couldn't Get It Right way back in 1977.
Music PREVIEWS
Gary Barlow
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sun 30 December
Gary Barlow is a man who needs no introduction - but let’s pretend that he does.
Highly acclaimed singer-songwriter, pianist,
record producer and X Factor judge, Barlow
shot to fame in the 1990s as the frontman
and lead vocalist of Take That. The group
split in 1996, reforming in 2005 and brilliantly
reestablishing themselves as a major player
on the global music scene. In the nine years
between split and reformation, Barlow went
from the highs of being heralded as the next
George Michael to the lows of a poorly received second album. Gary’s appearance in
the Midlands this month comes as part of his
first solo tour in thirteen long years, with tickets for all venues selling out in the blink of an
eye. The Take That star was this year appointed OBE for services to the music industry and charity.
Enter Shikari HMV Institute, Birmingham, Fri 14 - Sat 15 December
Hailing from suburban St Albans, Enter Shikari have become one of the biggest names in
rock, releasing albums such as debut offering Take To The Skies and their highest charting A
Flash Flood Of Colour. After a year spent touring to promote the latter, the fourpiece are now
playing eleven gigs with Cancer Bats and Engine-Earz on the aptly named A Flash Flood Of
Christmas tour.
vessel, they spent the early-1980s vying for
chart positions with fellow ska revival bands
Madness, The Specials and The Selecter. Hit
albums include Gosh It's... Bad Manners,
Loonee Tunes! and Ska'n'B.
The Famous Class
The Ballroom, Birmingham,
Tues 11 December
This London-based four-piece DIY pop punk
band released debut EP Make Or Break in
2010 and first single Emily soon after. They’ve
been described (by Kerrang magazine) as
‘like All Time Low, Paramore and Blink 182 in
a hot tub together on a warm summer's
day...naked!’. Recording an EP with producer
Matt O' Grady, who also worked with You Me
At Six, the band are gaining a real reputation
for their fun, energetic and refreshingly unpredictable live shows.
Epica
The Robin, Bilston, Tues 18 December
Dutch gothic metal band Epica was formed
by vocalist and guitarist Mark Jansen following his departure from After Forever in 2002.
Featuring distinctive male and female growls
from Mark and Simone Simons, the band’s
songs - co-written by all six members - focus
on themes such as science, religion and
world politics. Their fifth and most recent
album, Requiem For The Indifferent, was released earlier this year, bringing together the
hymns, significant lyrics, powerful guitar riffs
and cinematic interludes for which the band
have become famous. Support comes from
Stream Of Passion.
Ellie Goulding
O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sun 16 December
Famously gaining the royal seal of approval
when she was invited to perform at Prince
William’s wedding last year, Ellie Goulding is
returning to the limelight with the release of
second album Halcyon. Using the demise of
her high-profile romance with Radio One DJ
Greg James as inspiration for the album, Ellie
has replaced the folksy girl-next-door feel of
debut offering Light with a tough new image
and sound, and is squeezing in nine UK
dates around a huge US tour.
The Beat
Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 15 December
Bad Manners
The Assembly, Leamington Spa,
Fri 14 December
Long in the tooth they may be, but English 2
Tone ska wizards Bad Manners still command a significant following around the
globe, a fact which led to the band heading
out on a world tour in 2011. Very much a novelty act, courtesy in the main of the on-stage
antics of bald-headed frontman Buster Blood-
Playing songs which fuse ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock, and which typically feature lyrics dealing with themes of love, unity
and sociopolitical topics, The Beat first came
to prominence in the late-1970s. The 2 Tone
ska revival band enjoyed their greatest successes at the beginning of the following
decade, during which period they released
three studio albums before going their separate ways in 1983.
They briefly reformed twenty
years later, and
then again in
2005, since which
time they’ve been
busily winning
themselves a
whole new generation of fans.
The XX
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton,
Wed 12 December
This London-based three-piece created a real
stir with their debut album, xx. Not only was it
widely praised by critics, it also topped The
Guardian’s Best Of 2009 list and won the
Mercury Music Prize. The boys met at Elliott
School, from which such bands as Four Tet
and Hot Chip emerged, but have downplayed
the school’s influence on their subsequent
success, claiming that they were mainly left
to figure things out for themselves. They play
the Midlands this month having recently released club-influenced second album Coexist.
LICHFIELD GUILDHALL
DECEMBER
Sat 1 Dec, 8.00pm
PILGRIM’S WAY
Tickets: £11/£10 concs
/£9 members/ £7 students
Sat 8 Dec, 8.00pm
CLIMAX BLUES BAND
Fri 14 Dec, 8.30pm
STATE OF UNDRESS
CHRISTMAS SHOW
Wed 19 Dec, 8.30pm
JAZZ: FRET AND FIDDLE
J
Tickets: £9/£8 concs/
£7 members/£6 students
Fri 21 Dec, 8.30pm
THE STUMBLE
Sun 23 Dec, 8.00pm
A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS
For a programme or further information contact:
Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield. WS13 6LU
BOX OFFICE 01543 262223
www.lichfieldarts.org.uk
You can now book on-line www.lichfieldarts.org.uk
Music GIG REVIEWS
Music LISTINGS
For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
For full listing information on gigs,
including times and dates, visit
Emeli Sande
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
This year has undoubtedly been Emeli
Sande’s year. Not only has the one-time
medical student from Aberdeenshire
stormed the charts with singles Heaven,
Next To Me, Read All About It and her bestselling album, Our Version Of Events, she’s
also sung at both the opening and closing
ceremonies of the London Olympics, undertaken a mammoth world tour and been
awarded the Brit Awards Critics’ Choice gong. So it was with great
excitement and much anticipation that I finally got to see her perform
live at the last concert of her current tour. And wow, did she ever live
up to my high expectations! Accompanied by her virtuosic five-piece
band and backing singers, Emeli set the standard of what was to follow with a pitch-perfect version of Daddy. She then took the audience through her repertoire of now very well-known hits, introducing
a couple of new additions - Enough and Pluto - along the way. The
connection between artist and audience was evident throughout,
with Emeli voicing her appreciation of her fans’ support on more
than one occasion. A high amongst highs (for me, anyway) was
when she took to the piano (minus her band) to perform strippedback versions of Clown and River, before treating her diehard followers to a dynamic cover of her childhood favourite, Nina Simone’s I
Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free. Finishing with Heaven the single that propelled her to stardom - and a rousing encore of
Next To Me, Emeli re-affirmed why she’s so absolutely deserving of
all the fame that’s come her way. Patsy Moss ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Cosmo Jarvis
O2 Academy, Birmingham & Gloucester Guildhall
As an artist who’s made a career out of slipping beneath the commercial radar, Jersey-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cosmo Jarvis has earned himself a reputation as one of
alternative pop’s best kept secrets in recent years. And after joining
the ‘chosen few’ to watch Cosmo perform live at Gloucester Guildhall last month, I couldn’t help but feel that I was privy to something
very special indeed. Currently touring the UK with folk-rock band
Mad Dog McCrae, Cosmo’s witty and irreverent lyrics, combined
with his magpie-like ability to assimilate influence after musical influence, made him an instant hit with the Gloucester crowd. Among the
many highlights of the night were an acoustic rendition of the dreamlike ballad Whatever on mandolin, drums and guitar (performed in a
style reminiscent of a mature Paul McCartney), a comical solo performance of the reggae-inspired She Doesn’t Mind - in which a son
attempts to describe the abundant merits of his new girlfriend to his
disapproving middle-class parents over dinner - and the deceptively
romantic ballad Look At The Sky, performed in Cosmo’s signature
rasping vocal style. But the crowning glory of the night - and ultimate
testimony to Cosmo’s lyrical storytelling abilities - came in the form
of a collaborative performance of the deliciously ironic and irresistibly catchy sea-shanty Gay Pirates, with Mad Dog McCrae on accordion, whistle and bass. This self-coined ‘gay anthem’ was
famously shunned by Radio One because of its explicit content, but
later went on to become a YouTube sensation. An unexpected musical treasure well worth the voyage! Kate Evans ■■ ■ ■■
The Royal Southern Brothers
The Robin, Bilston
The Brotherhood hail from the southern states of the US and comprise the legendary Neville Brothers and The Meters, Cyril Neville,
Devon Allman (son of Greg Allman) and Memphis-based bluesman
Mike Zito. From their opening notes, it was evident we were in for a
feast of southern rock. Splendid guitar work from Allman was
equalled by Zito, while six string bass player Charlie Wooton and
drummer Yonrico Scott performed wonderful solos and were magnificent in support. Cyril Neville on percussion led the band through
some fantastic songs, including Fire On The Mountain, Moonlight
Over The Mississippi, Left My Heart In Memphis and Hurts My Heart.
An enjoyable night at a great venue. Dave Thomas ■ ■ ■ ■■
SAT 1 DEC
SHE SCREAMS MURDER,
LIGHTFIRE, STRUCTURES,
THE SACRED MOON AND
MOODY BOMBER 02
Academy, Birmingham
NED'S ATOMIC DUSTBIN
Civic Hall, Birmingham
MAGNUM Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton
PILGRIM'S WAY Lichfield
Guildhall
T-REXTASY Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
BORDERLINE A triple
treat with Blues Brothers, Tina and 70's / 80's
show, Nailcote Hall,
Berkswell, Warwickshire
MOTOWN SOUL SPECTACULAR WITH DIANE SHAW
The Place, Oakengates
Theatre, Telford, Shropshire
BROTHERS OF SOUL Nailcote Hall, Berkswell,
Warwickshire
BON GIOVI The Robin,
Bilston
SCOTT MATTHEWS Birmingham Town Hall
AC/DC TRIBUTE - HELLS
BELLS Cox's Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon
A Kasbah, Coventry
THE SUBTERRANEANS
The Jam House, Birmingham
MATTHEW DEAR Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
DAN BAIRD The Slade
Rooms, Wolverhampton
ULTRA 90'S The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
WARLORD UK, SHEBREW,
ROTUNDA AND ERADIKATOR The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
MARTYR DE MONA The
Ballroom, Birmingham
THE IMPOSSIBLE GENTLEMEN CBSO Centre,
Birmingham
VIENNA BLOOD & LIFE
Sunflower Lounge,
Birmingham
GOODNIGHT LENIN Birmingham Cathedral
JOE DRISCOLL & SEJOU
KOUYATE The Clarendon, Leamington Spa
ALEX LUCAS, ORYLYUS &
POETIC YESTERDAY The
Asylum, Birmingham
SUN 2 DEC
TYTAN, CHEMIKILL &
WRAITH The Roadhouse, Birmingham
THE RAVEONETTES HMV
Institute, Birmingham
JACK MARTELLO The
Yardbird Jazz Club,
Birmingham
MY GREAT AFFLICTION,
RAVEN VANDELLE, NEW
SAINTS, CROOKED DAWN
AND VALOUS The Slade
JANE TAYLOR Kitchen
Garden Cafe, Kings
Heath, Birmingham
PANIC ROOM The Robin,
NING, ALAN BRITTEN &
BLAKE HUTCHINGS Taylor
John’s House, Coventry
THUR 6 DEC
Bilston
TRAVELLING BY TUBA
Huntingdon Hall,
Worcester
THE ILLEGAL EAGLES
Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
THE HUMAN LEAGUE Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
ALL THE YOUNG 02 Academy, Birmingham
MISS MAY I, BLEED FROM
WITHIN, TEXAS IN JULY,
HEART IN HAND AND CYTOTA 02 Academy, Birmingham
RED BULLS, JACK
MARTELLO, TANG & JEN
ROBINS The Yardbird
Jazz Club, Birmingham
THE IMPOSSIBLE GENTLEMEN The Edge Arts
Centre, Much Wenlock,
South Shropshire
MON 3 DEC
BEN FOLDS FIVE 02
Academy, Birmingham
THAT SUNDAY FEELING 02
Academy, Birmingham
STEVE VAI Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
CANTERBURY The Slade
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT
HMV Institute, Birmingham
WILLY MASON The Glee
Club, Birmingham
ALABAMA 3 The Robin,
Bilston
STEALING SHEEP Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
BEYOND THE BARRICADE
AT CHRISTMAS Malvern
Theatres
RED FANG, EL CACO HMV
BAND OF SKULLS HMV
ANAAL NATHRAKH PLUS
MORGUEORGY, NO REALITY, KATALEPTIC, JOSEF &
THE FRITZLS The Flapper & Firkin, Birmingham
STARS The Slade
OCTANE OK The Ballroom, Birmingham
ONE NIGHT IN VEGAS The
Roses Theatre, Tewksbury
ST AGNES FOUNTAIN
Huntingdon Hall,
Worcester
GARY NUMAN Wulfrun
Hall, Wolverhampton
THE FRANKIE VALLI
STORY The Robin, Bilston
PETER ANDRE - UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL TOUR National Indoor Arena,
Birmingham
ANDY ISHERWOOD BAND
Bramhall Music Building, Birmingham
ULTRAISTA The Rainbow,
Birmingham
UNIVERSITY MUSIC SOCIETY BIG BAND Bramall
Music Building, University of Birmingham
PETE MORTON & ROGER
WILSON Red Lion Folk
Club, Birmingham
FRI 7 DEC
TUE 4 DEC
NATALIE DUNCAN The
Glee Club, Birmingham
JUNE TABOR & OYSTERBAND Birmingham Town
Hall
TWENTY TWENTY HMV
ELECTRIC SIX 02 Academy, Birmingham
SKINNY MOLLY The
Robin, Bilston
Avo
WED 5 DEC
OLI BROWN The Robin,
Bilston
THE VIEW 02 Academy,
Birmingham
CHRISTMAS WITH STEPS
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
ALBERT LEE & HOGAN'S
HEROES Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Birmingham Town Hall
HOPE AND SOCIAL Hare
& Hounds, Birmingham
CANTERBURY The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
CAPITAL GROOVE The
Jam House, Birmingham
CHASE AND STATUS (DJ
SET) Kasbah, Coventry
BEANS ON TOAST The
Yardbird Jazz Club,
Birmingham
PERRY THOMAS MAN-
THE SOUL SURVIVORS
WITH MEL DAY Nailcote
Hall, Berkswell, Warwickshire
PETER COX & HIS BAND
The Robin, Bilston
THE WAR OF THE
WORLDS: THE NEW GENERATION Marti Pellow
features in a musical
spectacular that presents a new interpretation of Jeff Wayne's
1978 concept album,
National Indoor Arena,
Birmingham
SILENT FILTER FT. INFRACTOR, ILLFLOWER,
MALANDRA & ONE LIFE
LEFT 02 Academy, Birmingham
ABSOLUTE LEGENDS Nailcote Hall, Berkswell,
Warwickshire
LITTLE ANGELS Wulfrun
Hall, Wolverhampton
ISLAND THREE & ARBOR
LIGHTS The Ballroom,
Birmingham
THE GUNS N' ROSES EXPERIENCE The Roadhouse, Birmingham
JUPITER ATE & THE FORMULA The Flapper &
Firkin, Birmingham
WAKA FLOCKA FLAME
THE GLITTER BAND, GIRLS
THAT SCREAM AND METAL
★ ★ ★ FIRST IN THE UK ★ ★ ★
Christmas
parties
Duelling Pianos is the first bar
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e in
stuffing balls on your plat
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guaranteed a great time
dress to party
www.duellingpianobars.co.uk
0121 695 9206
email: info@duellingpianobars.co.uk
Regency Wharf, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2DS
DuellingPianoBars
@Duelling_Pianos
Music LISTINGS
Leona Lewis, who’ll be performing
alongside JLS, Lawson, McFly, Labryth
& Scouting For Girls at Free Radio Live
2012 at the LG Arena
For full listing information on gigs
including, times and dates, visit
PIRATES HMV Institute,
Birmingham
SCROOBIUS PIP HMV Institute, Birmingham
THE BOYS NEXT DOOR
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
THE ROCKIN' BERRIES
Stourbridge Town Hall
JULIAN SMITH Artrix,
Bromsgrove
THE BLOCKHEADS Cox's
Yard, Stratford-uponAvon
GENTLEMAN'S DUB CLUB
The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent
SECTOR 7 Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
MUMFORD & SONS LG
Arena, Birmingham
KAIROS 4TET The Barber
TOMMY DORSEY: THE
SINATRA YEARS Birmingham Town Hall
UP FOR THE DOWNSTROKE The Jam
House, Birmingham
REDLINE The Asylum,
Birmingham
\ SAT
8 DEC
THE SKYNYRD EXPERIENCE Cox's Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon
FLORENCE & THE MACHINE Ricoh Arena,
Coventry
AARON MOBBERLEY &
JACK MARTELLO The
Sugarmill, Stoke-onTrent
LAURIE LEVINE Bridge
House Theatre, Warwick
SEBASTIEN TELLIER HMV
CRAIG CHARLES FUNK &
SOUL CLUB Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
TEWKSBURY TOWN BAND
The Roses Theatre,
Tewksbury
DIZZY LIZZY Tribute to
Thin Lizzy, The Roadhouse, Birmingham
THE JACKIE GENERATION
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
MALVERN HILLS DISTRICT
BRASS BAND: SWINGING
CHRISTMAS Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
ROY G HEMMINGS: MOTOWN AND PHILADELPHIA
ON TOUR Dudley Concert Hall
CLIMAX BLUES BAND
Lichfield Guildhall
THE DOORS ALIVE 02
Academy, Birmingham
SEAL Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
A FOREIGNERS JOURNEY
The Robin, Bilston
THE VAN CORTLANDT
RANGERS The Sunflower
Lounge, Birmingham
RANCID The Ballroom,
Birmingham
UP FOR THE DOWNSTROKE The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE CLOCK TOWERS Wulfrun Hall, W’hampton
ME VS HERO & WITH THE
PUNCHES The Asylum,
Birmingham
SUN 9 DEC
MOSTLY AUTUMN The
Robin, Bilston
THE BLACK KEYS National Indoor Arena,
Birmingham
THE SAW DOCTORS Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
ORBITAL 02 Academy,
Birmingham
AUCTION FOR THE PROMISE CLUB, TANKUS THE
HENGE AND ANNACA 02
Academy, Birmingham
PRETENTIOUS CLASS The
Roadhouse, Birmingham
BEN OTTEWELL The Ironworks, Oswestry, North
Shropshire
RICH ROBINSON HMV Institute, Birmingham
NINE BELOW ZERO Cox's
CERYS MATTHEWS The
TEWKSBURY TOWN BAND
The Roses Theatre,
Tewksbury
WE’RE NOT GRASSHOPPERS Kitchen Garden
Cafe, Kings Heath,
Birmingham
KIM LOWINGS & THE
GREENWOOD The Yardbird Jazz Club, Birmingham
MIDLAND YOUTH JAZZ
ORCHESTRA Norbury
Theatre, Droitwich
MON 10 DEC
ADMIRAL FALLOW HMV
THE OVERTONES Symphony Hall, Birmingham
SWINGLE SISTERS: YULE
SONGS Birmingham
Town Hall
TUES 11 DEC
THE CHANTEL MCGREGOR
BAND The Robin, Bilston
THE HIVES 02 Academy,
Birmingham
THE RASMUS 02 Academy, Birmingham
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
WITH TOO DARN HOT
Dudley Concert Hall
THE MELLSTOCK BAND: A
TALE OF TWO CHRISTMASSES Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
THIN LIZZY HMV Institute, Birmingham
THE FAMOUS CLASS The
STOOSHE HMV Institute,
Birmingham
THE RED LEMONS The
WI
TICKEN
whats
onlive TS
.co.u
to ente
r
WED 12 DEC
FOLLOW YOU HOME The
IT BITES The Slade
KATE RUSBY Malvern
Theatres
THE DYLAN PROJECT
Cox's Yard, Stratfordupon-Avon
THE OTHER TRIBE Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL The Assembly, Leamington Spa
CHARLIE LANKESTER AND
THE MOJO KILLERS 02
Academy, Birmingham
THE XX Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
DR FEELGOOD The
Robin, Bilston
SIMON FRIEND’S SEISMIC
SURVEY Hare & Hounds,
Birmingham
THE RED LEMONS The
PHIL BEER Red Lion Folk
Club, Birmingham
THUR 13 DEC
NEVER FOR EVER - TRIBUTE TO KATE BUSH The
Robin, Bilston
THAT’LL BE THE DAY
CHRISTMAS SHOW Birmingham Town Hall
MK1 HMV Institute,
Birmingham
THE "ROD STEWART"
SHOW FEATURING GARRY
PEASE Nailcote Hall,
Berkswell, Warwickshire
DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT & FEAR FACTORY
Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
THE DAMNED 02 Academy, Birmingham
MIKE SANCHEZ Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
CANCER BATS The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
MADNESS LG Arena,
Birmingham
ACOUSTIC YARD FEATURING SAM SALLON Cox's
LEMAR HMV Institute,
Birmingham
FROM THE JAM The Ballroom, Birmingham
SHE WILL ROCK YOU The
THE RED LEMONS The
Birmingham
STEVE CRADOCK The Ballroom, Birmingham
TRC, POLAR & PROWLER
The Asylum, Birmingham
SAT 15 DEC
FRI 14 DEC
KICK UP THE 80’S The
River Rooms, Stourbridge
ENTER SHIKARI, CANCER
BATS, ENGINE-EARZ EXPERIMENT HMV Institute,
Birmingham
UNDER THE INFLUENCE,
SPEAKING IN SHADOWS &
DOWN TO A SCIENCE The
Slade Rooms, Birmingham
ROCKET The Jam House,
Birmingham
JACKMASTER Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
BAD MANNERS The Assembly, Leamington Spa
THE COMPLETE BEATLES
Prince Of Wales Centre,
Cannock
ABBA FOREVER Artrix,
Bromsgrove
THE SEARCHERS Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
SHOWADDYWADDY Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
THE BOOZE BROTHERS
Nailcote Hall, Berkswell,
Warwickshire
STATE OF UNDRESS Lichfield Guildhall
KITTEN PYRAMID PLUS
IDLE PLAYTHINGS, EXILE84
AND ZIM ZIM 02 Academy, Birmingham
STONE SOUR Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
SWINGING 60'S 'BEATLES'
PARTY WITH THE CHEATLES Nailcote Hall, Berkswell, Warwickshire
THE NOTEBENDERS Symphony Hall, Birmingham
CAT CHINN, CAPITAL SUN &
THE RIMES The Rainbow,
Birmingham
UNDER A BANNER
Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
ENIGMA BRASS ENSEMBLE
The Water’s Edge Bandstand, Brindley Place,
MID-DAY MANTRA: MILAN
TO MUMBAI Featuring
Guiliano Modarelli (guitar) & Bhupinder Singh
Chaggar (tabla), Symphony Hall, Birmingham
ENTER SHIKARI, CANCER
BATS, ENGINE-EARZ EXPERIMENT HMV Institute,
Birmingham
ROCKET The Jam
House, Birmingham
ABBA "MAMMA MIA"
PARTY Nailcote Hall,
Berkswell
ALL ON A WINTER'S NIGHT
WITH JOHNNY COPPIN Artrix, Bromsgrove
JAKE & ELWOOD WITH
THE BLACK RHINO BAND
The Robin, Bilston
THE LINES Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
KICK UP THE 80'S The
ALTTIA, SISTER SHOTGUN,
PLASTIC GLASSES, EMPIRE EXILE AND ADDICTION 02 Academy,
Birmingham
DAPPY 02 Academy,
Birmingham
CASTRALOVA, EXIT INTERNATIONAL & LAYERS Sunflower Lounge,
Birmingham
BUZZ DÍANGELO AS
JAMES BROWN Nailcote
JAMIE KNIGHT & THE BIG
SWING Huntingdon Hall,
Worcester
CHRISTMAS WITH THE
KING Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton
ROY ORBISON AND
FRIENDS Prince Of
Wales Centre, Cannock
DEFINITELY MIGHT BE &
ADORED - TRIBUTE TO
OASIS & THE STONE
ROSES Cox's Yard, Stratford-upon-Avon
k
THE BLUES BAND RHYTHM
& BLUES Tamworth Assembly Rooms
MIDLAND YOUTH JAZZ
ORCHESTRA Bridge
House Theatre, Warwick
THE BEAT Birmingham
Town Hall
FREE RADIO LIVE 2012
FEATURING LEONA LEWIS
AND LAWSON LG Arena,
Birmingham
SPECTOR Kasbah,
Coventry
THE STONES The Roadhouse, Birmingham
PAGE 44 The Ballroom,
Birmingham
SPEECH DEBELLE HMV
MAGENTA The Water’s
Edge Bandstand, Brindleyplace, Birmingham
BEN PORTSMOUTH & THE
TCE BAND: CHRISTMAS
WITH THE KING Wulfrun
Hall, Wolverhampton
SUN 16 DEC
THE FORGED, BULLITSTORM & MUTINY The
JUMP THE SHARK The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
KERFUFFLE The Hive
Shrewsbury
TALON - THE BEST OF THE
EAGLES Prince Of Wales
Centre, Cannock
TIM BURGESS The Glee
Club, Birmingham
CHRISTMAS WITH THE
TOWN HALL GOSPEL
CHOIR The Drum, Birmingham
ELLIE GOULDING 02
Academy, Birmingham
INSOLITO, CONDUIT, EFFIGY AND FRAGMENTS 02
Academy, Birmingham
WILSON ROBERTS &
FRIENDS AT CHRISTMAS
Stratford Civic Hall
IAN PARKER The Robin,
Bilston
THE BOOTLEG BEATLES
Birmingham
CHRISTY TYE & FRIENDS
Kitchen Garden Cafe,
King’s Heath, B’ham
Music LISTINGS
Sam & The Womp - The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
For full listing information on gigs
including, times and dates, visit
ALEX RAINSFORD, THE
CULTURE, DALE HANSON,
JAMES BROUGH & BEN
WILLIAMS The Yardbird
Jazz Club, Birmingham
MON 17 DEC
MAETLOAF The Robin,
Bilston
MADDY PRIOR & THE
CARNIVAL BAND Birmingham Town Hall
QUOFESTIVE FEATURING
STATUS QUO WITH SPECIAL GUEST BONNIE
TYLER LG Arena, Birmingham
URBAN INTRO The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA
OF GREAT BRITAIN:
WORLD TOUR Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
TUES 18 DEC
BEYOND THE BARRICADE
Prince Of Wales Centre,
Cannock
URBAN INTRO The Jam
House, Birmingham
EPICA The Robin, Bilston
THE OVERTONES Victoria
Hall, Hanley, Stoke-onTrent
The Overtones
CHRISTMAS WITH
KATHERINE JENKINS
60'S & MOTOWN PARTY
WITH THE KRYSTALETTES
Warwickshire
AN EVENING WITH RICKY
VALANCE Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
THE SAW DOCTORS The
Assembly, Leamington
Spa
JAKE BUGG HMV Institute, Birmingham
NATIVES O2 Academy,
Birmingham
WED 19 DEC
FRET & FIDDLE Lichfield
Guildhall
KATE RUSBY Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
MIKE SANCHEZ & THE
PORTIONS The Robin,
Bilston
SOLID SOUL The Jam
House, Birmingham
MOLOTOV JUKEBOX Hare
& Hounds, Birmingham
THE ALBION BAND New
Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme
STEREOPHONICS O2
Academy, Birmingham
BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST
Red Lion Folk Club,
Birmingham
THUR 20 DEC
REBEL REBEL - DAVID
BOWIE TRIBUTE BAND
The Roadhouse, B’ham
SOLID SOUL The Jam
House, Birmingham
ASIA Birmingham Town
Hall
FRED ZEPPELIN The
Robin, Bilston
JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS
RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
CHARLOTTE CARPENTER
HEART & SOUL PARTY
WITH HARRY CAMBRIDGE
Warwickshire
AN ALBION CHRISTMAS
Huntingdon Hall,
Worcester
THE TOY HEARTS Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
FRI 21 DEC
RANG-A-TANG PARTY
Warwickshire
THE STUMBLE Lichfield
Guildhall
CALL ATLANTIS PLUS
SUPPORT 02 Academy,
Birmingham
TAKE FAT The Robin, Bilston
BLACK VOICES CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Birmingham Town Hall
ALFONZO'S PANCAKE
BREAKFAST Cox's Yard,
Stratford-upon-Avon
THE STONES The Assembly, Leamington Spa
DETROIT SOUL The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE SKYNYRD EXPERIENCE The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
80'S SENSATION The
GIOCOSO QUARTET The
Water’s Edge Bandstand, Brindleyplace,
Birmingham
SHE WILL ROCK YOU The
SAM AND THE WOMP The
Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
SAT 22 DEC
THE CROOKED EMPIRE &
THE ONE TWOS The Flapper & Firkin, Birmingham
ONE STOP BOOGIE The
River Rooms, Stour-
bridge
DETROIT SOUL The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE ZZ TOPS The Roadhouse, Birmingham
BRUM PUNKS XMAS FEATURING GBH, DRONGOS
FOR EUROPE AND DRAGSTER The Ballroom,
Birmingham
THE MODFATHERS - TRIBUTE TO PAUL WELLER
CHRIS DEAN'S SYD
LAWRENCE ORCHESTRA
Malvern Theatres
TALON - THE BEST OF THE
EAGLES The Robin, Bilston
BROTHERS OF SOUL Nailcote Hall, Berkswell,
Warwickshire
SLEIGH THE UK 2012 FEATURING THE WONDER
STUFF, POP WILL EAT ITSELF AND JESUS JONES
02 Academy, Birmingham
COLD FIELDS, BROKEN
WITH REBELS, MISS HANNAH O, DUTCH COUSIN
AND NEVER SAY HERO 02
Academy, Birmingham
THE 80'S EXPERIENCE
Warwickshire
"TAKE THAT" & "WESTLIFE" SHOW Sat 22 Dec,
Warwickshire
PEACE & SPECIAL GUESTS
The Rainbow Warehouse, Birmingham
AD CONCERT BAND The
Water’s Edge Bandstand, Brindleyplace,
Birmingham
SUN 23 DEC
MARTHA REEVES AND THE
VANDELLAS The Robin,
Bilston
MAWA & THE MELO-D
NAVI - KING OF POP:
MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
JESSIE J V KATY PERRY
FEATURING CAROLINE
COUPE The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
TARA, VANESSA KNIGHT,
KATHERINE PRIDDY. THE
OFFBEAT & TORI LAMB
The Yardbird Jazz Club,
Birmingham
THE TWANG O2 Academy, Birmingham
MON 24 DEC
THE CAVERN BEATLES
The Robin, Bilston
WED 26 DEC
LIMEHOUSE LIZZY The
Robin, Bilston
TOM JONES PARTY WITH
GLENN LEON Nailcote
THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
GOSPEL CENTRAL The
THUR 27 DEC
DEL CAMINO The Jam
House, Birmingham
MENTALLICA PLUS
HIGHER ON MAIDEN The
THE JAM'D & COMPLETE
WELLER The Robin, Bilston
FRI 28 DEC
DIRTY DC - TRIBUTE TO AC
/ DC The Robin, Bilston
THE TREVOR BURTON
BAND The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
B'SPOKE The Jam
House, Birmingham
QUEEN Featuring Scott
Maley, The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
QUILL The Robin, Bilston
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
SUN 30 DEC
SOUL SURVIVORS The
Robin, Bilston
GARY BARLOW Wulfrun
Hall, Wolverhampton
MON 31 DEC
SAT 29 DEC
SHATTER EFFECT,
HOODOO FIFTIES, THIS
BURNING AGE, LIMELIGHT
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
B'SPOKE The Jam
House, Birmingham
FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO
KICK UP THE 80'S & BIG
UP THE 90'S The Robin,
Bilston
SKABUCKS The Roadhouse, Birmingham
PERMISSION TO ROCK
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
Music Venues Box Office
Birmingham
Black Country
Staffordshire
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0121 622 8250
ADRIAN BOULT HALL
0121 331 5901
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0121 780 3333
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0121 444 2081
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0121 643 0428
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0121 200 3030
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0844 338 8000
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0844 338 8000
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01902 572090
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01543 262223
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STOKE-ON-TRENT
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01827 709618
VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY
0870 060 6649
STAFFORD GATEHOUSE
01785 254653
Warwickshire
COX’S YARD, STRATFORD
01789 404600
0870 320 7000
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01926 311311
Shropshire
THE KASBAH, COVENTRY
024 7655 4473
THE BUTTERMARKET,
SHREWSBURY
01743 355055
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BERKSWELL
02476 46 6174
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MUCH WENLOCK
01952 728911
STRATFORD CIVIC HALL
01789 207100
THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY
01743 234970
TAYLOR JOHN’S HOUSE,
COVENTRY
024 7623 0699
THE IRONWORKS, OSWESTRY
01691 679123
Worcestershire
THEATRE SEVERN,
SHREWSBURY 01743 281281
HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN
THEATRE 01905 611427
THE PLACE, OAKENGATES,
TELFORD 01952 382382
MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER
01905 613336
WEM TOWN HALL
01939 232299
THE RIVER ROOMS,
STOURBRIDGE
01384 397177
Classical December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 13:38 Page 1
Andre Rieu
Classical Music PREVIEWS
LG Arena, Birmingham,
Tues 18 - Thurs 20 December
Often referred to as the King of Waltz,
Dutch violinist Andre Rieu is the highestcharting classical instrumentalist of all
time. He’s also the creator of the waltzplaying Johann Strauss Orchestra, for
whom he conducts using his violin bow,
mimicking the famous characteristics of
Strauss himself. Rieu won the hearts of the
British public in 2009 with the release of
his album Forever Vienna, which reached
number one in the classical charts and
number two in the pop charts. His concerts are well known for inspiring audience
members to leave their seats and dance in
the aisles, an activity which counts as
something of a phenomenon at a classical
music gig! Having recently been awarded
the Classic FM Album Of The Year gong at
the BRIT Awards for a second consecutive
year, Rieu is appearing in Birmingham with
his sixty-piece orchestra.
Christmas With Katherine Jenkins
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 18 December
Classical crossover artist Katherine Jenkins returns to Birmingham for the third time in a year,
on this occasion performing songs from recently released album This Is Christmas. Katherine is
joined for the concert by the National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Anthony Inglis, and
presents a cross-section of festive tunes that includes Santa Baby, Deck The Halls, Wexford
Carol, Hark The Herald Angel Sing and Away In A Manger. The popular Welsh mezzo soprano
recently announced that she’ll be returning to the region yet again in the new year, performing
with operatic quartet Il Divo at the LG Arena on 13 April.
I Fagiolini
Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry,
Fri 21 December
Ex Cathedra: Music By Candlelight
Award-winning
vocal ensemble I
Fagiolini get in the
festive spirit this
month, returning to
the Midlands to
present Bach’s
Jesu Meine Freude
alongside David
Lang’s Little Match
Girl Passion.
Matthew Robins’
shadow puppetry
animates this
unique yuletide performance, which
features Christmas
carols from both
Germany and Denmark.
WI
TIC N
whats KETS
onlive
.co.u
to ente
r
Birmingham Contemporary
Music Group
Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Building,
Birmingham, Fri 7 December
Joining forces with soprano Claire Booth,
the BCMG here present Looking To The
Heavens, one of three concerts celebrating
one hundred years of Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire. The three-part work
- which premiered at the Berlin ChoralionSaal in 1912 - sets German translations of
poems by Albert Giraud. A performance of
Olivier Messiaen’s ambitious Quatuor pour
la fin du temps (Quartet For The End Of
Time) also features.
St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Tues 4 December; Holy Trinity Church,
Leamington Spa, Thurs 6 December; St John’s Church, Hagley,
Tues 11 December; St Paul’s Church, Birmingham,
Tues 18 - Sat 22 December
What better way to get into the festive spirit than by enjoying an
evening with one of the country’s finest choral music ensembles?
Under the directorship of its founder, Jeffrey Skidmore, Ex Cathedra
this month presents a series of atmospheric ‘Christmas music by candlelight’ evenings, blending seasonal favourites from around the
globe and across the ages with a variety of readings.
k
Claire Booth
Classical December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 13:38 Page 2
Classical LISTINGS
For full listing information on classical
concerts, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
MET OPERA LIVE: LA
CLEMENZA Di Tito Elinna
Garanca sings Sesto in
Mozart’s drama set in
ancient Rome, Sat 1
Dec, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
LEAMINGTON SINFONIA
Featuring Jenny Barrie
(conductor). Programme includes works
by Weber, Glazunov &
Borodin, Sat 1 Dec,
Holy Trinity Church,
Leamington Spa
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
PYJAMA CONCERT: PETER
AND THE WOLF Earlyevening performance of
Prokofiev’s setting of
the classic tale Peter
and the Wolf. Complete
with colourful characters, costumes and
audience participation,
this will be the perfect
bedtime story for all the
family, Sat 1 Dec, Warwick Arts Centre,
Coventry
STRATFORD SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA Programme
to include works by
Beethoven & Grieg,
Sun 2 Dec, Stratford
Civic Hall
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, UNIVERSITY CHOIR
& UMS SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA Featuring
Daniele Rosina (conductor), Sun 2 Dec,
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
& CHORUS Programme
comprises of Elgar’s
The Dream Of Gerontius & Enigma Variations, Sun 2 Dec, Warwick Arts Centre,
Coventry
EX CATHEDRA: CHRISTMAS MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT Tues 4 Dec, St
Chad’s Church,
Shrewsbury
ARMONICO CONSORT &
BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Featuring Yvette Bonner (soprano), William
Towers (countertenor),
Joshua Ellicott (tenor),
Roderick Williams
(bass), Tues 4 Dec, St
Mary’s Church, Warwick
ORCHESTRA OF THE
SWAN: GREAT ROMANTICS Featuring Kenneth
Woods (conductor).
Programme includes
works by Schumann &
Hans Gal, Tue 4 Dec,
Stratford Civic Hall
CBSO NELSONS CONDUCTS BRUCKNER'S
EIGHTH Featuring Claire
Booth (soprano). Programme to include
Schoenberg's Pierrot
Lunaire & Bruckner's
Symphony No.8, Thurs
6 Dec, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
EX CATHEDRA: CHRISTMAS MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT Tues 6 Dec, Holy
Trinity Church, Leam-
ington Spa
GAUDEAMUS Free
lunchtime concert,
Thurs 6 Dec, Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM
CHOIR - HANDEL’S MESSIAH Featuring Adrian
Lucas (conductor),
Hannah Atherton
(soprano), Sebastian
Field (countertenor),
Samuel Boden (tenor),
Michael George (bass),
Thomas Trotter (harpsichord) and Roger Judd
(organ), Fri 7 Dec,
BCMG: QUARTET FOR THE
END OF TIME Fri 7 Dec,
Bramall Concert Hall,
University of Birmingham
ARMONICO CONSORT
PRESENT HANDEL’S MESSIAH Featuring Yvette
Bonner (soprano),
William Towers (alto),
Joshua Ellicott (tenor)
and Alex Ashworth
(bass), Fri 7 Dec,
Malvern Theatres
ENGLISH SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA CHRISTMAS
CONCERT Programme
includes works by
Vivaldi & Pachelbel, Sat
8 Dec, Artrix, Bromsgrove
BIRMINGHAM BACH
CHOIR: CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Fundraising
event for St Mary’s
Hospice, Sat 8 Dec, St
Francis Church,
Bournville, Birmingham
HALESOWEN ORCHESTRA
WINTER CONCERT Featuring Alycia Jewes (violin), Robert Payne
(tuba) & Martin Leigh
(conductor). Programme includes works
by Dvorak, Barbara
York & Beethoven, Sat
8 Dec, Cornbow Hall,
Halesowen
BIRMINGHAM MUSIC
SERVICE - CHRISTMAS
CONCERT Sat 8 Dec,
THE BRITISH POLICE
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PROMS NIGHT SPECTACULAR Sat 8 Dec, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
HALESOWEN CHORAL
SOCIETY: CAROLS BY
CANDLELIGHT Sat 8 Dec,
St Margaret’s Church,
Hasbury, Halesowen
EX CATHEDRA - GAUDETE!
Sat 8 Dec, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music
Building, Birmingham
MYTON HOSPICE CAROLS
WITH ALL SAINTS’ CHOIR
Sat 8 Dec, All Saints’
Church, Leamington
Spa
CHRISTMAS WITH THE
SALVATION ARMY Sun 9
Dec, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & ST
MICHAEL’S SINGERS Concert of storytelling,
rousing favourites and
popular carols for all to
sing, Sun 9 Dec, Guy
Nelson Hall, Warwick
School
NICOLA BENEDETTI PLAYS
CONCERTOS FOR CHRISTMAS Sun 9 Dec, Birmingham Town Hall
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT: SING CAROLS WITH
THE CITY ORGANIST Mon
10 Dec, Birmingham
Town Hall
SWINGLE SINGERS: YULE
SONGS Christmas capella featuring music by
Mumford & Sons,
Debussy, Bach & Beyonce, Mon 10 Dec,
SANTA LUCIA SERVICE:
SWEDISH FESTIVAL OF
LIGHT Featuring Jeffrey
Skidmore (conductor)
& Andrew Fletcher
(organ), Mon 10 Dec,
Birmingham Cathedral
THE LOCRIAN ENSEMBLE:
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
Tue 11 Dec, The Roses
Theatre, Tewksbury
EX CATHEDRA: CHRISTMAS MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT Tues 11 Dec, St
John’s Church, Hagley,
Birmingham
MIDLANDS HOSPITALS’
CHOIR - A CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATION Featuring
David Lawrence (conductor), Julian Wilkins
(organ) & Laura Wright
(guest artist), Tues 11
Dec, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
CHOIR OF NEW COLLEGE
OXFORD Christmas concert featuring music by
Charpentier, Poulenc,
Palestrina, Parsons,
Josquin, Guerrero,
Howells, Aichinger, Lassus & Mondonville,
Tues 11 Dec, St Mary’s
Church, Warwick
CBSO BENEVOLENT FUND
CONCERT Featuring
Andris Nelsons (conductor), Lars Vogt
(piano), Baiba Skride
(violin) & Daniel MullerSchott (cello). Programme includes
Beethoven's Triple Concerto & Symphony No
3, Thurs 13 Dec, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
MESSIAH FROM KINGS
Featuring Choir of
King's College, Cambridge; Academy Of
Ancient Music, Stephen
Cleobury (conductor),
Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Claudia Huckle
(alto), Thomas Walker
(tenor), Ashley Riches
(baritone), Fri 14 Dec,
BRASS TIMES CHRISTMAS
CONCERT Featuring Pam
Rhodes & The Brass
Times Quintet, Fri 14
Dec, Lickey Church,
Bromsgrove, Worcs
MID-DAY MANTRA: MILAN
TO MUMBAI Featuring
Guiliano Modarelli (guitar) & Bhupinder Singh
Chaggar (tabla), Sat 15
Dec, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
CBSO TUNED IN: THE
EROICA Featuring Andris
Nelsons (conductor) &
Stephen Johnson (presenter). Programme
includes Beethoven's
Symphony No 3
(Eroica), Sat 15 Dec,
ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA
BACH CHOIR: THE GLORY
OF VIVALDI Sat 15 Dec,
All Saints Church,
Leamington Spa
HANDEL'S MESSIAH Featuring the Tewksbury
Abbey Schla Cantorum,
The Bristol Ensemble,
Simon Bell (conductor),
Carleton Etherington
(organist), Julie Cooper
(soprano), David Martin
(counter-tenor), Nick
Pritchard (tenor) &
Philip Tebb (bass), Sat
15 Dec, Tewksbury
Abbey
BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA:
MIGHTY HANDFUL
Richard Lang conducts
the orchestra as they
present an evening of
works from acclaimed
Russian composers including Mussorgsky,
Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui & Balakirev,
Sun 16 Dec, Adrian
Boult Hall, Birmingham
MOZART FESTIVAL
ORCHESTRA: CAROLS BY
CANDLELIGHT Part of
Symphony Hall's Christmas Festival 2012 and
featuring the Canzonetta Choir, Michael
Bawtree (conductor) &
Rachel Nicholls (soprano). Programme to
include works by Handel, Mozart, Rutter,
Corelli, Bach, Gruber.
Darke, Vivaldi & Wood,
Sun 16 Dec, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
ORGAN CONCERT WITH
THOMAS TROTTER
Lunchtime Christmas
music featuring The
Choir Of Winchester
Cathedral, Andrew
Lumsden (conductor) &
Thomas Trotter (organ),
Mon 17 Dec, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
CHRISTMAS WITH
KATHERINE JENKINS Tue
18 Dec, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
CANOLDIR’S CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATION Featuring
the Canoldir Male
Choir, Second City
Sounds, Arden Brass &
Felicity Murphy (soprano), Tues 18 Dec, Birmingham Town Hall
DA CAPO CHAMBER
CHOIR: CHRISTMAS
AROUND THE WORLD
Tues 18 Dec, St
Nicholas Church, Warwick
ANDRE RIEU & THE
JOHANN STRAUSS
ORCHESTRA Tue 18 Wed 19 Dec, LG Arena,
Birmingham
EX CATHEDRA: CHRISTMAS MUSIC BY CANDLELIGHT Tues 18 - Sat 22
Dec, St Paul’s Church,
Birmingham
I FAGIOLINI Fri 21 Dec,
Warwick Arts Centre,
Coventry
CBSO FESTIVE
FAVOURITES Featuring
Simon Halsey (conduc-
tor), Alan Titchmarsh
(presenter) & the CBSO
Choruses, Fri 21 - Sun
23 Dec, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
LONDON CONCERT
ORCHESTRA: JINGLE
BELLS CHRISTMAS Featuring the Capital Voices Choir, John Rigby
(conductor), Jacinta
White & Tim Howar
(soloists), Sat 22 Dec,
THE FRONCYSYLLTE MALE
VOICE CHOIR Sat 22 Dec,
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
ORCHESTRA OF THE
SWAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT Programme
includes Finzi's In Terra
Pax, Rutter's Shepherd's Pipe Carol & Ireland's The Holy Boy,
Sat 22 Dec, Holy Trinity
Church, Stratford-uponAvon
ARMONICO CONSORT:
Sat 22 Dec, St Mary’s
Church, Warwick
CBSO SO VOCAL COMMUNITY CHOIR Sun 23 Dec,
Central Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham
LONDON CONCERT
ORCHESTRA: THE GLORY
OF CHRISTMAS Featuring
John Pryce-Jones (conductor), Birmingham
Choral Union, Staffordshire Children's Choir,
Joshua Ellicott (tenor)
& Chrispian SteelePerkins (trumpet), Mon
24 Dec, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
LAST NIGHT OF THE
CHRISTMAS PROMS FEATURING THE LONDON
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Featuring Jae Alexander (conductor), Kate
Valentine (soprano) &
Nicholas Ransley
(tenor). Programme
includes works by
Tchaikovsky, Bizet,
Delibes, Mascagni,
Puccini, Verdi, SaintSaens, Strauss, Elgar &
Handel, Thurs 27 Dec,
MUSICALS OF THE NIGHT
Featuring David Shrubsole (conductor), Celia
Graham, Matthew Cammelle, Tim Howar &
Melanie La Barrie, Fri
28 Dec, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
LONDON CONCERT
ORCHESTRA: ULTIMATE
MOVIE HEROES Featuring
Anthony Inglis (conductor). Programme
includes themes and
soundtracks from
James Bond, Braveheart, Raiders Of The
Lost Ark, Robin Hood,
and Mission Impossible, plus many more...
Sat 29 Dec, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
THE FOUR SEASONS BY
CANDLELIGHT Featuring
David Juritz (conductor), Rachel Nicholls
(soprano) & Christian
Steele-Perkins (trumpet). Programme
includes works by Handel, Charptentier, Handel, Bach, Pachelbel,
Purcell, Handel & Vivaldi, Sun 30 Dec, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
BEETHOVEN'S NINTH Featuring The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
City of Birmingham
Choir, Julia Sporsen
(soprano), Julia Riley
(mezzo-soprano),
Joshua Ellicott (tenor),
Duncan Rock (baritone), Danny Driver
(piano) & Christopher
Warren-Green (conductor), Sun 30 Dec, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
LONDON CONCERT
ORCHESTRA: NEW YEAR'S
EVE GALA Featuring
Anthony Inglis (conductor), Jesus Leon (tenor)
& Richard Morrison
(baritone). Programme
includes works by
Rossini, Sousa, Bizet,
Verdi, Brahms, Rossini,
Strauss, Elgar &
Tchaikovsky, Mon 31
Dec, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
Classical
Box Office
ABBEY CHURCH,
SHREWSBURY
01743 232723
ADRIAN BOULT HALL,
B’HAM
0121 331 5901
ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE
01527 577330
BARBER INSTITUTE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 414 7333
BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL
0121 262 1840
BIRMINGHAM
CONSERVATOIRE
0121 331 5901/2
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
0844 338 5000
0121 780 3333
BRAMALL CONCERT
HALL, UNIVERSITY OF
BIRMINGHAM
0121 414 3344
CBSO CENTRE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 780 3333
COVENTRY CATHEDRAL
02476 521200
GUY NELSON HALL, WARWICK SCHOOL
01926 776400
LICHFIELD GARRICK
01543 412121
ROYAL PUMP ROOMS,
LEAMINGTON SPA
01926 410 410
ST LAURENCE’S CHURCH,
LUDLOW
01584 872150
STRATFORD CIVIC HALL
01789 207100
SYMPHONY HALL,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 780 3333
VICTORIA HALL
STOKE-ON-TRENT
0844 871 7649
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
02476 524524
ComedyDecember_Layout126/11/201210:54Page1
Comedy
Danny Buckler
Comedy
Box Office
Hare & Hounds, Birmingham,
Thurs 13 December
More than once likened in style to the legendary Tony Hancock, Danny Buckler started
out as a magician working the shop floor of
Harrods, his talent for conjuring securing him
invitations to perform at numerous celebrity
bashes (appearances at private functions for
the likes of Liam Gallagher, Bruce Willis and
the Sultan of Brunei all
feature on his impressive
CV). Nowadays a regular
performer on the standup circuit, Danny is a
solid rather than spectacular purveyor of mirth,
but his light touch, easy
manner and intriguing
dress sense ensure that
an evening in his company is very definitely an
evening well spent.
ALEXANDRA THEATRE,
BIRMINGHAM
0844 871 3011
ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE
01527 577330
BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL
02476 376707
0121 780 3333
COX’S YARD
01789 404600
THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM
0121 333 2444
DUDLEY CONCERT HALL
01384 815 577
GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM
0871 4720400
HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM,
0844 844 0044
HUNTINGDON HALL,
WORCESTER,
01905 611427
FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE,
LEEK, STAFFS
01538 386112
Mark Thomas: Brave Figaro
mac, Birmingham, Mon 3 - Wed 5 December
Mark Thomas is no ordinary comedian. Hugely
witty and as savage as a rabid dog when it
comes to putting hecklers in their place, he
takes to the stage with the intention not only of
making people laugh but also of exposing
governmental and corporate exploitation in its
many and varied forms.
Photo credit: Idil Sukan Draw HQ
WitTank
Warwick Arts Centre, Sat 15 December
WitTank know what they’re good at and are happy to keep peddling
it. If you’re looking for something that’s cutting-edge, walk away these Edinburgh Fringe favourites aren’t interested in offering audiences the chance to enter a brand new dimension of comedy.
They’re content instead to present a brand of mainstream, extremely
familiar humour, secure in the knowledge that they’re bloody good
at doing so. Core members Naz Osmanoglu, Kieran Boyd and Mark
Cooper-Jones have been working together for many a year now and it shows; their performances are tight and effective, their writing
very much tailored to their respective and impressive talents. Slowmotion sequences and character pieces are the fellas’ stock in
trade, with comic creations including a cape-swirling magician, a
kleptomaniac bishop and a sinister headmaster, all of whom have
been present and correct in previous Fringe shows.
Marcus
Brigstocke
Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton,
Sun 16 December
Kevin Precious:
Not Appropriate
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 14 December
Former teacher Kevin
Precious's latest comedy
offering explores his
former life in the classroom, and is described as
'a show that will appeal to
anyone who has ever
taught, or, for that
matter, been to
school; parts of
which are likely to
be not appropriate’
Peddling a line in
dark, intelligent
humour, Time Out
Comedy Award-winner Marcus
Brigstocke is a major
comic talent whose
star is most definitely
in the ascendant. With
TV credits including
The Late Edition and
The Now Show,
Marcus boasts a style
all his own, and is
one of the most
inventive talents on
the comedy circuit.
KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 443 4725
LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM
0844 338 8000
LUDLOW ASSEMBLY
ROOMS
01584 878141
MAC, BIRMINGHAM
0121 446 3232
PALACE THEATRE,
REDDITCH
01527 65203
THE PUBLIC, WEST
BROMWICH
0121 533 7161
DRUMMONDS BAR,
WORCESTER
01905 28190
RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY
0844 873 6565
THE ROSE THEATRE,
KIDDERMINSTER
01562 743745
ROYAL SPA CENTRE,
LEAMINGTON SPA
01926 334418
STAFFORD GATEHOUSE
THEATRE
01785 254653
SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX
0121 704 6962
THE SLADE ROOMS,
WOLVERHAMPTON
0870 320 7000
THE GEORGE HOTEL,
BURSLEM, STAFFS
07763301081
TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY
ROOMS
01827 709618
THEATRE SEVERN,
SHREWSBURY
01743 281281
VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY,
STOKE-ON-TRENT
0844 871 7649
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
02476 524524
WEST BROMWICH TOWN
HALL
0121 596 4429
WULFRUN HALL,
WOLVERHAMPTON
0870 320 7000
ComedyDecember_Layout126/11/201210:54Page2
Comedy LISTINGS
For full listing information on comedy
gigs including times and dates visit
NEIL DELAMERE, KELLY
KINGHAM, ROGER
MONKHOUSE & ANDY
ROBINSON Sat 1 Dec,
The Glee Club,
Birmingham
SEAN MEO, SEAN PERCIVAL, TREVOR CROOK &
JOHNNY CANDON Sat 1
Dec, Highlight Comedy
Club, Birmingham
KANE BROWN, JOHN
RYAN & KOJO Sat 1 Dec,
Jongleurs, Birmingham
MARK THOMAS: BRAVE
FIGARO Mon 3 - Wed 5
Dec, mac, Birmingham
JOSIE LONG Wed 5 Dec,
The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
AL MURRAY THE PUB
LANDLORD Wed 5 Dec,
The Roses, Tewksbury
JACK DEE Thurs 6 Dec,
Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
CARL DONNELLY, JIM
TAVARE & DAN NIGHTINGALE Thurs 6 Dec, The
AL MURRAY - THE PUB
LANDLORD Thurs 6 Dec,
Coventry
GEOFF NORCOTT, TONY
HENDRICKS & JEFF INNOCENT Thurs 6 - Sat 8
Dec, Jongleurs,
Birmingham
JAMES DOWDESWELL Fri
7 Dec, The Slade
Rooms, W’hampton
RHOD GILBERT Fri 7 Dec,
Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
BARBARA NICE’S CHRISTMAS CRACKER Fri 7 Dec,
mac, Birmingham
UPFRONT COMEDY FEAT.
FELICITY ETHNIC &
GUESTS Fri 7 Dec, The
Drum, Birmingham
KILL FOR A SEAT COMEDY
CLUB Featuring Simon
Munnery & Liam
Mullone, Fri 7 Dec,
mac, Birmingham
CARL DONNELLY, JIM
TAVARE & PAUL THORNE
Fri 7 - Sat 8 Dec, The
SEAN PERCIVAL,
TANYALEE DAVIS, STUART
GOLDSMITH & DAVID
LONGLEY Fri 7 - Sat 8
Club, Birmingham
STEVE HUGHES Sun 9
Dec, Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry
COMEDIANS & CAROLS
FEAT. PAUL KERENSA,
BARBARA NICE, JO
ENRIGHT, GARETH
RICHARDS & CHRIS HALL
Sun 9 Dec, Birmingham
Cathedral
DAVE JOHNS, JUNIOR
SIMPSON, KAREN BAYLEY
& THE NOISE NEXT DOOR
Tues 11 Dec, Highlight
Comedy Club,
Birmingham
LAUGHING COWS FEATURING JEN BRISTER, MANDY
MUDEN & VG LEE Wed
12 Dec, Kitchen Garden
Cafe, Birmingham
JENNY ECLAIR Wed 12
Dec, The Roses,
Tewksbury
ANDREW LAWRENCE
Thurs 13 Dec, The
Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
SHAZIA MIRZA, BRIAN
DAMAGE, KRYSSTAL
Thurs 13 Dec, Foxlowe
Arts Centre, Leek,
Staffs
Shazia Mirza
DANNY BUCKLER Thurs
13 Dec, Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
RICH WILSON, RYAN
MCDONNELL & PAUL
RICKETTS Thurs 13 Dec,
Drayton Manor Park,
Tamworth
WINDSOR, JOHN NEWTON
Wed 5th Dec, 7.30pm
& WES ZAHARUK Thurs
13 Dec, Worcester
Warriors, Sixways
Stadium, Worcester
SHAZIA MIRZA, BRIAN
DAMAGE, KRYSSTAL
Thurs 13 Dec, The
George Hotel, Burslem,
SIMON B COTTER, CHARLIE BAKER PLUS COMIC
TBC Thurs 13 - Fri 14
Dec, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
JOHN RYAN, GORDON
SOUTHERN & RUDI LICKWOOD Thurs 13 - Sat 15
Dec, Jongleurs,
Birmingham
CHRISTMAS COMEDY
SHOWCASE FEATURING
SEAN PERCIVAL, AL
RUDGE, MASAI GRAHAM,
JARRED CHRISTMAS &
COMPERE JAMES COOK
Public, West Bromwich
KEVIN PRECIOUS: NOT
APPROPRIATE Fri 14
Dec, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
TREVOR CROOK, KAREN
BAYLEY, MICK FERRY &
THE NOISE NEXT DOOR Fri
14 - Sat 15 Dec,
Highlight Comedy Club,
Birmingham
CHRIS RAMSEY Sat 15
Dec, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
SIMON B COTTER, CHARLIE BAKER & GEOFF NORCOTT Sat 15 Dec, The
KEN DODD Sat 15 Dec,
Victoria Hall, Hanley,
Stoke-on-Trent
WITTANK Sat 15 Dec,
Coventry
SHOULD I STAY OR
SHOULD I GO? COMEDY’S
ANSWER TO THE X-FACTOR Sun 16 Dec,
Drummonds Bar,
Worcester
KEN DODD Sun 16 Dec,
Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE
Sun 16 Dec, Wulfrun
Hall, Wolverhampton
MARK OLVER, SEAN
COLLINS & GAVIN WEBSTER Tues 18 Dec, The
THE 'PETER KAY' COMEDY
PARTY - TRIBUTE SHOW
Wed 19 Dec, Nailcote
Hall, Berkswell,
Warwickshire
GEOFF BOYZ, STEVE GRIBBIN, KAREN BAYLEY &
DAVID LONGLEY Wed 19
Club, Birmingham
ROY 'CHUBBY' BROWN
Thurs 20 Dec, Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
KANE BROWN, ALEX
BOARDMAN & JUNIOR
SIMPSON Thurs 20 - Sat
22 Dec, Jongleurs,
Birmingham
MARK OLVER, SEAN
COLLINS & THE RAYMOND
& MR TIMPKINS REVIEW
Thurs 20 - Sat 22 Dec,
The Glee Club,
Birmingham
ROY 'CHUBBY' BROWN Fri
21 Dec, Victoria Hall,
Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
GEOFF BOYZ, GEORGE
EGG, KAREN BAYLEY &
Fri 7th Dec, 8.00pm
NICK PAGE Fri 21 - Sat
22 Dec, Highlight
Comedy Club,
Birmingham
JIMMY CARR Sat 22
Dec, Victoria Hall,
MARK OLVER, SEAN
COLLINS & COMICS TBC
Sun 23 Dec, The Glee
Club, Birmingham
KANE BROWN & SLIM
Wed 26 Dec, Jongleurs,
Birmingham
SEAN COLLINS, ROB
DEERING & ANDY ROBINSON Fri 28 Dec, The
SEAN COLLINS, JOJO
SMITH & SEAN PERCIVAL
Sat 29 Dec, The Glee
Club, Birmingham
PAUL PIRIE, RYAN
MCDONNELL & WES
ZAHARUK Sat 29 Dec,
The Comedy Club,
Royal Oak Hotel,
Welshpool, Powys
RHODRI RHYS, WAYNE
DEAKIN & BRIAN HIGGINS
Sat 29 Dec, Jongleurs,
Birmingham
DESI CENTRAL, PATRICK
MONAHAN, SHAZIA MIRZA
& KANE BROWN Sun 30
Dec, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
JIM TAVARE, SEAN
COLLINS, ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC TBC Mon
31 Dec, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
MANDY KNIGHT, SEAN
PERCIVAL, ROGUE 5 &
DALISO CHAPONDA Mon
31 Dec, Jongleurs,
Birmingham
Wed 12th - Sun 16th Dec
DOUBLE BILL:
murder mystery
& potty mouth
MURDER MYSTERY takes us on a
journey of suspense and comedy
as Monkey Poet shifts characters
from Bukowski to Wilde to
Shakespeare, as he tries to solve a
murder whilst wooing Sylvia Plath.
POTTY MOUTH, tackles the birth,
use and misuse of language and is
stand up poetry at its funniest and
finest.
Jouney with us through
an enticing world
of mystery and
enchantment this
Christmas
GRAFT
george dillon
Wulfruna Street,
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SE
Following on from the sell out
success of The Lion, The Witch
and The Wardrobe, The Snow
Queen and last year;s hit pantomime - 80 Pantos in 80
Doors open 7pm
Minutes.
Hot Walk-up buffet available until 8pm
George Dillon’s solo staging
of Berkoff’s Graft – Tales of an
Actor is a unique master-class
in the craft of acting.
Graft is ten chapters in the life
and many deaths of Harry - a
dedicated actor, who is often out
of work, rejected and desperate
to practise his craft. From his first
audition to his final curtain Graft
unflinchingly exposes the reality
and questions the sacrifice.
Tickets: £9 full price and £7 concs.
Comedy Acts on at 8.30pm
ShareCandle
in some
of the greatest
Lit Tables
a
n
d
Tickets in advance
£12
WCCC
Members stories
£10 ever
curious
children's
Pre-Ordered Food
£8
told and stumble upon Little Red
call 01905 337933 for tickets or email
Riding
Hood, Snowfor White,
comedy@wccc.co.uk
more informa-
Mc-Tony Vino
tion
Tickets:
£9 full
price and
concs.
Paul
Kerens
“atti-£7 Craig
tude, style and
Box Office
diamond-sharp wit”
01902 321 321 For details of other shows this
month please visit our website:
Murray
Over 18’s Advised. Acts are not guaranteed.
Tickets are non-refundable
Tickets: £9 full Ro
price and £7 concs.
“An instant crowd pleaser
with a charismatic mockconfrontational style”
Campbell
“Hugely entertaining
and funny as hell”
www.arena.wlv.ac.uk
Theatre December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 12:37 Page 1
Theatre
Robinson Crusoe And The Caribbean Pirates
Birmingham Hippodrome, Sat 15 December - Sun 27 January
Blackheart the Pirate's after Robinson's treasure map, hoping to gain
access to Skull Island’s Temple of Treasure, but he's reckoned without the interference of Crusoe himself, his mom (Robinson's, that is,
not Blackheart's!), Captain Cockle and The Magical Mermaid!
Birds Of A Feather favourite Lesley Joseph joins Brian for a show that
promises to be every bit as funny, spectacular and downright brilliant
as any of the Hippodrome’s previous panto offerings.
Brian Conley is practically living in the Birmingham Hippodrome
nowadays, having spent Christmas 2011 at the theatre starring in
Cinderella and then returning earlier in 2012 to appear as Fagin in
Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver!.
And just to put the seal on it, he's back yet again this month for a
second consecutive festive season, splicing the mainbrace, shivering
timbers and maybe even walking the plank in the Hippodrome's starstudded production of Robinson Crusoe And The Caribbean Pirates.
The Wind In The Willows
Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, until Sat 19 January
WI
Jack And The Beanstalk
TICKEN
whats
onlive TS
.co.u
to ente
r
Kenneth Grahame’s famous children’s book tells a
classic story of how one life can command the full
attention of three others. Mole, Badger and Ratty
simply don’t have time for any of their own interests
- they’re way too busy having to look after their reckless and irrepressible friend, Toad... Alan Bennett’s
much-loved adaptation of this perennial favourite
features plenty of music and merriment, and despite
being presented at the Crescent Theatre is actually
a Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company production.
The Wind In The Willows in rehearsal
k
The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sat 8 December - Sun 20 January
The Wolverhampton Grand is certainly on a roll when it comes to providing high-quality panto fare. Mainstay of this year’s show is none other than Keith Harris, who shot to
stardom back in the 1970s as a hugely talented ventriloquist, fitting his arm up the
bottom of a green toy duck named Orville and seemingly making him talk. Keith’s had
a similarly ‘close’ relationship with a monkey called Cuddles, and both of these fabulous fluffy friends are joining him for this sure-to-be-entertaining pantomime offering.
Actress, broadcaster and novelist Sherri Hewson is joining Keith too - though in a
somewhat less intimate manner, one hastens to add! Local lass and former X Factor
contestant Niki Evans co-stars, along with ex-Corrie favourite Ken Morley (who played
Reg Holdsworth in the popular ITV1 soap).
Theatre PREVIEWS
Snow White And The Seven
Dwarfs
The Swan Theatre, Worcester,
Tues 4 December - Sun 6 January
Everybody knows the story - the nasty old
queen’s less than keen on her younger and
more beautiful stepdaughter, who takes
refuge from her royal evilness by holing up in
the deep, dark forest with a household of
vertically challenged miners... Expect all the
usual panto elements in this sure-to-be-fun
production, including outrageous Dames in
colourful costumes, plenty of thigh-slapping
and slapstick comedy, singalong songs
aplenty to enjoy, and even a few naughty
jokes to make sure the grown-ups don't feel
too left out of things.
WIN
TIC
KETS
whats
onliv
to entee.co.uk
r
9 To 5 The Musical
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 17 December - Sat 5 January
"I'm so excited that 9 To 5 The Musical is coming to the Midlands," says Dolly Parton, looking
ahead to the stage version of the hit movie and TV series from the early 1980s. "I'm hoping
you have as much fun watching it as I had writing the music for it. 9 To 5 The Musical is perfect for anyone who's ever wanted to string up their boss, which is almost all of us. So come
join the fun!" As with the movie and the spin-off TV series, the stage version centres around
the story of three office workers who turn the tables on their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. The show features eighteen original Dolly Parton numbers, including,
from her last two albums, Backwoods Barbie, Shine Like The Sun, Get Out And Stay Out and
Let Love Grow. Read the review on page 46
The Gruffalo’s Child
Birmingham Town Hall, Sat 22 December Wed 16 January
This new musical adaptation is sure to be a
hit with kids, and finds the Gruffalo and his
youngster embarking on yet another adventure in the deep, dark wood. Despite her
dad's warning to stay away from the wood,
the Gruffalo's child decides it's time to go
and explore, unworried by the legend of the
Big Bad Mouse...
Beauty And The Beast:
The Rock ’N’ Roll Panto
Sleeping Beauty
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre,
Fri 14 December - Sat 12 January
Maureen Nolan stars as the evil Carabosse
in this timeless tale of a beautiful princess
cursed to sleep for one hundred years by an
evil witch. Sleeping Beauty is undoubtedly
one of the modern era's most popular pantomime stories, and generally makes for an
enjoyable evening of festive fun and frivolity!
Stafford Gatehouse's festive fare is somewhat different from the average pantomime
offering. For starters, Beauty And The Beast
isn't a classic pantomime story. Then, on top
of that, this one features a Santa's sackworth
of rock’n’roll numbers, including You Can't
Hurry Love, Hot Stuff, You’ve Got A Friend,
Man I Feel Like A Woman, Keep On Running
and Let Me Entertain You. Not that any of
that's a bad thing, of course, as the venue's
previous rock’n'roll pantos ably prove.
Dick Whittington
Solihull Arts Complex, Fri 14 December Sun 13 January
The story of a young man who heads for
London in search of fame and fortune is one
of the most popular of all pantomimes, not
least because of the top adventures in which
Dick finds himself involved, courtesy of the
not-so-pleasant King Rat and the Sultan's
problem with vermin in his palace. With the
business of falling in love
and becoming the Lord
Mayor of London to further
distract him, there's certainly no guarantee that
the fine young fella will be
home in time for the
Queen's Speech!
Scene from last year’s Dick Whittington Rock’n’Roll panto
Palace Theatre, Redditch,
Mon 3 - Sun 30 December
My Stories, Your Emails
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry,
Wed 5 - Thurs 6 December
There's nudity in this production, but don't
get overly excited - according to the show's
writer and performer, Ursula Martinez, it's that
'really boring kind of nudity'. Ursula here
combines stand-up, live art and character
comedy in order to present what she refers
to as 'a comical and uncompromising investigation into confession, obsession, miscommunication, relationships, loneliness, sex,
fame, identity... and what happens when
your private parts go public!'
Even though the nudity's 'really boring', it's
enough to ensure - along with some strong
language - that the show’s been deemed
unsuitable for anybody under the age of sixteen.
A Kick In The Baubles
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton,
Thurs 6 December
Christmas in the Bailey household is not an
experience that Frank is looking forward to.
Indeed, he reckons it's a car crash just waiting to happen. But when his estranged
daughter Milly suddenly turns up, the rug is
unexpectedly pulled out from underneath the
yuletide chaos... This performance is presented by MIG Theatre Group.
DECEMBER
BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA,
LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE
Fri 7th December
Sat 8th December
JULIAN SMITH
ENGLISH STRING
ORCHESTRA
WELCOME RETURN
FOR THIS POPULAR
SAXOPHONIST
Sat 15th December
ALL ON A
WINTER'S NIGHT
JOHNNY COPPIN &
FRIENDS WITH MUSIC,
STORIES & FESTIVE CHEER
CHRISTMAS CONCERT WITH
A MIX OF SEASONAL MUSIC
& DANCE
Wed 19th - Sun 23rd
December
SINBAD THE SAILOR
ALL & SUNDRY'S ANNUAL
FAMILY PANTOMIME
HIGHLIGHTS
Fri 14th December
ABBA FOREVER
ALL THE HITS WITH A FLURRY OF FESTIVE FAVOURITES
Fri 28th December
THE SNOW QUEEN
SIDEWAYS THEATRE'S
VERSION OF THE CLASSIC
WINTER TALE
FORTHCOMING CINEMA:
Skyfall (12A) // Argo (15) // Frankenweenie (PG)
Untouchable (15) // Madagascar 3 (PG) // The Master (15)
The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk
For bookings & full details log onto
www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330
Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site
Theatre PREVIEWS
Aladdin
The Roses, Tewksbury, Sat 1 December
- Sat 5 January
A perfect story for an evening of family entertainment finds street youth Aladdin trying
against the odds to win the hand of the
beautiful princess, and being helped in his
efforts by the mystical, and traditionally gargantuan, genie of the lamp. And in this particular version, the genie isn’t the only one
lending our eponymous hero a helping hand,
with Tyson the Panda showing he’s not just a
pretty black-and-white furry face.
cast in rehearsals
The Mouse And His Child
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Sat 12 January
The Adventures Of Robin Hood
Bridge House Theatre, Warwick,
until Sat 1 December
The zany and thoroughly madcap antics for
which Oddsocks Productions have become
known are all present and correct in their latest show, a
high-energy
romp
through the
legend of
Robin Hood
that's suitable for the
whole family
to enjoy.
Christmas at the RSC offers a not-to-be-missed opportunity to enjoy a brand new adaptation
of Russell Hoban's masterpiece. This enchanting tale of escape, the search for freedom and
reunited families is credited with having inspired all manner of fantastic stories about what
really happens in the toy box when nobody's looking, and focuses on the exploits of a clockwork mouse and his child. Discarded by children on Christmas Day, the pair find themselves
very lost and very alone, and are desperate to return home to the safety of the toyshop...
Alice In Wonderland
Cinderella
Lichfield Garrick, Fri 7 December Sun 6 January
Crewe Lyceum Theatre,
until Mon 31 December
This timeless classic tells the delightful story
of a little girl called Alice, who falls down a
rabbit hole and discovers the world of Wonderland - a magical and sometimes scary
place, populated with nonsensical and amusing characters such as the White Rabbit, the
Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Produced
by the team who last year scored a Lichfield
Garrick hit with A Christmas Carol, this bright
new version of Lewis Carroll's charming tale
is set in a Christmas circus.
Everybody's favourite fairytale finds kitchen
maid Cinders being bullied by her nots'good-to-look-at sisters, and told to "scrub
harder" while they head for the posh-frock
Ball. But they've reckoned without their putupon sibling's Fairy
Godmother. A few
wand-waves later and
Cinderella's off to the
big bash, too - but
she's only got until
midnight to nab herself
a handsome prince.
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury,
Thurs 6 December - Sun 13 January
Jack and his mam are hard-up, and have no
choice but to take their cow to market to
raise some cash. However, Jack being Jack,
he decides to trade her in (the cow, that is,
not his mam) for a handful of magic beans,
which then grow into a real ogre of a
beanstalk. So if you’re up for a bit of fe-fi-fofumming this fabulous festive season, a trip
to Theatre Severn should be right up your
beanstalk, with a highly talented cast of West
End performers - and a break-dancing pantomime cow! - ensuring that not all encounters with grumpy cash-counting ogres need
end in tears.
Snow White
Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa,
Fri 7 - Mon 31 December
The Twelve Dates Of
Christmas
Snow White is a twenty-four carat classic of a
fairytale, a fact which means a pantomime
version is always a surefire winner - and the
Royal Spa has a great reputation for offering
high-quality panto fare. Expect all the usual
elements, including rouged-up Dames, plenty of slapstick comedy, and no doubt a dollop or several of audience participation too.
Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham,
Wed 5 - Sat 15 December
This quirky, seventy-five-minute one-woman
show is described as ‘Bridget Jones meets
Carrie Bradshaw’. It focuses on the trials and
tribulations of a woman named Mary, who,
after ditching her cheating fiance, finds herself once again thrown into the rough, tough
world of dating. And as if that’s not bad
enough, she then proceeds to find her Mr
Right in little more than the blink of an eye!
If ever there was a reason to dump him and
move on...
Theatre PREVIEWS
Sleeping Beauty
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, until Sat 5 January
The timeless tale of a beautiful princess
who's cursed to sleep for one hundred years
by an evil witch is undoubtedly one of the
modern era's most popular pantomime stories, and is here presented in association
with Imagine Theatre. As usual, the Belgrade
is promising a production boasting 'stunning
sets, spectacular costumes and sparkling
performances' - a combination that's pretty
much perfect for an evening of fantastic festive fun!
Cinderella
Regent Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 13 December - Sat 5 January
James And The Giant Peach
The Old Rep, Birmingham,
until Sat 2 February
One of Roald Dahl's best loved and most
famous masterpieces, James And The Giant
Peach tells the tall tale of a little boy (bet you
can't guess what his name is!) and the truly
horrid and terrible time he has with his revolting old aunties, Sponge and Spiker. Given
how generally unpleasant his life is, it's no
surprise that James grabs the chance to
have an adventure with both hands - and
suddenly finds himself involved with a mystical old man who gives him a bag that contains the strongest magic the world has ever
known. And when James accidentally spills
the contents of the bag near an old peach
tree, it isn't long before the most incredible
things start to happen...
After taking a year off from sharing a Stoke-on-Trent Christmas season with rouge-wearing,
scene-stealing pantomime Dames, one of the Potteries’ favourite sons makes a welcome
return to the Regent Theatre this festive season. Jonathan Wilkes took top billing in the Hanley-based venue’s always-popular yuletide offering from 2005 through to 2010 - and evidently
enjoyed the experience so much he’s decided to make a thigh-slapping return as the perennially lovelorn Buttons. With its comical Ugly Sisters, metamorphosising pumpkin, matchmaking
fairy godmother, drop-dead gorgeous Prince Charming, super-cute mice and fits-one-footonly glass slipper, Cinderella can justifiably lay claim to being the most popular of all pantomimes. This latest Christmastime incarnation of the legendary fairytale promises to be a
delightfully jaw-dropping experience for its sure-to-be-wide-eyed young audience.
Read our interview with Jonathan Wilkes on page 6
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock,
Mon 24 - Mon 31 December
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry,
until Sun 30 December
When it comes to growing beanstalks, the
Midlands region must have extremely fertile
soil, with no shortage of them sprouting up
in our neck of the woods this merry yuletide
season. And where there are beanstalks,
there are inevitably ogres too - so it’s not all
good news, we’re sorry to say... Nah, just
kiddin’ - the more ogres the better, not to
mention magic beans, golden eggs and
have-a-go heroes called Jack! Waterloo
Road favourite Katie McGlynn top-bills in the
Cannock version of this ever-popular fairytale, with wonderfully
comic panto Dame
Keith de Winter donning way too much
rouge and a giant
comedy wig to ensure
the laughter count’s as
high as a carol-singing
choirboy’s voice.
Suitable for children aged three-plus, this
new adaptation of Michael Rosen and Helen
Oxenbury’s popular picture book follows the
exciting adventures of a family as they head
out on an intrepid quest to find a bear.
Catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty
of hands-on fun are combined with no shortage of gigantic swishy swashy grass and
thick oozy, squelchy mud in a show that
seems certain to keep your youngsters well
and truly entertained.
Crackers
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry,
Sat 8 - Sat 22 December
Peter Pan
Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham,
Sat 15 - Sat 29 December
Second star to the right and straight on till
morning - that's the way to Never Never
Land. Fly away with the boy who wouldn't
grow up to a magical island filled with adventure. Meet a real fairy, mermaids, Wendy and
the lost boys. Oh, and beware of the ever-sowicked Captain Hook. And don’t forget to listen out for the ‘tick tock’ of a very hungry
crocodile. Instructions, instructions!
A show created especially for adults, Crackers follows the festive fortunes of Leonard,
whose life is like a really weird pantomime.
He longs to escape the terrible drudgery of
his day-to-day existence, not to mention find true love.
Problem is, his boss,
the astonishingly evil
entrepreneur
Archibald Myrrh, has
got other plans for
him - and abominable ones at that...
Sinbad The Sailor The Panto
Artrix, Bromsgrove,
Wed 19 - Sun 23 December
Sinbad the Sailor sets sail from the fair harbour of Bromsgrove this festive season, hoping to reach the magical island of Loadsawonga. It goes without saying that his journey is fraught with danger and difficulty! Sinbad may not exactly be your common-or-garden pantomime offering, but featuring, as it
does, a high priestess, a dragon, a sultan, a
Dame, a princess, a magic sword and plenty
of dastardly goings-on, there’s little doubt
that this is a show which is going to bring
family audiences a veritable treasure chest’sworth of yuletide cheer.
Box Office 01743 281 281
Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk
Theatre LISTINGS
For full listing information on theatre
productions including times and
dates visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
from
SAT 1 DEC
COLDER THAN HERE The
Crescent Theatre Company present Laura
Wade's dark but
translucent play of love,
death and grief, until
Sat 1 Dec, Crescent
Theatre, Birmingham
THE LADYKILLERS Graham Linehan's new
adaptation of the celebrated Ealing comedy,
until Sat 1 Dec, Malvern
Theatres
LES MISERABLES SCHOOL EDITION until 1
Dec, Stratford Civic Hall
FEEL GOOD MUSICAL
Reach Musical Theatre
present an array of
West End showstoppers from Mamma Mia!,
We Will Rock You and
Wicked, until Sat 1 Dec,
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
THE EMPEROR'S NEW
CLOTHES Luke Players
present David Foxton's
play for children which
merges two popular
tales, until Sat 1 Dec,
mac - Midlands Arts
Centre, Birmingham
GREASE THE MUSICAL
until Sat 1 Dec, The
AMERICAN IDIOT New
musical based on
Green Day's Grammy
Award-winning album
of the same name, until
Sat 1 Dec, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
SOLIHULL GANG SHOW
2012 Based on the original Ralph Reader concept, Solihull Gang
Show is a unique and
vibrant show fusing
singing, dancing and
comedy, until Sat 1
Dec, Solihull Arts Complex
THE ADVENTURES OF
ROBIN HOOD Oddsocks
present a heartwarming
romp suitable for all the
family, complete with
live music, action and
plenty of audience participation, until Sat 1
Dec, Bridge House
Theatre, Warwick
KNICK KNACK AND DOO
DAD Lyngo Theatre
present a brand new
show for children
which, set on an island
piled high with rubbish,
tells a tale of friendship,
until Sun 2 Dec, mac Midlands Arts Centre,
Birmingham
THE WINTER’S TALE - THE
BEAUTIFUL AND THE
DAMNED Shakespeare
Young Company set
The Bard's doomed
romance in a kingdom
resembling 1950s
Monaco, until Sun 2
Dec, The Dream Factory, Warwick
ERIC IN WONDERLAND
New Vic's Uncle Eric is
back and ready to murder yet another literary
classic, until Sat 15
Dec, New Vic Theatre,
Newcastle-under-Lyme
WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR
HUNT Adapted from the
picture book written by
Michael Rosen and
illustrated by Helen
Oxenbury. Expect
catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty
of hands-on adventure,
until Sun 30 Dec, Warwick Arts Centre,
Coventry
CINDERELLA Traditional
family pantomime, until
Mon 31 Dec, Crewe
Lyceum
SLEEPING BEAUTY until
Sat 5 Jan, Belgrade
Theatre, Coventry
THE MERRY WIVES OF
WINDSOR Anita Dobson
makes her RSC debut
in Phillip Breen's version of Shakespeare's
great comedy, until Sat
12 Jan, Royal Shake-
speare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
THE MOUSE AND HIS
CHILD The RSC present
Tamsin Oglesby's adaptation of Russell
Hoban's acclaimed children's tale, until Sat 12
Jan, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
HELLO, DOLLY!
Described as one of the
brassiest Broadway
musicals of all time,
Hello Dolly follows the
spirited Dolly Levi, a
professional matchmaker intent on bringing
love to the great and
good of Manhattan,
until Sat 12 Jan, The
Curve, Leicester
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Dickens' Christmas
classic is here adapted
and directed by New
Vic Artistic Director,
Theresa Heskins, until
Sat 19 Jan, New Vic
Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS Alan Bennett's
stage adaptation of
Kenneth Grahame's
classic tale, until Sat 19
Jan, Crescent Theatre,
Birmingham
JAMES AND THE GIANT
PEACH Birmingham
Stage Company present Roald Dahl's classic
adventure for children,
until Sat 2 Feb, Old
Rep, Birmingham
BORIS GODUNOV Michael
Boyd directs Adrian
Mitchell's adaptation of
Alexander Pushkin's
political Russian drama,
until Sat 30 Mar, The
Swan Theatre, Stratford
SONDHEIM'S COMPANY A
big-screen treat for fans
of musical theatre as a
cast, including some of
the hottest names from
American stage and TV,
perform alongside New
York’s Philharmonic.
Recorded at Avery Fisher Hall and shown on
the Assembly’s cinema
screen, Sat 1 Dec, Ludlow Assembly Rooms,
South Shropshire
THE MINCE PIE OF DOOM
RETURNS WITH THE
SPROUT OF DESTINY The
Avonmill Players make
a welcome return with
their latest festive offering, Sat 1 Dec, Norbury
Theatre, Droitwich
SHE BCU & Birmingham
& Solihull Women’s Aid
present a multi-disciplinary performance piece
consisting of drama,
verbatim, dance, music,
singing, performance
poetry, spoken word,
film and animation, Sat
1, Mon 3 & Tues 4 Dec,
The Drum, Birmingham
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES Eve Ensler's
hilarious Broadway and
West End smash hit
returns with a new allstar cast, including
Clare Buckfield, Vicky
Entwistle and Chelsee
Healey, Sat 1 Dec,
Royal Spa Centre,
Leamington Spa
THE TEMPEST Ballet
Cymru presents a choreographed version of
Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Sat 1 Dec, Stourbridge Town Hall
GRIMM FAIRYTALE SHOW
Artrix’s very own youth
theatre production
company use storylines
and characters from
favourite traditional
tales to create an original and challenging
piece of theatre, Sat 1
Dec, Artrix, Bromsgrove
ALADDIN Be transported
to a land faraway in this
traditional family pantomime, Sat 1 Dec - Sat
5 Jan, The Roses Theatre, Tewksbury
SING-A-LONG-A GREASE
Sun 2 Dec, Regent
Theatre, Hanley, Stokeon-Trent
Week Commencing
MON 3 DEC
AN AUDIENCE WITH SALLY
MORGAN Evening of
mediumship, Mon 3
Dec, Regent Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent
TANGO PASION Choreographed performance
featuring some of the
world's best tango
dancers, Mon 3 Dec,
SEASONS GREETING The
Christmas 2012
with The REP
@ The Crescent Theatre
Sheepcote St, Birmingham B16 8AE
28 November to
19 January
With music and merriment, The Wind in The
Willows will keep you
entertained and
enthralled, no matter
what your age!
Tickets from £9 to £28, with concessions
and Family Tickets available
Fri 7th - Mon 31st December
Birmingham Repertory
Theatre Company presents
Various Times, Tickets £14 - £48
BOO
K
NOW
!
Sat 5th & Sun 6th January
THE LION, THE WITCH
AND THE WARDROBE
2.00pm & 7.30pm. Tickets £10
Sat 26th January
PETE FIRMAN:
HOODWINKER
Book Online
8.00pm. Tickets £15 / £13 concs
birmingham-rep.co.uk
Thurs 7th February
0121 236 4455
ODDSOCKS PRESENT
THE ADVENTURES OF
ROBIN HOOD
7.30pm. Tickets £13 / £12 concs
Sat 9th February
TOPLOADER
7.30pm. £18 / £15 concs
Fri 15th February
T.REXTASY
8.00pm. Tickets £14
Sat 16th February
SIMON DAY: COMEDY
AND ERROR
7.30pm. Tickets £13
Thu 21st February
THE SAGAS OF
NOGGIN THE NOG
2.00pm, Tickets £8 / £7 concs
Sat 2nd March
ELO EXPERIENCE
7.30pm, Tickets £17 / £15 concs
By Kenneth Grahame, adapted for
the stage by Alan Bennett, additional
lyrics and music by Jeremy Sams
Box Office
Registered Charity No.223660
COMING SOON
TO THEATRE SEVERN
SUNDAY 9 DECEMBER
Discover your new
favourite stand-up...
at Theatre Severn's
monthly comedy club
TUESDAY 5 - WEDNESDAY 6 FEBRUARY
PRESENT THEIR NEW SHOW
TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY
An Empty Stage A Frightened Theatre A Show Must Go On!
WED 27 FEBRUARY - SUN 3 MARCH
BUXTON OPERA HOUSE
1st - 3rd February
0845 127 2190
www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
ITION
S OF TRAD
2000 YEAR
EXPLOIRDCEUS!
TEST
RLDS GREA
IN THE WO
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ACROBATIC
g Circus
t exhilaratin
e”
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ilege to se
iv
pr
y
m
it has been
dard
ening Stan
London Ev
THEATRE SEVERN
SHREWSBURY
5th - 6th February
01743 281281
Romance, tragedy, drama and magic as
Beauty Belle falls in love with the Beast
VISIT OU
WEBSITE R
T
VIEW MO O
RE
SHOWS!
www.theatresevern.co.uk
ASSEMBLY ROOMS, DERBY
15th - 16th February
01332 255800
www.derbylive.co.uk
Box Office 01743 281 281
Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk
Frankwell Quay,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire,
SY3 8FT
Theatre LISTINGS
For full listing information on theatre
productions, including times and
dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Nonentities present
Alan Ayckbourn’s dark
comedy, which centres
around a family Christmas, Mon 3 - Sat 8
Dec, The Rose Theatre.
Kidderminster
ASKING FOR MURDER
STAC present Angela
Lanyon’s festive thriller,
Mon 3 - Sat 8 Dec, The
Swan Theatre, Worcester
SLEEPING BEAUTY Traditional family pantomime
starring Maureen Nolan
as the evil Carabosse,
Mon 3 - Sun 30 Dec,
Palace Theatre, Redditch
CINDERELLA Tue 4 - Sat
29 Dec, Bedworth Civic
Hall
SNOW WHITE & THE
SEVEN DWARFS Tue 4
Dec - Sun 6 Jan, The
GRAFT: TALES OF AN
ACTOR George Dillon's
solo staging of Berkoff's
play - a cautionary tale
about the perils of
entering the theatrical
profession, Wed 5 Dec,
TANGO PASION Choreographed performance
featuring some of the
world's best tango
dancers, Wed 5 Dec,
Malvern Theatres
MY STORIES, YOUR
EMAILS Ursula Martinez
combines stand-up, live
art and character comedy to unleash some of
the characters in her
life - and her inbox...
Wed 5 - Thurs 6 Dec,
Coventry
THE LION, THE WITCH
AND THE WARDROBE
Stage version of the
much-loved tale of
good vs evil, Wed 5 Sat 8 Dec, Netherton
Arts Centre, Dudley
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Glyndebourne Opera
present a new production of Mozart's The
Marriage Of Figaro,
Wed 5 - Sat 8 Dec,
Regent Theatre, Hanley,
Stoke-on-Trent
THE TWELVE DATES OF
CHRISTMAS The hit offBroadway show makes
its Birmingham debut,
Wed 5 - Sat 15 Dec,
Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
A KICK IN THE BAUBLES
MIG present an amateur production of Gordon Steel's festive play,
Thurs 6 Dec, Arena
Theatre, Wolverhampton
ALICE THE MUSICAL
Appletree Theatre &
Film Company's Drama
Club bring Lewis Carroll's magical world to
life in an amateur production based on
Alice's Adventures In
Wonderland, Thurs 6
Dec, Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, South Shropshire
JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK Family pantomime presented by
Evolution Productions,
Thurs 6 Dec - Sun 13
Jan, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
THE SPIRAL, DECI4LIFE &
MOQAPI SELASSIE Rescripted version of the
life-changing meeting
between Glitzy, an
emerging grime artist
from North Birmingham
who’s funded to study
on a six-month community arts placement,
and his newly appointed mentor - veteran
dub poet and radical
cultural activist Leroy
‘Steppin-Razor’ Ujima,
Drum, Birmingham
CINDERELLA Classic
rags-to-riches fairytale,
Fri 7 - Mon 31 Dec, The
Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford
SNOW WHITE Fri 7 - Mon
31 Dec, Royal Spa
Centre, Leamington
Spa
ALICE IN WONDERLAND A
festive performance of
Lewis Carroll's timeless
tale, Fri 7 Dec - Sun 6
Jan, Lichfield Garrick
RUBY MAIHEM BURLESQUE - CHRISTMAS
SPECIAL Burlesque performances from Bunny
Catch Love, Rainbow
Sparkles, Cherry Stone
and many more... Sat 8
Dec, The Public, West
Bromwich
CHRISTMAS WASSAIL A
festive feast of choral
music and song, comedy and spoken word,
Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
Coughton Court, Warwickshire
BLACK COUNTRY CHRISTMAS SHOW Featuring
Tommy Mundon, Ian
'Sludge' Lees, Doug
Parker and The Crockers, Sat 8 Dec, Dudley
Concert Hal
MET OPERA LIVE: UN
BALLO IN MASCHERA
Featuring as part of the
Met Opera Live series,
and beamed live from
New York, director
David Alden's dreamlike
setting provides a compelling backdrop for
this dramatic story of
jealousy and
vengeance, Sat 8 Dec,
Coventry
HAPPY STEPS: ROCK &
POP TO CHRISTMAS
Showcase of ballet, tap,
jazz & musical theatre,
Sat 8 Dec, Norbury
Theatre, Droitwich
JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK Featuring
Loose Women presen-
ter Sherrie Hewson as
Lady Temple Savage,
alongside Keith Harris,
Orville and Cuddles,
Sat 8 Dec - Sun 20 Jan,
The Grand Theatre,
Wolverhampton
CRACKERS A brand new,
crazy Christmas comedy, Sat 8 - Sat 22 Dec,
Belgrade Theatre,
Coventry
CHRISTMAS IS HERE JOOLZ SCHOOL OF DANCE
Sun 9 Dec, Artrix,
Bromsgrove
FEAST OF FESTIVE
FRIGHTENERS Don’t Go
Into The Cellar present
a festive and chilling
performance incorporating elements of
Charles Dickens’ finest
Christmas ghost stories, Sun 9 Dec, Aston
Hall, Birmingham
Week Commencing
MON 10 DEC
CHRISTMAS WASSAIL A
Tue 11 - Wed 12 Dec,
Highbury Hall, Birmingham
CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY New College present an amateur production of
Roald Dahl’s classic
tale, Wed 12 - Thurs 13
Dec, Artrix, Bromsgrove
GRIMM TALES Poole
Hayes Youth Theatre
present a fusion of
some of the most curious children's stories
ever told, Wed 12 - Sun
16 Dec, Arena Theatre,
Wolverhampton
JERUSALEM Newman
University Drama College present Jez Butterworth's award-winning
anarchic play, Wed 12 Fri 14 Dec, Crescent
Theatre, Birmingham
CINDERELLA Featuring
Jonathan Wilkes, Thurs
13 Dec - Fri 4 Jan,
Regent Theatre, Hanley,
Stoke-on-Trent
CINDERELLA Family pantomime starring Ruth
Madoc, Jamie Rickers
and Emma Nowell,
Thurs 13 Dec - Sun 6
Jan, Malvern Theatres
THE THREE SNAKE
LEAVES A 'fairytale for
grown-ups' which interweaves and reworks a
dozen of the Brothers
Grimm's lesser-known
tales into a richly layered but seamless narrative, Thurs 13 Dec,
Coventry
JANE PACKMAN COMPANY: THE WAKE Set within
mac’s visual art installation The Woods, a
group of performers
and musicians take the
audience on a journey
through the events and
moments that have
shaped the past twelve
months, Thurs 6 - Sat 8
Dec, mac, Birmingham
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST:
THE ROCK 'N' ROLL PANTO
The classic fairytale is
given a rock 'n' roll
twist, Thurs 13 Dec Sat 12 Jan, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
DICK WHITTINGTON The
Dirty Old Folkers present a folked-up version
of a traditional pantomime, Fri 14 Dec,
Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
SNOW WHITE AND THE
SEVEN DWARFS Traditional family pantomime, Fri 14 - Sun 23
Dec, Forest Arts Centre,
Walsall
DICK WHITTINGTON FAMILY PANTOMIME Written
and directed by Malcolm Stent, who also
stars as Idle Jack, Fri
14 Dec - Mon 14 Jan,
Solihull Arts Complex
CHRISTMAS WASSAIL A
Sat 15 Dec, Harvington
Hall, Kidderminster
DANCING THROUGH THE
DECADES Students of
the Encore Academy
present a showcase of
songs & narration from
decades past, Sat 15
Dec, Dovehouse Theatre, Solihull
A SURPRISE FOR FARMER
CHRISTMAS Amateur
festive theatre for children, Sat 15 Dec, The
PETER PAN Blue Orange
Arts present the timeless tale of the boy who
wouldn’t grow up... Sat
15 - Sat 29 Dec, The
Blue Orange Theatre,
Birmingham
ROBINSON CRUSOE AND
THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES
Featuring Hippodrome
regular Brian Conley
and Birds Of A Feather
actress Lesley Joseph,
Sat 15 Dec - Sun 27
Jan, Birmingham Hippodrome
CHRISTMAS WASSAIL A
Sun 16 - Tue 18 Dec,
Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
A YULETIDE EVENING
WITH GERVAISE PHINN
The comic writer,
author and raconteur
shares stories, anecdotes, poems and readings based around the
theme of Christmas,
Sun 16 Dec, Birmingham Town Hall
Week Commencing
MON 17 DEC
A VERY MARIE XMAS Celebrate Christmas in true
Edwardian fashion with
a dinner and theatre
evening where ‘Queen
of the music halls’
Marie Lloyd entertains
with a feast of seasonal
skits and songs, Mon
17 Dec, Old Joint Stock
Theatre, Birmingham
9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL
New musical comedy
based on the multiaward-winning movie,
Sleeping Beauty - Tamworth Assembly Rooms
and starring Dolly Parton. Bonnie Langford,
Natalie Casey, Jackie
Clune, Amy Lennox
and Ben Richards, Mon
17 Dec - Sat 5 Jan,
New Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
ALADDIN Wed 19 - Sun
23 Dec, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South
Shropshire
'OH WHISTLE...' TWO
GHOST STORIES BY M R
JAMES Robert Lloyd
Parry performs two of
MR James' classic
spinechillers set on the
Suffolk coast, Wed 19
Dec, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT
OUT Comedy, drama,
songs and dance presented by three of
Wolverhampton's most
popular theatre groups
- The Discoverers,
NoNonsense and
WOW, Wed 19 Dec,
CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT Songs, readings,
carols and mince pies
for the festive season,
Wed 19 - Fri 21 Dec,
The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
SINBAD THE SAILOR THE
PANTO All & Sundry
present a traditional
family pantomime
incorporating song,
visual comedy, slapstick and audience participation, Wed 19 - Sun
23 Dec, Artrix, Bromsgrove
SLEEPING BEAUTY Magical pantomime adventure for all the family,
Wed 19 - Sun 23 Dec,
Tamworth Assembly
Rooms
THAT'LL BE THE DAY
CHRISTMAS SHOW Thurs
20 Dec, Victoria Hall,
COUNT MAGNUS - TWO
GHOST STORIES BY M R
JAMES A travel writer's
overinquisitiveness
leads to a breathless,
diabolical chase from
darkest Sweden to rural
Essex, Thurs 20 Dec,
Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre
HEAR OUR SONG Cassie
Robinson presents
some of West End and
Broadway's best-loved
tunes, including music
from Cabaret, Carousel,
Phantom Of The Opera
and Les Miserables,
Thurs 20 - Fri 21 Dec,
PUSS IN BOOTS OTFM
Productions present a
festive tale which sees
Puss endeavour to stop
the evil Ogre - aided by
Baron Von Schtinkenhoffen - as he sets
about trying to destroy
Panto Land forever...,
Thurs 20 Dec - Tue 1
Jan, Bridge House Theatre, Warwick
GERRY COTTLES CHRISTMAS CIRCUS High-energy entertainment for all
the family, Thurs 20
Dec - Sun 6 Jan, Star
City, Birmingham
THE SELFISH GIANT
Sealegs Puppet Theatre Company present
an adaptation of Oscar
Wilde's fairytale, Fri 21 Sat 22 Dec, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD
Tall Stories return with a
musical stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson's award-winning
story. Please note that
all adults must be
accompanied by a
responsible child!, Sat
22 Dec - Wed 16 Jan,
DICK WHITTINGTON Pyramid Pantomimes bring
a few modern twists to
a traditional festive
show, Sat 22 Dec, The
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Clive Frances recreates
Charles Dickens' reading of the festive
favourite at Birmingham's Town Hall one
hundred-and-fifty years
ago, Sun 23 Dec, Birmingham Town Hall
JACK AND THE
BEANSTALK Traditional
family pantomime starring Katie McGlynn as
Fairy Cupcake and
Keith De'Winter as
Dame Dolly, Mon 24 Mon 31 Dec, Prince Of
Wales Centre, Cannock
THE SNOW QUEEN Sideways Theatre prepare
to take the audience on
a festive journey
through the snow and
mountains of a magical
frozen land, Fri 28 Dec,
Artrix, Bromsgrove
Theatre REVIEWS
Here are a few of the theatre
productions we reviewed from last
month. For further theatre reviews, visit,
Some Like It Hip Hop
The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
Stopping off in Wolverhampton on the last leg of
their current tour, Olivier Award nominees Zoonation presented a wonderfully exhilarating and beautifully unique theatrical experience.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset, as an
audience ranging from pre-teens to the very
mature became quickly engrossed in what can
only be described as an amazing spectacle.
Impressively fusing numerous artistic disciplines,
the show featured some of the most eye-popping
choreography and physically dynamic moves I’ve
ever had the pleasure to witness. Don’t be put off
by the title, which could wrongly lead you to
assume that this is little more than a dance show
suited to ‘kids on the block’ - Some Like It Hip Hop
brings to the stage superb physical theatre, great
musicianship, wonderful staging and lighting, a
wealth of comedy, and beautifully honed soul
singers who could give some of the music industry’s finest a real run for their money.
At the heart of the performance is a familiar love
story. Spiced up with gender stereotypes, crossdressing and mistaken identity, it runs at a tumultuous pace, and one which is so absorbing you
never want it to end.
Let’s hope Zoonation don’t wait too long before
they make a return visit to the Midlands...
Patsy Moss ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
9 To 5: The Musical
Regent Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent
It’s 1980, and Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are causing a stir addressing
office politics and sexism in Patricia Resnick’s workplace drama. Fast-forward thirtytwo years and we find Ms Parton’s much-hyped musical version of the award-winning
film hitting the stage. The show opens with Dolly introducing the characters via video
footage projected onto a giant clock in the middle of the stage, after which we’re into
the opening number, the anthemic 9 To 5. Amy Lennox gives an impressive performance as Doralee - close your eyes and it could easily be Dolly up there on stage, belting out Backwards Barbie. Jackie Clune as office boss Violet, and on this occasion
stand-in Gemma Maclean as the scatty and recently divorced Judy give equally credible performances. Between the three of them they deliver some great one-liners.
However, it’s Bonnie Langford as the prim, lovelorn secretary Roz Keith who steals
the show. The comic ‘dream scene’, in which she seduces her boss (played by Ben
Richards) draws loud hoots from the audience. Fast-paced and fun, 9 To 5 is a lighthearted musical which provides great theatrical entertainment and more than lives up
to its hype. It may not be as dynamic as the likes of Legally Blonde, but it nonetheless offers plenty of enjoyable moments and is a highly recommended watch.
9 To 5 The Musical shows at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre, from Mon 17
December to Sat 5 January. Reggie White ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Theatre Box Office
Birmingham
Welsh National Opera: La Boheme
Birmingham Hippodrome
La Boheme opens with four artist friends cheating
the landlord and the poignant first meeting of Mimi
and Rodolfo. It’s clear from the start, with the set
enhanced by video projection, that we’re in a garret
overlooking Paris in the bleak midwinter. Puccini
gives the director very little time to establish both
the love story and the acceptance of Mimi into the
circle of friends. Act Two is dominated by the
games between Marcello and Musette, but it’s also
important that we see Mimi acknowledged with
warmth by the friends, otherwise the ending of the
opera seems unlikely. The tragedy should be that
Mimi has not only left Rodolfo forever, but also the
others too - and for that to work, we need to see
those relationships develop very quickly. In this production, the concern of the others in the final throes
seems unlikely. Five stars for the magnificent music
of Puccini, for the orchestra, and for the sung interpretation by the cast. Four stars for the storytelling.
Jan Watts ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Read more theatre reviews in our online version at
ALEXANDRA THEATRE
0844 871 3011
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
0844 338 5000
BIRMINGHAM REP
0121 236 4455
THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE
0121 212 2643
CRESCENT THEATRE
0121 643 5858
DOVEHOUSE THEATRE
0121 706 7139
THE DRUM 0121 333 2444
MAC 0121 446 3232
OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE
0121 200 0946
OLD REP 0121 245 4455
SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX
0121 704 6962
Black Country
ARENA THEATRE
WOLVERHAMPTON
01902 321321
BLOXWICH THEATRE
01922 653183
DUDLEY CONCERT HALL
01384 812812
FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL
01922 654555
GRAND THEATRE,
01902 429212
NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE
01902 572090
OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY
0121 552 2761
THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH
0121 533 7161
Shropshire
THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON
01952 222277
THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK
01952 728911
THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY
01743 234970
LUDLOW ASSEMBLY
ROOMS 01584 878141
THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD
01952 382382
THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY
01743 281281
WEM TOWN HALL
01939 232299
Staffordshire
LICHFIELD GARRICK
01543 412121
NEW VIC 01782 717962
PRINCE OF WALES
CENTRE, CANNOCK
01543 578762
REGENT THEATRE, STOKE
0870 060 6649
STAFFORD GATEHOUSE
01785 254653
STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE
01782 209784
Warwickshire
BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL
024 7637 6707
BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY
024 7655 3055
BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WARWICK
01926 776438
THE DREAM FACTORY
01926 419555
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE
THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
0844 800 1110
ROYAL SPA CENTRE
LEAMINGTON 01926 334418
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE COVENTRY
02476 524524
Worcestershire
ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE,
BROMSGROVE 01527 577330
THE HIVE
01905 822866
HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER
01905 611427
MALVERN THEATRE
01684 892277
NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH
01905 770154
PALACE THEATRE
REDDITCH 01527 65203
ROSE THEATRE,
01562 743745
SWAN THEATRE,
WORCESTER 01905 611427
Theatre WEST END
New Tim Rice musical set for
the West End
A new musical version of James Jones’ classic novel From Here To Eternity will open at
London’s Shaftesbury Theatre next
autumn. The production - which
brings together the
writing talents of
Tim Rice, Stuart
Brayson and Bill
Oakes - is Tim’s first
new stage musical
Sir Tim Rice
in ten years.
Paul Nicholas to appear in UK
premiere of Broadway musical
The British premiere of Jerry Herman’s Dear
World is to show at the Charing Cross Theatre next year. A story of good versus evil,
the hit musical premiered on Broadway in
1969 and starred Angela Lansbury as Countess Aurelia. This latest incarnation will see
Tony award-winning actress and American
musical legend Betty
Betty Buckley
Buckley assume the
role of the countess,
while West End veteran Nicholas takes
the role of Sewerman. Dear World
shows at Charing
Cross Theatre from
4 February to 30
March.
WEST END LISTINGS:
MUSICALS
AMERICAN IDIOT Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, 3 - 16 Dec 2012
BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSICAL Victoria Palace
Theatre, booking until
21 Dec 2013
BODYGUARD Adelphi
Theatre booking until
27 Apr 2013
CABARET Savoy Theatre
booking until 19 Jan
2013
DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS Wyndham’s Theatre booking until 19
Jan 2013
JERSEY BOYS Prince
Edward Theatre, booking until 17 Feb 2013
KISS ME KATE Old Vic
2 Mar 2013
LES MISÉRABLES
Queen's Theatre booking until 26 Oct 2013
LET IT BE Prince Of
Wales Theatre, booking
until 19 Jan 2013
LION KING Lyceum Theatre, booking until 30
jun 2013
LOSERVILLE Garrick Theatre, booking until 2
Mar 2013
MAMMA MIA! Novello
13 Apr 2013
MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Cambridge Theatre,
booking until 22 Dec
2013
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Her Majesty's Theatre,
booking until 26 Oct
2013
ROCK OF AGES Shaftesbury Theatre, booking
until 17 Feb 2013
ROOM ON THE BROOM
Lyric Theatre, 21 Nov
2012 - 13 Jan 2013
SCROOGE THE MUSICAL
London Palladium Theatre, booking until 12
Jan 2013
SEUSSICAL Arts Theatre,
booking until 6 Jan
2013
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Drury Lane, Theatre
Royal, booking until 24
Feb 2013
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
PalaceTheatre, booking
until 31 Aug 2013
SPAMALOT Playhouse
13 Apr 2013
STOMP Ambassadors
22 Dec 2013
THRILLER LIVE Lyric Theatre, booking until 3
Mar 2013
TOP HAT Aldwych Theatre, booking until 28
Sept 2013
Suranne Jones to star in Jonathan Harvey’s classic play
A new production of Jonathan Harvey’s
Beautiful Thing is to show in the West End,
to celebrate the play’s twentieth anniversary.
Ex-Coronation Street actress Suranne Jones
will star in the urban love story, which centres on the relationship between two young
men on an inner city council estate. During
its twenty-year history, Beautiful Thing has
VIVA FOREVER! Piccadilly
Theatre, booking until 1
June 2013
WE WILL ROCK YOU
Dominion Theatre,
booking until 23 Mar
2013
WICKED Apollo Victoria
27 Apr 2013
DRAMA
CHANGELING Young Vic
15 Dec 2012
CHARIOTS OF FIRE
Gielgud Theatre, booking until 2 Feb 2013
CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH
SIMON CALLOW
Arts Theatre, booking
until 6 Jan 2013
CONSTELLATIONS
Duke Of York Theatre,
booking until 5 Jan
2013
DAMNED BY DESPAIR
Olivier National Theatre,
booking until 17 Dec
2012
DARK EARTH AND THE
LIGHT SKY
Almeida Theatre, booking until 12 Jan 2013
EFFECT Cottesloe
National Theatre, booking until 23 Feb 2013
GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM
Phoenix Theatre booking until 26 Jan 2013
HANSEL AND GRETAL
Cottesloe National Theatre booking until 26
Jan 2013
MOUSETRAP St Martins
21 Dec 2013
OUR BOYS Duchess Theatre, booking until 15
Dec 2013
SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION Lyttelton National
Dec 2012
WAR HORSE New London Theatre, booking
until 26 Oct 2013
WOMAN IN BLACK Fortune Theatre, booking
until 14 Dec 2013
been produced twenty-five times and has
starred a host of well-known names, including Johny Lee Miller, Hugh Bonneville, Phillip
Glennister and Rhys Ifans.
This latest version, directed by Nikolai Foster,
will show at London’s Arts Theatre from 13
April to 25 May. Further casting is yet to be
announced.
COMEDY
39 STEPS Criterion Theatre, booking until 30
Mar 2013
BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS
FACE Duchess Theatre,
17 Dec 2012 - 5 Jan
2013
CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL Harold Pinter
Jan 2013
MIDSUMMER NIGHTS
DREAM Noel Coward
Theatre, 7 Sept 2013 16 Nov 2013
MAGISTRATE Olivier
National Theatre, booking until 22 Jan 2013
ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
Haymarket Theatre
Royal, booking until 31
Aug 2013
PRIVATES ON PARADE
Noel Coward Theatre, 1
Dec 2012 - 2 Mar 2013
TWELFTH NIGHT Apollo
Theatre, 2 Nov 2012 - 3
Feb 2013
YES, PRIME MINISTER
Trafalgar Studios, booking until - 12 Jan 2013
Rock Of Ages - Shaftesbury Theatre
Theatre December reviews extra_Layout 1 28/11/2012 14:45 Page 1
Theatre REVIEWS
Here are a few additional theatre
productions we reviewed from last
month...
Cinderella: Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s highly regarded version
of Cinderella is both beautiful and majestic, and is
here exquisitely executed by the talented ensemble
of dancers.
Director David Bintley pulls together the elements
of the classic fairytale with strong, clear storytelling.
There are also stunning sets from John MacFarlane
and clever lighting by David Finn.
Elisha Willis brings an impressive emotional depth
to her portrayal of the kitchenmaid-turned-fairytale
princess, and undergoes a magical metamorphosis
to end up in the arms of her prince (Iain Mackay).
The choreography is dramatic and bold, from the
season soloists to the grand waltzes. A particular
crowdpleaser is the comedic turn by Carol-Anne
Millar as Dumpy. This enchanting production
boasts numerous truly magical moments, the
countdown to midnight via a giant mechanical
clock being my own personal favourite.
Parv Gandham ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
American Idiot
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
Fright Bites Dinner Theatre
While Green Day may not be the most obvious choice of band to inspire a musical,
there’s little doubting American Idiot’s popularity following its success on Broadway.
With the likes of Basket Case being a soundtrack to my own adolescence, I was
intrigued to see how the band’s back-catalogue would play out on stage.
The show’s coming-of-age story concerns three dissatisfied friends whose lives take
very different courses in post-9/11 America. While central character Johnny heads to
the city and becomes high on love and drugs before his addiction turns sour, Tunny
enrols in the army, only to lose a leg. Will, meanwhile, remains trapped in suburbia,
raising a young family and sinking into alcoholism. Serious stuff. The show was quite
literally packed to the rafters with Green Day’s hits, most of which were cleverly introduced to enhance the narrative. Holiday and Boulevard Of Broken Dreams were particular highlights; the former was accompanied by the impressive prop of a scaffold
fashioned into a bus! The plot suffered from a lack of dialogue, though - some of the
story’s more abstract ideas would only have been conveyed to those who were very
familiar with all the lyrics. For a musical which grounds itself in a post-9/11 world,
Johnny’s anti-establishment sensibilities and punk connections seemed a little contrived - more reflective of Green Day in the 1980s than the noughties.
For all that, America Idiot nonetheless has much to recommend it, and features a live
band on stage, together with lead performers who not only sing, dance and act but
also pick up guitars to play along. If you love all things Green Day, this show is a real
treat. Claire Lloyd ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
This is the Old Joint Stock Theatre’s first move into
Dinner Theatre and Don’t Go Into The Cellar is the
perfect company for this venture. The Victorian
venue offers Hallowe’en opportunities. As you go
up the stairs and approach the theatre, the cobwebs and candle light tell you to beware.
The three courses on offer for our supper were
interrupted by vignettes of scarey fun. Our host was
the blood sucking Countess Dracula played by
Rachel Green in a basque that defied gravity. With
no where to hide, the Countess made us laugh in
nervous delight in her search for a new husband the Count being in Tipton for the night.
Music Hall songstress Fay Greenhalgh sang with
professional gusto songs deserving of a revival
about dead pets, a man under her bed and a baby
down a plughole.
The evening became dark with macabre offerings
from Daniel Webber, a skilled storyteller, performing
two spine-chilling stories from Edgar Allan Poe.
There’s a place for Dinner Theatre in the West Midlands and Don’t Go Into The Cellar rooted in the
Music Hall was a great opener for the OJS’s new
enterprise. Before television, the Music Hall ruled
popular entertainment and at Fright Bites Dinner
Theatre, you knew why. Jan Watts ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
James And The Giant Peach
Old Rep, Birmingham
On a horrible, wet, Saturday afternoon we were treated to a peach of a show that left
us with a warm fuzzy feeling inside. This Birmingham Stage Company production tells
the Roald Dahl story of James, an orphaned young boy who’s sent to live with Aunt
Sponge and Aunt Spiker, two of the most horrid aunts in England. They make him
work and slave, fetch and carry; they shout
and throw things at him, and never let him play
with other children. Then, one day, he meets a
mystical old man who gives him a bag that
contains the strongest magic the world has
ever known. When James accidentally spills
the bag near an old peach tree, the most wondrous things start to happen - and James'
opportunity to escape his unhappy existence
opens up to him in a weird and wonderful
way... Tom Gillies is great as James, perfectly
encapsulating the spirit of a seven-year-old
boy. And the musicians/actors perform some
top-notch songs. The children in the audience
lapped it up - especially the interactive part,
when the peach was rolling around the stalls.
The accompanying shrieks of delight offered
ample evidence of just how enjoyable a show
this is. Anita Champaneri ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Theatre December reviews extra_Layout 1 28/11/2012 14:45 Page 2
Music REVIEWS
Here are a few of additional gigs we
reviewed from last month...
Passion Pit
Falsetto-voiced Michael Angelakos and unique Boston electro band
Passion Pit were on fine form for their second visit to Birmingham.
The set was understandably dominated by latest album Gossamer,
but also featured numerous tracks from previous offering Manners.
Utilising an overzealous light show and a plethora of electronic noises, they built up the crowd’s response with Sleepyhead, a distinct
track from the band's early Chunk Of Change EP which unexpectedly
samples traditional Gaelic folk music. Luc Lichtlé ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Grease The Musical
Grease was the word on the streets of Wolverhampton last month,
when the popular West End musical rolled into town, much to the
delight of its many devoted fans. The neon lights dazzled and the
audience cheered as a medley of the show’s most iconic numbers
launched the Paul Nicholas/David Ian musical. There’s always a real
danger that the stage version of an iconic movie may fall short of
expectations - and sadly, on this particular occasion, this proved to
be the case. OK, there were some good castings - Kate Somerset
How’s portrayal of Rizzo being the most noteable. Her rendition of
There Are Worse Things I Could Do was very moving and perfectly
pitched, while Danny Bayne gave a credible performance as the
cool-as-a-cucumber Danny Zuko. But generally, this production of
Grease lacked the energy and vitality you’d expect from such a
high-profile, much-loved musical. Pleasant, but not wonderful, probably sums up the evening best. Patsy Moss ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Grease performs at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall, from Tue 11 to
Sun 30 December.
Knick Knack And Doo Dad
mac, Birmingham
The festive season gets under way with this delightful tale from the
Lyngo Theatre Company. Carlo Rossi, star of Italian children’s TV
show Melavisione, plays Knick, a sad, grumpy old man living alone
amongst discarded waste from around the world. His island is inhabited by rats, rubbish, and a stuffed dummy named Knack.
Rossi engages the audience from the start with his amusing attempts
to tidy up his island and re-arrange the many wastebags surrounding
him. Doo Dad (played by Patrick Lynch, presenter of the CBeebies
show Let’s Celebrate) enters the stage feet first. He attempts to
befriend Knick Knack and make him smile. It’s then that the performance really takes off, as Doo Dad embarks on some clever theatrical
puppetry. The set is sparse (aside from the many stuffed rats that
appear at every opportune moment, much to the disgust of the audience) but the materials are cleverly used to create props with which
Doo Dad engages both Knick Knack and the audience. Patrick Lynch
connects with the audience from the moment he enters the stage,
and from then on has them eating out of his hands. In no time at all,
parents and children alike find themselves helping to recreate a
windy day by throwing bin bags around, pretending to cry so that
Doo Dad can have a drink,
and laughing so that Knick
Knack will too.
The audience on the day we
saw the show was made up
primarily of young school
and pre-school children, all
of whom seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The environmental premise
of the show was somewhat
lost in the performance, but a
great time was had by all.
Knick Knack And Doo Dad is
a charming show for younger
audiences, and a great way
to get the kids in the Christmas spirit.
Anita Champaneri ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Crystal Castles
Amid strobes aplenty and a cloud
of thick smoke, Alice Glass and
Ethan Kath’s pounding electro
beats and off-the-wall vocal style
made a Thursday night seem like
a Friday night. Following the
recent release of their third album,
they were armed with plenty of
material to keep the universityaged crowd bouncing throughout
- seemingly possessed by what
some may describe as the duo’s
overproduced sound. A mini-DJ
set from Kath featured in the
encore, followed by the tracks
Untrust Us, Intimate and Yes/No
from their earlier albums.
Luc Lichtlé ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Film December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 12:27 Page 1
Film
TO WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk
From
THUR
C
13 DE
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 3D
CERT tbc
Starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian Holm,
Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood Directed by Peter Jackson (New Zealand/UK/USA)
First there was The Lord Of The Rings. Now comes Peter Jackson’s epic three-part follow-up - his
$450million adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit. Tolkien wrote The Hobbit before TLOTR,
but due to the latter trilogy’s phenomenal success, Jackson has returned to the writer’s fertile world of a
time ‘between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men’. Martin Freeman plays a young Bilbo Baggins
(once limned by Ian Holm), who journeys to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim a stolen treasure. Once upon
a time, Messrs Freeman and Cumberbatch (who portrays both the evil Smaug and The Necromancer)
were better known as TV’s Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes. But that was so last year. Next year we can
expect Part 2, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug.
Life of Pi (3D)
CERT PG (127mins)
Starring Rafe Spall, Gerard
Depardieu,Irrfan Khan, Suraj
Sharma,Tabu
Directed by Ang Lee (USA)
From
RS
THU EC
20 D
Yann Martel’s fantastical novel of 2001
won the Man Booker Prize and a slew of
other awards. The story of a sixteen-yearold Indian boy stranded on a lifeboat in
the Pacific with a Bengal tiger, a spotted
hyena, a zebra and an orangutan, the
book hardly lent itself to a cinematic
adaptation. Madagascar 4, maybe, but
live-action? Even so, the Taiwanese director Ang Lee has had a go, and the buzz
is extremely positive. After all, Lee was
previously responsible for Sense And
Sensibility, Crouching Tiger Hidden
Dragon and Brokeback Mountain, three
enormously successful and disparate
features. It certainly promises to be different. In 3D.
TOP 5
FILM BOX OFFICE
Saga:
1 Twilight
Breaking Dawn 2 (12a)
2 Skyfall (12a)
3 Argo (15)
4 The Master (15)
3: Europe’s
5 Madagascar
Most Wanted (U)
Breaking Dawn 2
Film NEW RELEASES
Released from Weds 5 Dec
Celeste And Jesse Forever
CERT 15 (92 mins)
Starring Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg,
Will McCormack, Elijah Wood
Directed by Lee Toland Krieger (USA)
In a variation of the romantic conundrum,
this low-budget American romcom sees a
couple in the throes of divorce. The twist
here is that they propose to remain friends
while pursuing new lovers. The US critics
generally warmed to the film, in particular
praising its charm. Co-star Rashida Jones
also co-scripted.
I, Anna
CERT 15 (91 mins)
Starring Charlotte Rampling, Gabriel Byrne,
Hayley Atwell, Eddie Marson
Directed by Barnaby Southcombe (UK)
Celeste And Jesse Forever
An adaptation of the American novel by Elsa
Lewin, I, Anna is a psychological thriller told
from the viewpoint of a murder suspect
(Rampling). Set in London, the tale focuses
on the relationship between a detective
(Byrne) and the suspect he desires. The
director is Rampling’s son.
So Undercover
CERT 12a (94 mins)
Starring Alexis Knapp, Autumn Reeser,
Miley Cyrus Directed by Tom Vaughn (USA)
Following in the thematic footsteps of the
phenomenally successful 21 Jump Street,
Miley Cyrus plays an amateur private eye
hired by the FBI to go undercover in a college sorority. The difference here is that
Miley is still a teenager and has to learn
how to behave like a university student. So
sweet.
CHRISTMAS
GROTTO
GIFTSHOP
ALL I WANT FOR
CHRISTMAS
SANTA @ THE CONE
24 NOV - 7 JAN
24 NOV - 6 JAN
Seasonal showcase of crafts
by local designer makers
featuring contemporary
glass, traditional cut crystal
and work by the
made@thecone collective.
Meet Santa, do a trail,
make a craft,
watch glassmaking.
£7 / £5 babe in arms
We’re extending our
gift shop into a grotto filled
with goodies and treats
BACK TO THE FUTURE
UNTIL 27 JAN
An exhibition celebrating
400 years of glass making:
exciting and innovative
new work created by
West Midlands glass
artists inspired by pieces
from the museum’s
world-renowned collection
MADE @
THE CONE
STUDIOS
WINTER TRAIL
FREE
Looks for the festive clues
at the Cone and Broadfield
ADULT CRAFT CLASSES
1, 8, 15 Dec – Kiln fused glass @ Cone - £21
Make a range of kiln-fused glass Christmas decorations
SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS,
MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS
21 Dec – Christmas crafts @ Broadfield - £5.25
Drop by our open studios
and find the perfect
Christmas gift from ceramics,
paintings, clocks, jewellery,
glass jewellery, fused, blown
and engraved glass.
FAMILY CRAFTS
CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES: 24 DEC - 12 JAN 2013 INCLUSIVE
8, 9, 15, 16, 22 AND 23 DEC
8 Dec – Broadfield - £3.75
Make a kiln-fused glass Christmas tree decoration
Visit the website for a full programme.
Call 01384 815571 to book for Santa
and craft sessions
Released from Fri 7 Dec
Seven Psychopaths
CERT 15 (110 mins)
Starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody
Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits,
Abbie Cornish
Directed by Martin McDonagh (UK)
The London-born Irish playwright Martin
McDonagh broke into films big-time with his
2008 In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell.
McDonagh now takes both Mr Farrell and his
knack for quirky, macho dialogue to
Hollywood, where the former’s Martin
Faranan is writing a screenplay called Seven
Psychopaths. The joke is that the characters
and incidents that bedevil Martin’s life are far
more interesting and outrageous than anything he can dream up himself. Matters are
complicated further when Martin’s would-be
co-writer Billy Bickle (Rockwell) kidnaps the
precious shih-tzu of a decidedly ruthless
gangster (Harrelson). Obviously Martin
McDonagh identifies himself with Martin
Faranan, and obviously had enormous fun
concocting this increasingly surreal black
comedy. The trouble is that without any
grounding in reality it becomes a ludicrous
farce in which every caricature is dispensable. Indeed, there’s a lot of dying, a lot of
blood and even more self-indulgence.
The Oranges CERT 15 (90 mins)
Crime D’Amour: Love Crime
Starring Leighton Meester, Hugh Laurie,
Alison Janney Directed by Julian Farino
(USA)
CERT 15 (116 mins)
Starring Ludevine Sagnier, Kirsten Scott
Thomas, Patrick Mille
Directed by Alain Corneau (France)
Two families who are the best of friends and
live next door to each other find their lives
thrown into turmoil when the daughter of one
family falls for the father of the other. With
this cast the shenanigans should be a hoot,
particularly as it’s Hugh Laurie’s first
Hollywood lead since Stuart Little 2.
Seven Psychopaths
Things get out of hand when a ruthless and
sadistic business executive (Scott Thomas)
decides to exploit the loyalty of a younger
employee (Sagnier). The director, best
known for his films Fort Saganne and Tous
les Matins du Monde, died in 2010.
Meanwhile, Brian De Palma has directed an
English-language version of the film, called
Passion.
The Man With The Iron Fists
Babette’s Feast CERT U (103 mins)
Smashed CERT 15 (81 mins)
CERT 18 (93 mins)
Starring Russell Crowe, Jamie Chung, Lucy
Liu Directed by Raz (USA/Hong Kong)
Starring Stephane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel,
Bodil Kjer, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Jarl Kulle
Directed by Gabriel Axel (Denmark)
This is an odd one. It’s a martial arts actioner
set in feudal China, written and directed by
the rapper RZA, produced by the director of
Hostel (Eli Roth) and starring, um, Russell
Crowe. Crowe plays a character called Jack
Knife. No, seriously. Anyway, Quentin
Tarantino loved the movie so much that he
put his name on the poster.
Originally released in 1987, this Danish fable
delighted critics and audiences around the
world. Indeed, it won the Oscar for best foreign-language film. Based on the novelette by
Karen Blixen, it’s set in a wind-blown corner of
nineteenth century Jutland. It is here that two
pious sisters, who have lost out on love, hire a
French maid (Audran), who agrees to work for
no money. Initially unable to speak the language, Babette soon establishes herself as a
no-nonsense figure in the village and becomes
an important part of the sisters’ lives. Axel, until
then best known for a series of Shakespearean
Viking dramas, makes the most of the barren
landscape of Denmark and contrasts it beautifully with the
detail of his interiors. Watching
it again, one is
surprised by
how much
humour the film
has, along with
its commemoration of the
foibles of
human nature.
Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul,
Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Megan
Mullally, Mary Kay Place
Directed by James Ponsoldt (USA)
The Man With The Iron Fists
The cinema is pockmarked with great films
about alcoholism (Lost Weekend, Days Of Wine
And Roses, My Name Is Joe), so Smashed has
a lot to live up to. Here, it’s the wife who tries to
go sober, putting even more pressure on her
marriage. So far the film has garnered enormously favourable reviews and won the
‘Special Jury Prize for Excellence in
Independent Film Producing’ at Sundance.
Smashed
until 13 January 2013
Neil Young Journeys CERT PG (74 mins)
Directed by Jonathan Demme (USA)
Following his documentaries Neil Young: Heart
Of Gold (2006) and Neil Young Trunk Show
(2009), Jonathan Demme completes his musical
trilogy with this look at the Canadian singer’s
return to his roots. There’s also plenty of music,
with Young performing his newer compositions
at the Massey Hall in Toronto.
Neil Young Journeys
Jack Reacher CERT 12a (130 mins)
Starring Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard
Jenkins, Werner Herzog, David Oyelowo,
Robert Duvall Directed by Christopher
McQuarrie (USA)
Smell a new franchise? Tom Cruise, fifty, plays
the titular Reacher, a former US military cop and
star of a series of novels by Coventry-born
Aston Villa supporter Lee Child. Here, Reacher
turns up in Pittsburgh to confront a man who
has reputedly shot dead five people. The guy a sniper - is already in prison but wants Reacher
to help him. Reacher, however, has other
ideas...
Midnight’s Children CERT 12a (146 mins)
Starring Satya Bhabha, Shriya Saran,
Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher
Directed by Deepa Mehta (Canada/USA)
A look at post-colonial India through the eyes of
two generations, Midnight’s Children is the
long-awaited adaptation of
Salman Rushdie’s 1981 novel.
The film was not an easy
shoot and at one stage was
forced to shut down due to
intervention from Iran. Of
course, Mr Rushdie has
always courted controversy.
Released from Weds 26 Dec
Jack Reacher
Pitch Perfect CERT 12a (112 mins)
Starring Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel
Wilson, Brittany Snow, John Michael Higgins,
Elizabeth Banks
Directed by Jason Moore (USA)
Since securing an Oscar nomination for Up In
The Air, Anna Kendrick has gone from strength
to strength, nailing roles in 50/50, What To
Expect When You’re Expecting and last month’s
End Of Watch,
opposite Jake
Gyllenhaal. Here
she lands topbilling as Beca,
the new singer in
a competitive allgirl a cappella
group. Based on
the non-fiction
novel by Mickey
Rapkin.
Pitch Perfect
Parental Guidence CERT tbc
Starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, Marisa
Tomei, Tom Everett Scott, Bailee Madison
Directed by Andy Fickman (USA)
Times have changed and Billy Crystal is now
playing granddads. Here, he’s landed up
babysitting his grandchildren and having to pick
his way through the modern technology that
they take for granted. Still, Crystal has a few
tried-and-tested tricks up his sleeve...
Tinkerbell And The Secret
Of The Wings CERT U (75 mins)
Featuring the voices of Mae Whitman, Lucy
Hale, Lucy Liu, Timothy Dalton, Jane
Horrocks Directed by Peggy Holmes and
Bobs Gannaway (USA/UK/France)
Made for DVD consumption in the US, this
is the fourth cartoon in DisneyToon
Studios' so-called Tinker Bell series. Yes,
that’s the same fairy as featured in JM
Barrie’s original Peter Pan, and here she
teams up with Periwinkle to discover the
secret of fairies’ wings. As it says on the
tin. In 3D.
Safety Not Guaranteed CERT tbc
Starring Aubrey Plaza, Jake Johnson, Karan
Soni Directed by Colin Trevorrow (USA)
If you enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine, you
should give Safety Not Guaranteed a go, as
it’s from the same producers. When three
cynical Seattle magazine employees see a
somewhat curious classified ad, they determine to find out more. Their investigations
soon lead them to a likable but paranoid
supermarket clerk named Kenneth, a mysterious eccentric who reckons he's solved the
riddle of time travel and intends to depart
again soon...
Grabbers CERT 15 (94 mins)
Starring Richard Coyle, Ruth Bradley, Russell
Tovey Directed by Jon Wright (IRELAND/UK)
Parental Guidence
All seems quiet and sleepy in the quiet and
sleepy fishing village of Erin Island. In fact
local Garda Ciaran O’Shea and straight-laced
young officer Lisa Nolan have nothing to do
with their time other than sort out the occasional drunk. But things are about to change
as Garda O’Shea and Nolan find themselves
dealing with a tentacled aquatic monster.
En
Film A-Z LISTINGS
Miller and Seth Rogan star.
On general release
Frankenweenie PG
All films are currently on general release
unless otherwise stated. For full listing
information, including times and dates,
A Christmas Carol U
Filmed on location in
Shrewsbury, Ebenezer
Scrooge learns the true
meaning of Christmas
when the Ghosts of
Christmas Past, Present
and Future teach him to
open his heart to the joys
of family of friends.
Showing at OMH,
Shrewsbury, Thurs 13 Sun 16 Dec
Ai Weiwei - Never Sorry
15
Documentary by Alison
Klayman which follows
China’s most famous international artist as he prepares major museum exhibitions. Never Sorry also
observes Ai’s family life as
increasingly public
clashes with the government threaten his
liberty. Showing at
Stoke Film Theatre,
Tues 4 Dec
The Angel’s Share
12a
Comedy-drama which
sees acclaimed British
director Ken Loach tackle
Scotland’s underclass.
Showing at The Edge Arts
Centre, Much Wenlock,
South Shropshire, Mon 10
Dec
Argo 15
Ben Affleck directs a political thriller set around the
rescue of six American
diplomats during the 1979
hostage crisis in Iran.
Showing at OMH,
Shrewsbury, until Thurs 6
Dec; Malvern Theatre, until
Thurs 6 Dec; Light House
Media Centre,
Wolverhampton, until Thurs
6 Dec; mac, Birmingham,
Sat 8 - Thurs 13 Dec;
Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 9 Mon 10 Dec
Amour 12a
Drama concerning an elderly couple whose bond
of love is severely tested
when one of them suffers
a stroke. Showing at Light
House Media Centre,
Wolverhampton, until
Thurs 6 Dec; mac,
Birmingham, until Sun 9
Dec; Warwick Arts Centre,
Coventry, Sun 2 - Thurs 6
Dec; Electric Cinema,
Birmingham, until Thurs 6
Dec
Babette’s Feast U
See Preview Page 51
Beasts Of The Southern
Wild 12a
Acclaimed fantasy drama
about Hushpuppy, a fearless six-year-old girl living
with her father in ‘the
Bathtub’, a fictitious
southern Bayou community. Showing at Stoke
Film Theatre, until Sat 1
Dec
AMC Broadway Plaza, Five
Ways 0121 450 6800
CINEWORLD Broad St, B’ham
0871 200 2000
CINEWORLD Solihull
0871 200 2000
ELECTRIC, B’ham
0121 643 7879
EMPIRE 0871 471 4714
THE GIANT SCREEN AT
MILLENNIUM POINT
0121 202 2222
Gambit 12a
Alan Rickman and
Cameron Diaz star in Joel
and Ethan Coen’s comedy, updated from the 1966
romp of the same name
starring Shirley MacLaine
and Michael Caine.
Showing at Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry, Fri 28
Dec - Thurs 3 Jan
Grabbers 15
See Preview Page 53
Great Expectations 12a
Ralph Fiennes and Helena
Bonham Carter star in
Mike Newell’s ravishing
adaptation of Dickens’
classic. Showing at The
Royal, Leamington Spa,
Fri 7 - Thurs 13 Dec;
Light House Media
Centre, Fri 7 - Thurs
13 Dec; OMH,
Shrewsbury, Fri 14
Dec - Thurs 3 Jan;
mac, Birmingham, Fri
14 - Thurs 20 Dec
WATCH
THE FILM T
A
TRAILERS .uk
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whatsonli
Here Comes The Boom
Celeste And Jesse
Forever 15
See Preview Page 50
Crime D’Amour: Love
Crime 15
See Preview Page 51
The Discreet Charm Of
The Bourgeoisie 15
Luis Buñuel's tour de
force surrealist comedy.
Showing at Stoke Film
Theatre, Mon 3 Dec
End Of Watch 15
Jake Gyllenhaal and
Michael Pena star as two
decent young LAPD cops
who are marked for death
after confiscating a small
cache of money and
firearms from the members of a notorious cartel
during a routine traffic
stop. On general release
For A Good Time Call 18
Independent American
comedy which focuses on
two roommates who dabble in the phone sex business. Ari Graynor, Lauren
CINEMA Box Office
Birmingham
Tim Burton animation
which tells of a young scientist called Victor
Frankenstein who brings
his pet bull terrier Sparky
back to life. Showing at
Artrix, Bromsgrove, Fri 21 &
Mon 24 - Thurs 27 Dec
LIBRARY THEATRE
0121 303 2868
MAC 0121 446 3232
ODEON 0871 224 4007
REEL Quinton 0121 421
5316
SHOWCASE 0871 220 1000
VUE CINEMA Star City 08712
240 240
Black Country
CINEWORLD WOLVERHAMPTON 0871 200 2000
LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CEN-
12a
Kevin James stars as an
overweight biology teacher
who decides to take up
mixed martial arts to aid
the finances of his school.
On general release.
The Hobbit tbc
See Preview Page 49
Hope Springs 12a
Romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep and
Tommy Lee Jones as a
middle-aged couple who,
after thirty years of wedlock, feel the need to
seek marriage counselling. Steve Carrell also
stars. Showing at Stoke
Film Theatre, Fri 7 - Sat 8
Dec
I, Anna 15
See Preview Page 50
The Iron Giant U
Animated film based on
Ted Hughes’ 1968 novel
The Iron Man. Showing at
mac, Birmingham, Sat 1
Dec
TRE, WOLVERHAMPTON
01902 716055
ODEON MERRY HILL,
DUDLEY 0871 22 44007
SHOWCASE, DUDLEY
0871 220 1000
SHOWCASE, WALSALL
0871 220 1000
Shropshire
OMH SHREWSBURY
01743 281281
CINEWORLD, SHREWSBURY
0871 200 2000
MAJESTIC, BRIDGNORTH
01746 761815
ODEON TELFORD
Great Expectations
Jack Reacher 12a
See Preview Page 53
at Wem Town Hall, North
Shropshire, Thurs 20 Dec
Nativity 2: Danger In The
Manger U
Laurence Of Arabia PG
Mental 15
Sequel which sees David
Tennant play identical twin
brothers teaching at rival
schools who both enter
their respective classes
into a ‘Sing a Song for
Christmas’ competition.
Showing at OMH,
Shrewsbury, Fri 7 - Thurs
13 Dec; Light House
Media Centre,
Wolverhampton, Fri 14 Thurs 20 Dec; Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri
14, Sun 16 - Mon 24 &
Thurs 27 Dec
The seminal 1960s epic
returns to the big screen in
a new digital print in honour of its fiftieth anniversary. Showing at Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 7
- Sun 9 Dec
PJ Hogan’s story of an
unhinged hitchhiker (Toni
Collette) who arrives in the
suburbs to play nanny to a
family of dysfunctional
girls. On general release.
Liberal Arts 12a
Joaquin Phoenix plays a
World War Two veteran in
Paul Thomas Anderson’s
acclaimed drama. Unable
to cope with his drunkenness and post-traumatic
stress disorder, he looks
for salvation in a philosophical movement
known as The Cause.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
and Amy Adams also star.
Showing at Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry, Sun 2 Thurs 13 Dec; Light House
Media Centre,
Wolverhampton, Fri 14 Thurs 20 Dec;
Josh Radnor writes, directs
and stars as a brokenhearted thirtysomething
New Yorker in an engaging and perceptive comedy. Showing at Stoke Film
Theatre, Thurs 6 Dec
Life Of Pi PG
See Preview Page 49
The Man With The Iron
Fists 18
See Preview Page 51
Meet Me In St. Louis U
Judy Garland and
Margaret O’Brien star in
Vincente Minnelli’s classic
romantic musical. Showing
0871 224 4007
OAKENGATES PICTURE
HOUSE
01952 615607
WEM TOWN HALL
01939 232299
Staffordshire
APOLLO, STAFFORD
0871 220 6000
CINEWORLD, BURTONUPON-TRENT 0871 200 2000
STOKE FILM THEATRE,
01782 411188
ODEON TAMWORTH
0871 224 4007
The Master PG
Midnight’s Children 12a
Neil Young Journeys PG
See Preview Page 53
The Nutcracker in 3D
Screening of the all-time
ballet favourite, recorded at
Mariinsky Theatre, St
Petersburg. Showing at
OMH, Shrewsbury, Sun 2
Dec; Wem Town Hall,
North Shropshire, Thurs 13
Dec
See Preview Page 53
Warwickshire
Worcestershire
ODEON, COVENTRY
0871 224 4007
ODEON, NUNEATON
0871 224 4007
SHOWCASE, COVENTRY
0871 220 1000
APOLLO 4, LEAMINGTON
SPA 01926 427 448
ROYAL, LEAMINGTON SPA
01926 334418
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
COVENTRY 02476 524524
ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE
01527 577330
MALVERN THEATRE
0845 287 2146
WAREHOUSE,
KIDDERMINSTER
01562 747773
VUE, WORCESTER
0871 224 0240
Visit whatsonlive.co.uk
for venue website
details
For full listing information, including times and dates,
On A Clear Day 12a
Gaby Dellal’s romantic
drama concerning a working class Glaswegian man
who, down on his luck,
suddenly finds a new
lease of life when the idea
of swimming to France
pops up. Showing at
Malvern Theatre, Tues 11
Dec
The Oranges 15
See Preview Page 51
Parental Guidance tbc
See Preview Page 53
People Like Us 12a
Alex Kurtzman makes his
directorial debut in a very
human drama about a silver-tongued New York
salesman called Sam. On
general release.
Pitch Perfect 12a
See Preview Page 53
Precious Bane 12a
Screening of the BBC’s
1989 adaptation of the
classic Mary Webb novel.
Janet McTeer and Clive
Owen star. Showing at
The Edge Arts Centre,
Much Wenlock, South
Shropshire
in a powerful romantic
drama adapted from a
short story by Craig
Davidson. On general
release
Safety Not Guaranteed tbc
See Preview Page 53
The Sapphires PG
Feelgood movie set in
Australia in 1968 and
telling the story of four
aboriginal sisters who
become the southern
hemisphere’s answer to
The Supremes. Showing
at mac, Birmingham, Sat 1
- Fri 7 Dec; Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry, Mon 10 Thurs 13 Dec
Seven Psychopaths 15
See Preview Page 51
Sightseers 15
Steve Oram and Alice
Lowe star in Ben
Wheatley’s black comedy.
Showing at mac,
Birmingham, Fri 7 - Thurs
20 Dec
Silver Linings Playbook
Classic 1960s psychological thriller starring Anthony
Perkins and Janet Leigh.
Showing at mac,
Birmingham, until Sat 1
Dec
15
Bradley Cooper and
Jennifer Lawrence star in
David O Russell’s
acclaimed comedy, which
is rooted in serious issues
and serious people.
Showing at mac,
Birmingham, Fri 28 - Sun
30 Dec; Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry, Fri 28
Dec - Thurs 3 Jan
Rust And Bone 15
Marion Cotillard and
Matthias Schoenaerts star
Skyfall 12a
Daniel Craig returns as Ian
Fleming’s James Bond
Psycho 15
007 in the longest-running
film franchise of all time.
Showing at Artrix,
Bromsgrove, Mon 3 - Fri 7
Dec; Light House Media
Centre, Fri 7 - Thurs 13
Dec; mac, Birmingham, Fri
21 - Mon 31 Dec
Smashed 15
See Preview Page 51
So Undercover 12a
See Preview Page 50
Tinkerbell And The Secret
Of The Wings U
See Preview Page 53
The Trouble WIth The
Curve 12a
At the grand age of eightytwo, Hollywood veteran
Clint Eastwood returns to
the big screen as a baseball scout who takes his
daiughter (Amy Adams)
along on his final recruiting trip. On general
release
Turbulence 15
Birmingham comedy
which - directed by Bafta
award-winner Michael B
Clifford - follows six young,
gifted and clueless twentysomethings struggling
with the realities of adult
life. Showing at mac,
Birmingham, Thurs 13 Dec
Twilight Saga: Breaking
Dawn Part 2 12a
The fifth and final move in
the popular film series
based on the phenomenally popular novels by
Stephenie Meyer. On general release
Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger
Two Years At Sea U
Ben Rivers’ documentary
follows the life of Jake, an
old man living in the
remote Scottish wilderness. Showing at Wem
Town Hall, North
Shropshire, Thurs 6 Dec
Undefeated PG
Daniel Lindsay and TJ
Martin’s award-winning
documentary concerning
an underdog football team
looking to reverse their fortunes with coach Bill
Courtney. Showing at The
Edge Arts Centre, Much
Wenlock, South
Shropshire, Mon 3 Dec
Untouchable 15
French biographical
drama concerning a
paraplegic aristocrat
who takes on a young
black man from ‘the projects’ as his careworker.
Showing at The Royal
Leamington Spa, until
Thurs 6 Dec; Artrix,
Bromsgrove, Fri 28 - Sat
29 Dec
When Santa Fell To Earth
U
Family fantasy which sees
the last real Santa Claus
crashland into the lives of
two youngsters whilst on
the run from an evil
enemy. Showing at OMH,
Shrewsbury, Sat 15 - Mon
31 Dec
White Christmas 12a
Family Christmas classic
starring Bing Crosby.
Showing at The Royal,
Leamington Spa, Fri 14 Mon 24 Dec
The Women On The Sixth
Floor 12a
Subtitled French drama
which follows a conservative husband and wife
whose lives are turned
upside-down when they
hire a Spanish maid and
are introduced to an alternative way of life. Showing
at Malvern Theatre, Tues 4
Dec
DVD NEW RELEASES
The Bourne Legacy 12a
Jeremy Renner, Rachel
Weisz and Edward
Norton star in this latest
offering in the ‘Bourne’
franchise - an action
thriller based on the
Jason Bourne novels.
Released 3 December
The Bourne Legacy
Step Up 4 - Miami Heat
The fourth instalment in
the teen dance drama
franchise. Kathryn
McCormick, Ryan
Guzman, Stephen Boss
& Chadd Smith star.
Released 3 December
Jessica Biel) come
together in this romantice ensemble which follows the lives and loves
of several New York singles, and couples, on
New Year’s Eve.
Released 3 December
The Expendables 2 15
Sequel which sees
Sylvester Stallone
returns as ageing mercenary Barney Ross
who, with the addition
of new blood in the
form of Liam
Hemsworth and Yu
Nan, sets out to do battle with the Muscles
from Brussels (JeanClaude Van Damme)
Released 10 December
Keith Lemon The Film 18
This is the Leeds to
London, rags to riches,
story of Keith Lemon
(Leigh Francis) - a filmsmattered with Z-list celeberty cameos. Definitely
one for Keith’s die-hard
fans.
The Dark Knight
Rises 12a
Christian Bale, Joseph
Gordon-Levitt and
Tom Hardy star in the
final film in
Christopher Nolan’s
Batman trilogy.
Released 3 Dec
course, Scrat, the
sabre-toothed squirrel.
JLo voices a sabretoothed cat.
Ice Age 4 Continental Drift U
Step Up 4
New Year’s Eve
An all-star cast (Robert
De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer,
Zac Efron, Hilary Swank,
Keith Lemon
The fourth instalment of
the Ice Age franchise
sees the return of
Manny the woolly mammoth, Sid the ground
sloth, Diego the sabretoothed tiger and, of
Ice Age 4
When The Lights Went
Out 15
Horror based on the
true story of a family
haunted by a polter-
geist in Yorkshire in the
late 1960s.Kate
Ashfield, Steven
Waddington, Tasha
Connor star.
The Watch 15
Previously known as
Neighborhood Watch,
this is the story of four
guys who concoct a
scheme to escape their
boring family lives by
setting up a suburban
vigilante group. Then
find themselves defending the world against an
alien invasion
Total Recall 12
Len Wiseman directs
this sci-fi action thriller,
a revisiting of the 1966
Philip K. Dick short
story 'We Can
Remember It for You
Wholesale'. Kate
Beckinsale & Colin
Farrell star.
Total Recall
Visual Arts December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 17:20 Page 1
Visual Arts
Laura Knight In The Open Air
Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum,
until Sun 10 February 2013
This new exhibition comprises numerous outdoor
paintings from various stages of Dame Laura
Knight’s long and distinguished career, including
depictions of Romany life and spectacular panoramas below the Malvern Hills. The Derbyshire-born
impressionist painter (1877-1970) achieved real
celebrity status during her lifetime, and her work
continues to be popular some forty-plus years
after her death. The exhibition also features the
devastated townscape that forms the backdrop of
her famous depiction of the Nuremberg war trials,
a painting created by Dame Laura in her capacity
as an official World War Two war artist (she was
one of only three British women to travel abroad
in this capacity).
Dame Laura Knight, Autumn Sunset, Oil on Canvas, Private Collection,
Image courtesy of the Fine Art Society. c Reproduced with the permission
of the Estate of Dame Laura Knight DBERA 2012 All Rights Reserved.
Bags: The Craft Of
The Carrying Companion
Bilston Craft Gallery,
Sat 15 December - Sat 9 March 2013
Nowadays the handbag is often seen as a symbol
of wealth rather than as a functional way of carrying necessary possessions. This exhibition showcases the diversity
of approach taken
by contemporary
craftspeople when
producing bags and
accessory cases.
Works on show
include Sarah
Williams’ beautifully
made cases, with
cleverly designed
organising compartments; Lisa
Farmer’s highly
stylised leather
bags, inspired by
living creatures; and
Kei Ito’s sculptural
bags, which make
use of folds to create both shape and
flexible volume.
Jo Cope’s Clearly A Bag
Portrait Of A Lady: The Life And Passions Of Lady Barber
The Barber Institute, Birmingham, Fri 14 December - Sun 24 February
Portraits of Lady Barber by her favoured artist Nestor Cambler provide the main focus of
this exhibition, which explores the life and times of Dame Martha Constance Hattie
Barber and her husband Sir Henry. Artefacts from the couple’s house at Culham Court
also feature, including rarely seen textiles, pieces from Lady Barber’s lace collection and
archived photos and documents which give an insight in their lives, interests and connections to the University of Birmingham.
Revealed: Government
Art Collection
Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle by Yinka Shonibare © Yinka Shonibare MBE
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery,
until Sun 24 February 2013
Works by LS Lowry, Bridget Riley,
Grayson Perry, Martin Creed and Andy
Warhol all feature in this latest major
exhibition to grace the Gas Hall at
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. For
the very first time, more than two hundred works of art - ranging from historical
to contemporary - are being brought
together under one roof to tell the story
of the Government Art Collection since it
began in 1898. The exhibits all come
from Government buildings across the
world, with many having been commissioned for new embassy buildings or to
record important national events.
VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS
Ongoing exhibitions
Light Up Digital
The Public, West Bromwich,
until Sun 3 February
A 3D projection of Eyjafjallajökull, the
Icelandic volcano which wreaked havoc
across Europe in 2010, is just one of the
exhibits being showcased at The Public in a
series of works celebrating light and dark.
Through the creation of an optical illusion,
artist Joanie Lemercier challenges not only
the viewer’s senses but also their perception
of space, depth and distance.
Moon
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stokeon-Trent, Sat 8 December - Sun 24 February
Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the last
time an astronaut (Eugene Cernan) walked
on the moon, this intriguing exhibition comprises a wide range of space exploration
equipment and memorabilia - including a
space glove belonging to Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Volkov. A silk American flag,
taken to the surface of the
moon by Apollo 16 astronaut
Charlie Duke Jr, is also on display. Numerous items from the
museum’s arts and ceramics
collection, meanwhile, serve
the purpose of illustrating the
appeal which the moon has
held for artists and writers
throughout history.
City Of Home
Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton,
until Fri 25 January
Mundane everyday objects form the basis of
this exhibition by London-based Ukrainian
photographer Alina Kisina. During a recent
visit to her homeland, Kisina found herself
‘compelled to create a series of half-abstract,
half-representational photographs that conflate Kiev’s cityscapes and interiors’. The
results of her undertaking are displayed here,
and have been described as ‘perfectly composed photographs which actively lead us
into higher realms that are uplifting and light.’
For full listing information on Visual Art
exhibitions, including times and dates,
MAN OF NOTE Exhibition
that celebrates Harry
Eccleston's legacy as
an artist and printmaker, until Sat 1 Dec,
Wolverhampton Art
Gallery
JOHN PAUL VILLAFRATI:
WORKING OUR WAY WEST
Exhibition of artwork
from Simon Randall &
Carla Smith, all of which
is themed around the
stories and characters
featured on John Paul’s
new EP, Working Our
Way West, until Sat 1
Dec, Urban Coffee
Company, Church St,
Birmingham
AENEAS WILDER: UNTITLED 162 See the gallery
transformed through
intervention by Aeneas
Wilde, an artist who
develops complex,
extraordinarily beautiful
structures in response
to any environment in
which he’s working,
until Sat 1 Dec, Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry
CASTLE HIGH ART Annual
exhibition by the museum’s local school, until
Sat 1 Dec, Dudley
Museum & Art Gallery
MADE TO MAKE Discover
the wealth of talent and
inspiration developed in
the region, as eight
alumni of the
Birmingham Institute of
Art and Design’s School
of Jewellery MA showcase their recent work,
until Sat 1 Dec, Bilston
Craft Gallery
TRANSPLANTATION: A
SENSE OF PLACE & CULTURE Exhibition which
brings together leading
UK & Australia-based
makers of narrative jewellery, until Sat 1 Dec,
Bilston Craft Gallery
TRANSITIONS: DRAWINGS
FROM THE COLLECTION OF
MIMA This exhibition of
works from the collection of mima
(Middlesbrough Institute
of the Arts) presents
drawings by several key
artists in post-war
America, many of whom
THE BIG DRAW: DOT TO
DOT Project that pushes
the boundaries on a
classic childhood activity, until Sun 13 Jan,
mac, Birmingham
EMILIA NYLEN BODYSCAPES Exhibition
that records the shape,
structure and fabric of
the human body, until
Sun 2 Dec, Artrix,
Bromsgrove
LIVING CITY Sarah
Taylor Silverwood’s
works examine the
relationship between
humans and architecture through a series of
drawings and textbased pieces, until Sun
2 Dec, The Barber
PENN HOSPITAL: EXPLORING THE HISTORY A partnership exhibition
between W’hampton
Culture, Arts and
Heritage Learning and
Community
Engagement Team and
the Black Country
Partnership NHS
Foundation, until Sat 15
Dec, W’hampton Art
Gallery
CELEBRATION OF YOUNG
ACHIEVEMENT A celebration of creative work by
past and current pupils
at a local school in
Wolverhampton, until
Sat 15 Dec, Bilston
Craft Gallery
GAMBIT DISPLAY: COMPTON VERNEY THE MOVIE
STAR Exhibition to coincide with the release of
the movie Gambit, starring Colin Firth and
Cameron Diaz, which
was filmed at Compton
Verney last summer.
Exhibits include film
stills, set plan, scale
model of the set and
signed photos of the
stars, until Sun 16 Dec,
Compton Verney
Gallery, Warwickshire
Museums & Art Galleries
Birmingham
ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield
0121 323 3776
BARBER INSTITUTE
0121 414 7333
BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM &
ART GALLERY 0121 303
2834
THE BURROWS GALLERY,
THE CUSTARD FACTORY
0121 224 7344
CASTLE GALLERIES
0121 633 0015
IKON GALLERY
0121 248 0708
are best known for
working in three dimensions, until Sat 1 Dec,
Coventry
NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY
0121 643 9099
RBSA GALLERY 0121236
4353
THREE WHITE WALLS
GALLERY
0121 643 0078
Black Country
BANTOCK HOUSE
WOLVERHAMPTON
01902 552195
BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY
01902 552507
BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS
MUSEUM, DUDLEY
TAPESTRY: WEAVING THE
CENTURY AT DOVECOAT
STUDIOS World-class
textiles from the 20th &
early 21st centuries,
until Sun 16 Dec,
Compton Verney
Gallery, Warwickshire
ELIZABETH CADD An exhibition of watercolours,
collage and monoprints
by Shropshire-based
artist Elizabeth Cadd,
including paintings of
Shropshire, Italy and the
Dorset coast, until Fri 21
Rooms, South
Shropshire
PAK-KEUNG WAN Sixweek practical studio
residency which sees
the artist develop Lune,
an ongoing series of
painstaking pencil drawings inspired by a NASA
publication, until Sat 22
Dec, The New Art
Gallery, Walsall
JODIE CAREY: SOLOMON’S
KNOT Using a wide
range of media, Jodie
Carey’s work explores
ideas of time, memory
and materiality, of time
passing, memories fading, of absence and
loss... until Sun 30 Dec,
The New Art Gallery,
Walsall
FIONA RAE: MAYBE YOU
CAN LOVE ON THE MOON
IN THE NEXT CENTURY
Always seeking to challenge the modern conventions of painting, this
exhibition by Fiona Rae
brings together various
works devised between
2000 and 2011, until
Sun 30 Dec, The New
Art Gallery, Walsall
THE DIG! Exhibition
showcasing archaeological finds uncovered so
far, until Mon 31 Dec,
Nash’s House & New
Place, Stratford-uponAvon
TAKING ACCOUNT OF OUR
PAST Find out about the
story of the Smith, Son
and Wilkie accountants
cataloguing project,
including behind-thescenes images of conservation and storage of
the records, until Mon
31 Dec, Wolverhampton
City Archives
THE STORIES OF SHAKESPEARE Joint exhibition
from the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre &
the Shakespeare
01384 812745
DUDLEY MUSEUM
& ART GALLERY
01384 815575
LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE
WOLVERHAMPTON
01902 716055
THE NEW ART GALLERY
WALSALL 01922 654400
RED HOUSE GLASS CONE
01384 812750
WOLVERHAMPTON ART
GALLERY 01902 552055
Staffordshire
THE POTTERIES MUSEUM &
ART GALLERY 01782 232323
SHIREHALL GALLERY
STAFFORD 01785 278345
Birthplace Trust, until
Mon 31 Dec, Royal
Shakespeare Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon
DEAR SHAKESPEARE New
display that showcases
a small but rare collection of letters written by
famous authors, from
Oscar Wilde to Bram
Stoker, until Mon 31
Dec, Nash’s House &
New Place, Stratfordupon-Avon
EMPOWERED: THE ART
AND HISTORY OF CEREBRAL PALSY MIDLANDS
Paintings and sculpture
created by artists from
the Birmingham-based
charity Cerebral Palsy
Midlands, until Tues 1
Jan, Birmingham
DIANE GALLIVAN:
WILDLIFE PAINTINGS
Series of nature paintings - perfect for lovers
of wildlife, until Thurs 3
Jan, Birmingham
Botanical Gardens
WEST MIDLANDS OPEN
A biennial collaboration
between Birmingham
Museum’s Trust and
Wolverhampton Art
Gallery, until Sat 5 Jan,
W’hampton Art Gallery
EXHIBITION OF BULGARIAN FINE ART Featuring
works by Georgi
Kovachev, Grishata
Penka & Jani Yanush,
until Sat 5 Jan, Willow
Art Gallery, Oswestry,
North Shropshire
DINOSAURS UNCOVERED
Unique exhibition featuring life-size
dinosaurs, real and
replica fossils and holographic video presentations by wildlife expert
Chris Packham, until
Sun 6 Jan, Herbert Art
Gallery & Museum,
Coventry
PAINTERS AND PLAYERS
Exhibition of paintings
and generic scenes
from the renowned
Stafford-born artist John
Prescott Knight (1803 1881), until Sun 6 Jan,
Shire Hall Gallery,
Stafford
LOVE AND DEATH: VICTORIAN PAINTINGS FROM
THE TATE Exclusive exhibition featuring iconic
paintings from the Tate
alongside related works
from Birmingham's own
collection, until Sun 13
STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM,
SHUGBOROUGH
01889 881388
Warwickshire
COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY
01926 645500
HERBERT ART GALLERY
COVENTRY 02476 832386
MEAD GALLERY WARWICK
02476 524524
ROYAL PUMP ROOMS
01926 742700
Worcestershire
WORCESTER CITY ART
GALLERY 01905 25371
Visit whatsonlive.co.uk
for venue website details
VisualArts LISTINGS
Jan, Broadfield House
Glass Museum,
Kingswinford
For full listing information on Visual Art
exhibitions, including times and dates,
IN FRONT OF NATURE
The first ever UK exhibition devoted entirely to
the paintings and
career of one of
Scandinavia’s most
important painters,
Thomas Fearnley, until
Sun 27 Jan, The Barber
Jan, Birmingham
HORROR IN HOLLYWOOD:
THE JAMES WHALE STORY
Featuring previously
unseen cartoons, paintings and illustrations by
Dudley-born film director James Whale, until
Sun 13 Jan, Dudley
A DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS
Exhibition which marks
the anniversary year of
Charles Dickens’ two
hundredth birthday, until
Sat 13 Jan, Bantock
House Museum,
Wolverhampton
MISTER VOLDER GOES TO
THE CITY Taking an
ambiguous short story
as their starting point,
artists Rebecca Hurst
and Ben Pacey use simple materials and low-fi
digital techniques to
create compelling,
atmospheric images,
until Sun 13 Jan, mac,
Birmingham
THROUGH OUR HANDS
Exhibition featuring
works from ten textile
artists, national and
international, who
approach quilting as a
contemporary art form,
until Sun 13 Jan, The
Royal Pump Rooms,
Leamington Spa
LUKE FOWLER: THE POOR
STOCKINGER, THE LUDDITE CROPPER... And The
Deluded Followers Of
Joanna Southcott. Luke
Fowler's film focuses on
the life and work of the
socialist historian EP
Thompson and his
involvement with the
Workers Education
Association, until Fri 18
Jan, Wolverhampton Art
Gallery
CITY OF HOME BY ALINA
KISINA Photographic
exhibition by the
Ukraine-born artist that
captures her home
town of Kiev in a halfabstract, half-representational format, until Fri
25 Jan, Light House
Media Centre,
Wolverhampton
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Exhibition exploring the
world-renowned glass
collections and
archives in the Dudley
Borough, demonstrating their importance to
the region's contemporary glassmakers and
designers, until Sun 27
HORSES Man’s relationship with domestic
horses is here explored
through a series of
prints and drawings
from the Barber’s collection, until Sun 20
Jan, The Barber
BEAT STRUELI: NEW
STREET A portraiture of
urban life presented via
a series of photographs, video and digital projections, until Sun
3 Feb, Ikon,
Birmingham
Herbert Art Gallery &
Museum, Coventry
INDUSTRIAL ARTWORK BY
WELSH ARTIST FALCON
HILDRED Major exhibition of selected originals by the highly
accomplished artist
who's dedicated his
working life to recording
the buildings and landscapes of nineteenth
and twentieth century
industry, until Tues 30
April, Coalbrookdale
Gallery, Ironbridge,
Shropshire
POP HIGHLIGHTS Chance
to see key works from
the gallery's Pop
Collection, including
pieces by Peter Blake,
Richard Hamilton, Jann
Haworth, Allen Jones &
Andy Warhol, until Wed
15 May, Wolverhampton
Art Gallery
SCOOTERMANIA
Showcase of British
scooters from the ‘50s
& ‘60s, until Sun 3
March, Coventry
Transport Museum
STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD:
DARK AGE DISCOVERY
Featuring more than
two hundred pieces
from the Anglo-Saxon
hoard, until Sun 1 Sep,
2013, The Potteries
Museum & Art Gallery,
Stoke-on-Trent
HIS DARK MATERIALS:
NEW ART BY ADIE BLUNDELL Large-scale
detailed drawings of
ravens, albatrosses and
other bird-like creatures
feature in this exhibition,
which explores our precarious position in the
world, until Sun 17 Mar,
ARTIST ROOM A yearlong exhibition featuring
sculptures, paintings
and prints. This display
will be accompanied by
a series of inspired
satellite exhibitions,
events and activities
through the course of
the year, until Sat 27
Diane Gallivan: Wildlife Paintings
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Oct, 2013, The New Art
Gallery, Walsall
CRAFTED FOR YOU
Selling exhibition showcasing works from
some of the best craft
makers in the Midlands,
Sat 1 Dec - Sat 12 Jan,
Worcester City Art
Gallery & Museum
THE MOSQUES OF GAMBIA
Acclaimed Birmingham
photographer Vanley
Burke showcases a
body of work which
depicts the environments where Islamic
worship takes place in
The Gambia, Sun 2 Dec
- Thurs 28 Feb, The
Drum, Birmingham
WALSALL SOCIETY OF
ARTISTS: 63RD ANNUAL
EXHIBITION A range of
paintings, drawings,
watercolours and 3D
works, Fri 7 Dec - Sun
13 Jan, The New Art
Gallery, Walsall
DUDLEY SOCIETY OF
ARTISTS ANNUAL EXHIBITION 81st annual exhibition showing work in a
variety of media, Sat 8
Dec - Sat 23 Feb,
Dudley Museum & Art
Gallery
INSPIRED BY LACE Lady
Barber's personal lace
collection provides the
starting point for mixedmedia textile artist
Jacqueline Lawrence's
series of sensitively
observed works, Fri 14
Dec - Sun 24 Feb, The
Barber Institute,
Birmingham
Christmas at the Shire Hall Gallery
Stylish accessories for the home include Carly Dodsley’s mid 20th century inspired
tableware, Hannah Nunn’s paper-cut table lamps featuring new Garden Bird designs and
Raku Fired Houses by ceramic artists Rowena Brown. Christmas decorations in pewter by
Fleur Grenier and in printed aluminium by Caroline Parrott add a festive flourish.
We also have a beautiful selection of handcrafted jewellery including the Tiny Tree and Tiny
House range by Helen Shere; Charlotte Verity’s stunning collection combining frosted glass,
encased stones and oxidised silver and Leigh Shepherds collaged creations using Scrabble
tiles and old sixpence pieces.
Come and choose a unique gift or just treat yourself
Carly Dodsley
Gorgeous patterned knitwear from Seven Gauge Studios, Zoe Miller’s unisex scarves and
leather purses by Kay Morgan make perfect seasonal gifts and Sally Nencini’s cosy Cowboy
Cushion and knitted toys should be on every child’s list to Santa!
Leigh Shepherd
The Shire Hall Gallery Craft Shop offers an array of Contemporary British craft & cards this
Christmas. Choose from hand selected ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glass, stationary and
much more.
Zoe Miller
10 November - 6 January
Market Square ● Stafford ● ST16 2LD
Telephone: 01785 278345 Fax: 01785 278327
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/arts
Events December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 12:31 Page 1
Events
Clothes Show Live NEC, Birmingham, Fri 7 - Tues 11 December
The UK’s largest and most talked about fashion and beauty event
returns to the Midlands this month and promises to be the most
spectacular yet. Apart from catwalk shows, makeover events and
hundreds of fashion and beauty brands, this popular five-day event
features appearances by a host of designers and celebrities. There
are also talks with industry experts, who’ll be providing an insight into
the latest Autumn/Winter trends and offering the lowdown on up-and-
Nitro Circus Live
coming designers of note. Fronting this year’s show is British model
Daisy Lowe, who’ll be taking to the catwalk in the Suzuki Fashion theatre on the opening day. Top boyband JLS are on hand, too, performing a series of live DJ sets on the Monday, while singer Peter
Andre and Reality TV stars Amy Childs and Gemma Collins will all be
appearing at the event to showcase their latest collections.
Gerry Cottle’s
Christmas Circus
National Indoor Arena, Birmingham,
Wed 5 December
Described as ‘the world’s biggest and most
audacious action sports production ever’,
Nitro Circus Live brings Travis Pastrana and
his daring crew to Birmingham’s National
Indoor Arena as part of an ambitious forty-city
tour of Europe, the US and Australia.
Combining the biggest freestyle motorcross
stunts with BMX and skateboard action, this
two-and-a-half-hour sports spectacular features an array of crazy contraptions on which
the Nitro crew will perform.
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Starcity Entertainment Centre,
Birmingham, Thurs 20
December - Sun 6 January
Described as a ‘circus like
no other’, Gerry Cottle’s latest offering promises highenergy entertainment for all
the family, with no fewer
than fifty acts performing in
a one hundred-minute show.
This fast-paced production
features some of the best
circus acts from around the
globe, including Cottle’s
Crazy Comics, big top beauties Six On Silks and international illusionists The
Magical Melvilles. The show
also features a new generation of remarkably talented
circus kids, who’ve been
learning the ropes at Gerry
Cottle's pioneering training
school in Wookey Hole,
Somerset.
Events PREVIEWS
Worcester Victorian
Christmas Fayre
Worcester City Centre, until Sun 2 December
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of
Worcester’s hugely popular festive fayre. The
annual event, which attracts in excess of one
hundred thousand visitors, is regarded as
the leading themed street market in the West
Midlands, and this year opens with a lantern
procession through the city. In addition to
the one hundred-and-forty stalls which grace
Worcester’s historic streets - selling crafts,
gifts and speciality foods - this ever-popular
event also features an array of period entertainment, from choirs and juggling stiltwalkers to a period carousel and barrel organ
music.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland
SnowDome, Tamworth, until Mon 31 December
An all-new Winter Wonderland stage show promises to provide plenty of laughter this month,
as the search for Rudolph’s shiny red nose gets under way. The snowy indoor experience
can’t be spoiled by the weather and offers great festive fun in a safe environment. Visitors
can play and slide in real snow as they explore Santa’s Christmas snow trail, take a walk
through the enchanted forest, enjoy a game of snowballs and hitch a ride on a sledge. The
less adventurous, meanwhile, can observe the snow action as they amble along the promenade walkway.
Big Christmas Party
Brindleyplace, Birmingham,
Tues 4 & Sat 8 December
A plethora of festive activity is promised for
Birmingham’s Brindleyplace this month. A
big Christmas lights switch-on launches festivities on 4 December, and comes complete
with a traditional brass band, hot chesnuts,
mulled wine and a visit from Santa and his
elves. A carol service to raise funds for the
Help Harry Help Others charity also features.
The following Saturday (8 December) sees
the return of the popular Acorns Santas On
The Run, with hundreds of people expected
to turn up to run, skip, walk or jog along one
of two routes in support of local life-limited
children. A feast of street entertainment has
been organised for after the event, including
live music, festive food, a children’s treasure
hunt and a chance to win great prizes.
having a go on the Running Bear Summit
Plummet sledging attraction and the Skike
Hike - a Nordic skating ski track - is certain
to be a major draw for the more adventurous. Add a unique indoor Eco-friendly synthetic ice skating rink, indoor venture zones
and numerous seasonal workshops, and
you’ve got all the necessary ingredients for
an enjoyable family day out.
Christmas On The Farm
Christmas Fair
Magical Winter Wonderland
A brand new £250,000 grotto promises to
offer visitors plenty of festive cheer in the
build-up to Christmas. A ride on the Polar
Express through the North Pole, a visit to
Santa’s workshop and a walk through the
Magical Ice Mirror Maze are sure to provide
plenty of excitement for young visitors, while
Wolverhampton’s Dudley Street will be festooned with illuminated Alpine Chalets this
month, as the city’s yuletide festivities get
well and truly under way. The annual ten-day
Christmas market promises to be bigger and
more festive than ever this year. As well as
offering an array of fine food, unique gifts,
interesting crafts and tempting gastronomical
delights, the markets also play host to live
musicians, carol singers and a wealth of
Christmas and winter-themed attractions.
Umberslade Park Farm, Tanworth in Arden,
Warwickshire, until Sun 23 December
Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 8 December
Twinlakes Park, Melton Mowbray,
until Sun 6 January
Christmas Markets
Queen Street & Dudley Street,
Wolverhampton, Sun 9 - Sun 18 December
Returning to Wolverhampton Art Gallery for a
fourth year, the annual Christmas Craft Fair
offers visitors the chance to soak up some
festive cheer, at the same time as bagging
themselves a unique Christmas gift or two.
Many of the region’s best craftmakers will be
taking the opportunity to showcase their
wares, including handmade crafts, cards and
decorations, in addition to which an array of
beautiful gifts and children’s stocking-fillers
are available in the gallery shop. Promising
to offer something for all the family to enjoy,
this one-day event also
features storytelling sessions, free craft activities
and local choir performances. There’ll even be a
special guest coming
down the Art Gallery
chimney!
image from previous event
Children who visit Umberslade Park Farm
could well find themselves starring in their
very own nativity this month. Youngsters are
invited to dress as a shepherd, an angel,
Mary or Joseph, and to star alongside real
farm animals in one of three nativities being
staged daily over the weekends leading up
to Christmas. Umberslade also hosts a
Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Activity Barn.
Events PREVIEWS
Christmas Celebration
And Craft Fair
Sandwell Park Farm, weekends throughout
December
This month sees Sandwell’s fully restored
working Victorian farm transformed into a
winter wonderland, as the site is decked out
for the festive season. Father Christmas is
geared up for weekend residency
throughout the
month, and is asking
visitors to join him for
a Victorian Christmas
Fayre on 15 and 16
December, where
entertainment will
include carol singing,
a brass band and
plenty more...
Magical Christmas
Wonderland
Dudley Zoo, Wed 5 - Mon 24 December
A feast of fairytale fun awaits visitors to
Dudley Zoo this month, as the historic castle
is transformed into a magical winter wonderland in which Santa hands out surprise gifts
to visiting youngsters. Admission to the
attraction includes entrance to the zoo, a
Magical Train Ride and access to the Magical
Christmas Show. To find out more, visit
www.dudleyzoo.org.uk
Christmas Evenings At The Museum
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Fri 14 - Sat 15 & Thurs 20 - Sat 22 December
Dudley’s award-winning museum takes on a suitably festive flavour this month, with its cottages being illuminated by gas and candlelight to create a distinctly magical glow. Market
stalls, carol singing and both street and musical entertainment also play their part in infusing
the evening with a real spirit of Christmas, while local theatre group Fizzgog Productions
delight audiences with their fairytale panto Kippin Beauty (which comes complete with a
healthy dose of Black Country-style humour!). Oh, and there’s also a chance to meet Father
Christmas, as he toasts his toes in front of the fire in one of the museum houses.
Events PREVIEWS
Christmas Fayre
Weston Park, Staffordshire,
Sat 8 - Sun 9 December
With the house beautifully adorned in
Christmas finery, this popular annual event
features more than sixty indoor and outdoor
food and craft stalls, providing visitors with
the perfect opportunity to pick up plenty of
festive gifts and lots of delicious seasonal
tucker. The house will be open for the duration of the fayre - as will the Granary Grill Bar
& Restaurant. There’ll even be a Christmas
trail for children, along which they can learn
about all manner of festive traditions, as well
as find out how Christmas was celebrated at
Weston Park in bygone days.
Festive Weekends
Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Sat 8 - Sun 9 & Sat 15 - Sun 16 December
Plenty of Victorian festive cheer awaits visitors to Shropshire’s Blists Hill museum this month,
as residents busy themselves with preparations for Christmas. Mrs Morton’s Christmas
Celebrations once again sees the site’s Iron Rolling Mill transformed into a venue for the workers’ annual party, which comes complete with festive food and seasonal entertainment, including Punch & Judy, a magic show and carol singing. There’s also an opportunity to do a spot
of Christmas shopping in the museum’s retail outlet. And just in case all that’s not enough to
ensure your youngsters are happily entertained, Father Christmas himself - together with his
reindeer - will be on hand to hear some last-minute present requests.
Christmas Parties from £17.95 Inc. buffet & disco
Christmas Family Sunday Lunch
Adults from £16.95, Children from £10.95
Sing-a-long Lunch
£15.95 Inc. 3 course Christmas meal, raffle, bingo &
hits from “the blitz”
Christmas Day lunch
Adults £59.50, Children £29.95
New Years Eve
from £39.95 Inc. Gala Buffet & Disco
Stay The Night
from £55.00 Bed & Breakfast, £79.50 with Champagne
Full Christmas Brochure
Available to download from
www.thegreatbarrhotel.com
Great Barr Hotel,
Pear Tree Drive, Great Barr.
B43 6HS Tel: 0121 357 1141
BOO
KING
S
08
373 800
53
Events LISTINGS
For full listing information on Events
including times and dates visit,
Week Commencing
SAT 1 DEC
MOTORCYCLE LIVE
Featuring a line-up of
new models, off-road
machines, classic
favourites, custom and
touring bikes, together
with the latest in scooters and mopeds, until
Sun 2 Dec, NEC,
Birmingham
THE BBC GOOD FOOD
SHOW WINTER
Recognised as the
biggest foodie event of
the year, featuring specialist producers, live
demos from top chefs including James Martin,
Hairy Bikers and Gino
D’Acampo... until Sun 2
Dec, NEC, Birmingham
WORCESTER VICTORIAN
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Hundreds of festive
stalls and Victorian
entertainment to get
you in the Christmas
spirit. For further information, visit www.visitworcester.com, until
Sun 2 Dec, Worcester
City Centre
BIRMINGHAM'S
CHRISTMAS MARKET until
Sat 22 Dec,
Birmingham City Centre
FAMILY TRAIL CHRISTMAS
CHALLENGE until Sun 23
Dec, Croome Park,
Worcestershire
SANTA’S WINTER LAND
WORKSHOP until Sun 23
Dec, Top Barn Farm,
Holt Heath, Nr
Worcester
NATIVITY TRAIL A free
trail which depicts the
Holy Family as seen
through the eyes of
some of the greatest
artists over the last five
hundred years, until
Mon 24 Dec,
Birmingham Museum &
Art Gallery
WISHING TREE NATURE
TRAIL Follow the clues
around the lake and
gardens to learn interesting nature facts...
until Mon 24 Dec,
Trentham Gardens,
Stoke-on-Trent
THE SANTA EXPERIENCE
until Mon 24 Dec, Park
Hall Countryside
Experience, Oswestry,
North Shropshire
TITANIC TRAIL Follow the
Titanic trail around the
museum and discover
the city's links with the
doomed ocean liner.
Learn about Captain
Smith and the fashions
of the period, until Mon
31 Dec, The Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent
THE WITCHES OF
WARWICK Morbid spells
and the darkest witchcraft games create an
atmosphere so malevolent and chilling that
even seasoned scaremongers will be terrified, Fri 1 - Mon 31
Dec, Warwick Castle
WEB OF LIFE A rare
opportunity to see previously hidden treasures from the museum
collection, until Mon 31
Dec, Nash's House &
New Place, Stratfordupon-Avon
WINTER TRAIL Simple,
fun search around the
venue which encourages children to look
for objects, until Sat 5
Jan, Dudley Museum &
Art Gallery
CHRISTMAS RETAIL
SHOWCASE Featuring an
array of locally produced wares, until Sat
12 Jan, Bilston Craft
Gallery
ANNUAL AFRIDIZIAK
GIFTS & OCCASIONS
WINTER FAIR Sale of
unique and affordable
cultural gifts, Sat 1 Dec,
The Drum, Birmingham
CAROLS AT SOHO Get in
the mood for the festive
season with some
Christmas carols, Sat 1
Dec, Soho House,
Birmingham
KILN FUSED GLASS
CHRISTMAS
DECORATIONS Two-hour
creative sessions where
visitors learn about kiln
fusing while making
their own pieces in the
site's kiln fusing studio,
Sat 1 Dec, Red House
Glass Cone,
Stourbridge
CHRISTMAS ART BUS
Free tour of
Birmingham’s galleries,
including Ikon, Barber
& the Birmingham
A magical evening of
traditional carols, with
mulled wine and mince
pies; a rare opportunity
to visit the cottage in
the evening, Sat 1 Dec,
Anne Hathaway's
Cottage, Stratfordupon-Avon
MUCH WENLOCK CHRISTMAS FAYRE Sat 1 Dec,
Much Wenlock Town
Centre, South
Shropshire
FEEL GOOD - YOGA &
MEDITATION WORKSHOP
Experienced teachers
Adam Dacey and Gary
Tranter present an
‘introduction to meditation and yoga’ workshop, Sat 1 Dec, The
WREATH MAKING WORK-
SHOP Advice and materials supplied, Sat 1
Dec, Moseley Old Hall,
Wolverhampton
TUDOR CHRISTMAS
BANQUETS Feast like
King Henry VIII and be
entertained by musicians, singers, dancers
and storytellers at
Tamworth Castle's fun
and sumptuous Tudor
banquets, Sat 1 Dec,
Tamworth Castle
CHRISTMAS GIFTS &
HANDMADE CRAFTS FAIR
Sixty stalls of handmade crafts, Christmas
gifts, fashion & food,
free children’s activities
and face painting, as
well as a visit from
Father Christmas, Sat 1
Dec, Birmingham
Museum And Art
Gallery
FESTIVE FOR THE FAYRE
Escape the hustle and
bustle of the Christmas
Fayre and join in some
festive creative sessions, where you can
make arty-crafty decorations for your home,
Sat 1 Dec, Worcester
City Art Gallery &
Museum
FROST FAIR Annual
event featuring quality
local craft and food
stalls and plenty of
inspiration for
Christmas gifts, Fri 1 Sun 2 Dec, Attingham
Park, Shrewsbury
CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN
TRAIL Sat 1 - Sun 2
Dec, Kenilworth Castle,
Warwickshire
FESTIVE WINTER WONDERLAND Seasonal
activities, entertainers,
festive food and a
chance to watch a thirty-minute production of
Aladdin, Sat 1 - Sun 2
Dec, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
SANTA HUNTS Embark
on a fun-filled search
for Santa-costumed
guides as magical
Christmas clues point
the way to Santa's
workshop, culminating
in a surprise gift, Sat 1 Sun 2 Dec, Black
Country Living
Museum, Dudley
A VERNON FAMILY
CHRISTMAS Join the
Vernon family for a traditional family
Christmas and pick up
some unique Christmas
gifts in the on-site
shop, Sat 1 - Sun 2
Dec, Hanbury Hall,
Worcestershire
CHRISTMAS AT
CHARLECOTE See the
Great Hall decorated
for Christmas, listen to
some festive music and
see what’s cooking in
the Victorian kitchens,
Sat 1 - Sun 2 Dec,
Charlecote Park,
Warwickshire
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
CRAFT FAIR Victorian
entertainment promises
to provide a festive
Festive Winter Wonderland - Cadbury World, Birmingham
atmosphere while visitors browse around a
variety of food and craft
stalls... Sat 1 - Sun 2
Dec, Forge Mill Needle
Museum, Redditch
WINTER WEEKENDS
Featuring fun, festive
and creative activities
with the Stratford-uponAvon Guild of Weavers,
Spinners and Dyers.
Live music and festive
storytelling for the
under-fives, Sat 1 - Sun
2 Dec, Compton
Verney Gallery,
Warwickshire
THE FLYING SHOW Event
for recreational flying
enthusiasts, with various forms of pleasure
flying represented,
including light aircraft,
microlights, gyrocopters, gliders, models and more, Sat 1 Sun 2 Dec, NEC,
Birmingham
SANTA STEAM SPECIALS
2012 A firm favourite
with families, where visitors can meet Santa in
his special grotto and
receive a present, Sat 1
- Sun 2 Dec, Severn
Valley Railway,
Kidderminster
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
WEEKEND Sat 1 - Sun 2
Dec, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
BEWDLEY CHRISTMAS
LIGHTS FESTIVAL Sat 1 Sun 2 Dec, Bewdley
Museum
TALE TRAIL TO A
CHRISTMAS CAROL
Interactive storytime for
young children which
enables visitors to step
into a Dickensian
Christmas, explore his
story and share things
that make Christmas
special... Sat 1 - Sat 22
Dec, New Vic Theatre,
Newcastle-under-Lyme
CHRISTMAS AT HOO
FARM Visit Father
Christmas in his log
cabin, walk around the
farm trail and then
experience the animal’s
Christmas before joining in with the nativity,
Sat 1 - Mon 24 Dec,
Hoo Farm Animal
Kingdom, Telford,
Shropshire
ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS
FAIR Sun 2 Dec, Castle
Square, Ludlow, South
Shropshire
CHRISTMAS FAMILY DAY
Featuring a variety of
themed activities to get
the festive season
under way, Sun 2 Dec,
Coventry Transport
Museum
SWAGS, WREATHS &
PUDDING STIR Sun 2
Dec, Moseley Old Hall,
Wolverhampton
CHRISTMAS FAYRE Sun 2
Dec, Northycote Farm,
Wolverhampton
FLEA FAIR Sun 2 Dec,
The Three Counties
Showground, Malvern
CHRISTMAS FAMILY DAY
Sun 2 Dec, Museum of
Cannock Chase
CHRISTMAS CRAFT
SHOPPING Showcasing
high quality independent artists and designers who will be selling
unique handcrafted
wares, Sun 2 Dec,
Warwickshire Exhibition
Centre
ICE SKATING SUNDAY
Take a spin around the
real Ice Rink in a magical lakeside setting,
Sun 2 Dec, Trentham
Gardens, Stoke-onTrent
TURNER PRIZE PARTY
Live broadcast from
Tate Britain as the winner of the most controversial contemporary
art prize in the UK is
announced, Mon 3
Dec, Wolverhampton
Art Gallery
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
SWITCH ON AND CAROLS
Tues 4 Dec,
Brindleyplace,
Birmingham
WINTER GUIDED TOUR
Special out-of-season
tour, Wed 5 Dec, Aston
Hall, Birmingham
NITRO CIRCUS LIVE
Adrenalin-packed live
show providing twoand-a-half hours of fully
choreographed action
sports, Wed 5 Dec,
Birmingham
MOSELEY BY CANDLELIGHT Experience the
hall’s unique atmosphere at Christmas with
a seasonal threecourse meal and candlelit tour, Wed 5 Dec,
Moseley Old Hall,
Wolverhampton
WORCESTER WARRIORS V
PERPIGNAN Thurs 6
Dec, Sixways Stadium,
Worcester
CHRISTMAS DELIGHTS
See Soho House decorated for Christmas,
take a tour of the house
and learn how eighteenth century England
would have celebrated
the Christmas holiday,
Thurs 6 Dec, Soho
House, Birmingham
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
MARKET Thurs 6 Dec,
Castle Square, Ludlow
CREATIVE ART WORKSHOP Thurs 6 Dec,
Malvern Theatre
THE CARLSBERG DARTS
2012 BALLROOM
MASTERS Featuring
Raymond van
Barneveld, James
Wade, Simon Whitlock,
Mark Webster, Vincent
Van Der Voort, Michael
VanGerwen, Kim
Huybrechts & Arron
Monk, plus euroSky
Sportseuro Rod
Harrington, Fri 7 Dec,
The Ballroom,
Birmingham
GREEN WREATH
WORKSHOP Make a festive wreath with material collected on site. Hot
chocolate and mince
pie included, Fri 7 Dec,
Weoley Castle,
Birmingham
ORIGINS OF MIDDLEEARTH: A WINTER WALK
Follow in the footsteps
of the young JRR
Tolkien, author of The
Lord Of The Rings and
The Hobbit, and take a
winter walk around the
lost hamlet of Sarehole
and the winter splendour of Moseley bog,
Fri 7 Dec, Sarehole Mill,
Birmingham
CHRISTMAS GHOST TOUR
A special eerie evening
Christmas tour around
the castle and gatehouse. Hear tales of
dark deeds, ghostly
THE EASY WAY TO
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Events LISTINGS
apparitions and scary
happenings from the
ghost of Christmas
past, Fri 7 Dec,
Kenilworth Castle
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
Evening of festive
entertainment, including period games,
Christmas carols, craft
stalls, demonstrations,
punch & mince pies...
Fri 7 Dec, Bantock
House & Museum,
Wolverhampton
OSWESTRY CHRISTMAS
LIVE Featuring ice rink,
music stage, Santa’s
Grotto, market stalls
and firework display, Fri
7 Dec, Festival Square,
Oswestry, North
Shropshire
GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS &
WINTER FAYRE Family
fair with gifts and crafts,
Fri 7 - Sun 9 Dec,
Shugborough Historic
Working Estate,
Staffordshire
BOWMAN ANTIQUES FAIR
Quality three-day showcase of antiques and
collectables for decoration, investment or that
unique gift... Fri 7 - Sun
9 Dec, Stafford Bingley
Hall
CLOTHES SHOW LIVE
2012 The UK’s largest
fashion & beauty event,
Fri 7 - Tue 11 Dec,
NEC, Birmingham
WOLVERHAMPTON’S
CHRISTMAS MARKET
Featuring a wide range
of jewellery, art, clothing and accessories,
gourmet meats,
cheeses, chocolates &
sweets, Fri 7 - Sun 16
Dec, Dudley Street &
Queen Square,
Wolverhampton
MAKING MERRY Festive
shopping haven featuring unique handmade
gifts, decorations and
food..., Sat 8 Dec,
Museum
CHRISTMAS VINTAGE AND
CRAFT FAIR Featuring
vintage clothes, accessories, homewares,
antiques, handmade
crafts, the Mad Hatter’s
Tea Room, live music
and licensed bar... Sat
8 Dec, Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton
IT’S CHRISTMAS - FIRE
FESTIVAL Signal 107
Radio play host to
a family-fun evening
where brass bands serenade shoppers and
Fireman Sam & Peppa
Pig keep the kids entertained, Sat 8 Dec,
Queen Square,
Wolverhampton
KILN FUSED GLASS
CHRISTMAS
fusing while making
Glass Cone,
Stourbridge
17TH CENTURY CHRISTMAS Discover the
house decorated for
Christmas and taste traditional 17th century
recipes, Sat 8 Dec,
Moseley Old Hall,
Wolverhampton
BRINDLEYPLACE BIG
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Return of the Santas
On The Run event in
aid of Acorns Children’s
Hospice, Sat 8 Dec,
Brindleyplace,
Birmingham
CRAFTY CHRISTMAS A
day of crafty Christmas
family fun. Meet Santa,
listen to carol singers,
and create a variety of
Christmas decorations
to take home, Sat 8
Dec, The Royal Pump
Rooms, Leamington
Spa
TRADITIONAL CANDLELIT
CHRISTMAS EVENING A
family evening of traditional Christmas fun,
Sat 8 Dec, Avoncroft
Museum, Bromsgrove
DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG
PUBLIC DRIFT DAY Sat 8
Dec, Santa Pod
Raceway, Northampton
SANTA AT THE CONE
Visits to Santa include a
gift, craft activity and
glassmaking demonstrations, Sat 8 Dec,
Red House Glass
Cone, Stourbridge
FESTIVE BAZAAR
Featuring Christmasinspired stalls, Sat 8
Dec, The Hive Media
Centre, Shrewsbury
LDN WRESTLING Starring
names from the world
of wrestling in tag team,
single bouts and an allin rumble when the
wrestlers can only be
eliminated by being
thrown out of the ring
over the top rope, Sat 8
Rooms, South
Shropshire
CHRISTMAS WREATHS &
GARLANDS Make your
own holly wreath or
garland from willow,
holly, ivy and other festive materials, Sat 8
Dec, Shropshire Wildlife
Trust Visitor Centre,
Shrewsbury
CHRISTMAS CAROL
TRAINS Part of the
Christmas season of
services, Sat 8 Dec,
Severn Valley Railway,
Kidderminster
DICKENS DAY
Storytelling sessions
and interactive
Christmas carol show,
Sat 8 Dec, The
Potteries Museum & Art
Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
CRAFT ACTIVITY CHRISTMAS
DECORATIONS Festive
workshop where you
can make your very
own decorations to
take home and hang
on your tree, Sat 8
Dec, The Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent
BEAUTIFUL BANGLES
ADULT WORKSHOP Join
designer maker Shona
Marsh to make a simple, contemporary silver bangle, using traditional jewellery-making
techniques, Sat 8 Dec,
Museum of the
Jewellery Quarter,
Birmingham
CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATIONS
Costumed guided
tours, carol singing by
Enchant Choir and festive refreshments, Sat 8
Dec, Museum of the
Jewellery Quarter,
Birmingham
CHRISTMAS FAIR Sat 8
Dec, Wolverhampton
Art Gallery
JO MCCHESNEY
PRINTMAKING
WORKSHOPS Two-day
printmaking workshop
with an experienced
artist, Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, Weston Park,
Staffordshire
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Festive event with an
abundance of
Christmas gifts and
local produce for sale,
Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
Weston Park,
Staffordshire
A VERNON FAMILY
CHRISTMAS Join the
gifts in the on-site shop,
Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
Hanbury Hall,
Worcestershire
festive food and a
Aladdin, Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
WINTER WEEKEND
Spinners and Dyers.
under-fives..., Sat 8 Sun 9 Dec, Compton
Verney Gallery,
Warwickshire
SANTA HUNTS Embark
for Santa-costumed
guides as magical
Lantern Parade - Leamington Spa
the way to Santa's
in a surprise gift, Sat 8 Sun 9 Dec, Black
Country Living
Museum, Dudley
CHRISTMAS STORYTELLING Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, Kenilworth Castle,
Warwickshire
MARKETPLACE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT
FAIR Featuring high
quality work from local
designer makers across
a varied range of disciplines - from ceramics,
jewellery and textiles, to
woodwork and visual
arts, Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
mac - Midlands Arts
Centre, Birmingham
with families, where visitors can meet Santa in
his special grotto and
receive a present, Sat 8
- Sun 9 Dec, Severn
Valley Railway
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
WEEKENDS Chance to
meet Father Christmas'
reindeer and enjoy Mr
Morton's Christmas
party, with festive
songs, cooking demonstrations and much
more... Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, Blists Hill,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
CHRISTMAS AT
CHARLECOTE See the
Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
Charlecote Park,
Warwickshire
FESTIVE FAMILY FUN
TRAIL Your help is
needed in solving
Stokesay’s festive mystery, Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
Stokesay Castle, South
Shropshire
WEEKEND Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE Sat 8 - Sun 9 Dec,
Worcestershire County
Museum
FAMILY SANTA TRAIL
With the help of
Victorian servants,
explore the Santa trail
before entering Santa’s
grotto to receive a surprise gift, Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, Tamworth Castle
MEET MISS BYRNE Meet
and talk with Factory
Inspector Miss Caroline
Byrne, Sat 8 - Sun 9
Dec, The Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent
CHRISTMAS MARKET Sun
9 Dec, Castle Square,
Ludlow, South
Shropshire
SANTA AT THE CONE
Visits to Santa include a
gift, craft activity and
glassmaking demonstrations, Sun 9 Dec,
Red House Glass
Cone, Stourbridge
CHRISTMAS FAIR Sun 9
Dec, Coventry Rugby
Football Club
ICE SKATING SUNDAY
real Ice Rink in a magi-
cal lakeside setting,
Sun 9 Dec, Trentham
Week Commencing
MON 10 DEC
CAROL SERVICE Tues 11
- Wed 12 Dec, The
Back to Backs,
Birmingham
TRADITIONAL TUDOR
CHRISTMAS See the
house decorated for
Christmas and have a
go at making your own
decorations, Tues 11 Sat 15 Dec, Greyfriars,
Worcester
GUIDED TOUR OF
REVEALED: GOVERNMENT
ART COLLECTION Tour
headed by the museum's curator, Chantal
Condron, Wed 12 Dec,
Birmingham Museum &
Art Gallery
WINTER GUIDED TOUR
Special out-of-season
tour, Wed 12 Dec,
Aston Hall, Birmingham
SEASONAL SENSATIONS
CRAFT FAIR Wed 12
Dec, Civic Centre,
Wolverhampton
LANTERN PARADE
Featuring music, rides,
real reindeer and entertainment for all, Thurs
13 Dec, Pump Room
Gardens, Leamington
Spa
LUDLOW LOCAL PRODUCE
MARKET Thurs 13 Dec,
Castle Square, Ludlow,
South Shropshire
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Events LISTINGS
HISTORICAL COOKERY &
MAYHEM - CHRISTMAS
SPECIAL Showing alternative recipes dating
back to Tudor times
and Victoria's court, Fri
14 Dec, Lichfield
Garrick
COLMORE BID CHRISTMAS THEMED FLATPACK
FILM EVENT Featuring
shorts on a festive
theme, including
Edison’s 1910 adaptation of A Christmas
Carol, Fri 14 Dec,
Birmingham Cathedral
ORIGINS OF MIDDLEEARTH, A WINTER WALK
Follow in the footsteps
of the young JRR
Tolkien, author of The
Lord Of The Rings and
The Hobbit, and take a
winter walk around the
lost hamlet of Sarehole
and the winter splendour of Moseley bog,
Fri 14 Dec, Sarehole
Mill, Birmingham
MOSELEY CHRISTMAS
ARTS MARKET High
quality handmade
products from local
designers and makers,
Fri 14 Dec, Cathedral
Square, Birmingham
CHRISTMAS EVENINGS
Traditional Christmas
entertainment including
carol singing, Black
Country comedic
panto, street entertainers, brass bands, a singalong with the pianist,
puppet theatre and
much more..., Fri 14 Sat 15 Dec, Black
Country Living
Museum, Dudley
CHRISTMAS CAROL
TRAINS Part of the
Christmas season of
Kidderminster
A DINOSAUR ADVENTURE
Join Professor
Predicament on her
journey back to
Jurassic England,
where she searches for
a rare and mysterious
dinosaur, Sat 15 Dec,
Museum, Coventry
TOLKIEN'S BIRMINGHAM
TOUR Illustrated talk
covering the places
where JRR Tolkien
lived, played, worshipped and went to
school in Birmingham,
Sat 15 Dec,
Birmingham Museum &
Art Gallery
KILN FUSED GLASS
CHRISTMAS
fusing while making
Glass Cone,
Kidderminster
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
Blakesley's annual
Christmas celebration
goes Victorian. Meet
costumed characters,
listen to the choir and
hear handbell ringers
bring some festive
cheer..., Sat 15 Dec,
Blakesley Hall,
Birmingham
FANTASTIC FOSSIL CASTS
Workshop where visitors can cast amazing
ammonite or dino tooth
from moulds created
from real fossils, Sat 15
Dec, Herbert Art Gallery
& Museum, Coventry
A ROCKET FOR
CHRISTMAS A short talk
about the history of significant events in rocketry and spaceflight
that have taken place in
the month of December
from the late 1800s, the
1900s and up to today,
Sat 15 Dec, The
Potteries Museum & Art
Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
FUTURISTIC SANTA'S
GROTTO With the help of
his futuristic Ultra-Elves,
Santa tells how he can
visit all the children in
just one night, Sat 15
Dec, The Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent
IT’S CHRISTMAS - LIVE
NATIVITY Signal 107
Radio play host
while a live nativity is
performed with real
camels and donkeys,
Sat 15 Dec, Queen
Square,
Wolverhampton
THE SNOWMAN
Raymond Briggs’ The
Snowman celebrates
thirty years meeting
shoppers and families...
Sat 15 Dec, Cannon
Park Shopping Centre,
Coventry
TOLKIEN BUS TOUR To
celebrate the release of
the film The Hobbit: An
Unexpected Journey,
the Big Brum Open Top
Bus will run an ‘unexpected journey’ to the
area around Sarehole
Mill, which is said to
have been the model
for The Shire, Sat 15
Dec, Sarehole Mill,
Birmingham
SEASONAL TILE
DECORATING WORKSHOP
Sat 15 Dec, Jackfield
Tile Museum,
ALL ON WINTER’S NIGHT
A feast of songs, carols, stories and folklore,
Sat 15 Dec, Artrix,
Bromsgrove
SANTA SPECIALS 2012 A
firm favourite with families, where visitors can
meet Santa in his special grotto and receive
a present, Sat 15 - Sun
16 Dec, Severn Valley
Railway, Kidderminster
CHRISTMAS MUSIC: PAST
& PRESENT Sat 15 - Sun
16 Dec, Kenilworth
Castle, Warwickshire
SANTA AT THE CONE
Visits to Santa include
a gift, craft activity and
glassmaking demonstrations, Sat 15 - Sun
16 Dec, Red House
Glass Cone,
Stourbridge
SOUTHSIDE CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATIONS Featuring
singing from
Birmingham’s
Notorious Choir, ice
sculotures around the
district and a visit from
Santa, Sat 15 - Sun 16
Dec, Southside District,
Birmingham
SEARCH FOR SANTA Let
the costumed villagers
and festive clues help
you find Santa in his
hidden grotto, Sat 15 Sun 16 Dec, Avoncroft
Museum, Bromsgrove
WEEKEND Sat 15 - Sun
16 Dec, Cadbury
World, Birmingham
FAMILY SANTA TRAIL
With the help of
Victorian servants
explore the Santa trail
before entering Santa’s
grotto to receive a surprise gift, Sat 15 - Sun
16 Dec, Tamworth
Castle
LKA CHAMPIONSHIP DOG
SHOW Featuring over
one hundred-and-fifty
different breeds competing for the prestigious title of Best In
Show, Sat 15 - Sun 16
Dec, NEC, Birmingham
MARKETPLACE CONTEMPORARY CRAFT
FAIR Featuring high
quality work from local
designer makers
across a varied range
of disciplines, from
ceramics, jewellery and
textiles to woodwork
and visual arts, Sat 15 Sun 16 Dec, mac Midlands Arts Centre,
Birmingham
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS
WEEKENDS Meet Father
Christmas' Reindeer
and enjoy Mr Morton's
Christmas party, with
festive songs, cooking
demonstrations and
much more... Sat 15 Sun 16 Dec, Blists Hill,
festive food and a
Aladdin, Sat 15 - Sun
16 Dec, Cadbury
World, Birmingham
CAROLS IN THE BARN
Sun 16 Dec, Moseley
Old Hall,
Wolverhampton
WINTER WEEKEND
Spinners and Dyers.
under-fives... Sat 15 Sun 16 Dec, Compton
Verney Gallery,
Warwickshire
A CHRISTMAS COMMANDERY Sat 15 - Sun 16
Dec, The Commandery,
Worcester
CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Sat 15 - Sun 16 Dec,
Bewdley Museum,
Worcestershire
A VERNON FAMILY
CHRISTMAS Join the
gifts in the on-site
shop, Sat 15 - Sun 16
Dec, Hanbury Hall,
Worcestershire
CHRISTMAS AT
CHARLECOTE See the
Charlecote Park,
Warwickshire
SANTA HUNTS Embark
for Santa-costumed
guides as magical
the way to Santa's
in a surprise gift, Sat
15 - Mon 24 Dec, Black
Country Living
Museum, Dudley
ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS
FAIR Sun 16 Dec,
South Shropshire
ICE SKATING SUNDAY
Sun 16 Dec, Trentham
Week Commencing
MON 17 DEC
INTRODUCTION TO 18TH
CENTURY BIRMINGHAM
An introduction to the
site’s new galleries,
looking at 18th century
Birmingham with
Applied Art Curator
Sylvia Crawley, Tue 18
Dec, Birmingham
SPOTLIGHT Put your
own object under the
spotlight, Wed 19 Dec,
Birmingham Museum &
Art Gallery
CHRISTMAS EVENINGS
Traditional Christmas
entertainment, including carol singing, Black
Country comedic
panto, street entertainers, brass bands, a singalong with the pianist,
puppet theatre and
much more..., Thurs 20
- Sat 22 Dec, Black
Country Living
Museum, Dudley
CHRISTMAS DELIGHTS
See Soho House decorated for Christmas,
take a tour of the house
and learn how eighteenth century England
would have celebrated
the Christmas holiday,
Thurs 20 Dec, Soho
House, Birmingham
LUDLOW LOCAL PRODUCE
MARKET Thurs 20 Dec,
South Shropshire
CREATE CHRISTMAS
MAGIC! Workshop
where visitors can
make star-spangled
mobiles to take home
for Christmas. Spaces
are limited, so booking
is essential... Fri 21
Dec, Worcester City Art
Gallery & Museum
WORCESTER WARRIORS V
LONDON WELSH Fri 21
Dec, Sixways Stadium,
Worcester
SEARCH FOR SANTA Let
the costumed villagers
and festive clues help
you find Santa in his
hidden grotto, Sat 22
Dec, Avoncroft
Museum, Bromsgrove
CHRISTMAS CAROL
TRAINS Part of the
Christmas season of
Kidderminster
with families, visit Santa
in his special grotto
and receive a present,
Kidderminster
WEEKEND Sat 22 - Sun
23 Dec, Cadbury
World, Birmingham
SANTA AT THE CONE
Visits to Santa include
a gift, craft activity and
glassmaking demonstrations, Sat 22 - Sun
23 Dec, Red House
Glass Cone,
Kidderminster
CHRISTMAS AT
CHARLECOTE See the
Charlecote Park,
Warwickshire
festive food and a
Aladdin, Sat 22 - Sun
23 Dec, Cadbury
World, Birmingham
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
TRAIL Sat 22 Dec - Sun
6 Jan, Attingham Park,
Shrewsbury
Bringing the 1837
Darby Hand Chapel to
life for a traditional candlelit carol service, Sun
23 Dec, Black Country
Living Museum, Dudley
MAC FOOD MARKET
Monthly event for food
lovers..., Sun 23 Dec,
mac - Midlands Arts
Centre, Birmingham
ICE SKATING SUNDAY
Week Commencing
MON 24 DEC
ICE SKATING CHRISTMAS
EVE Take a spin around
the real Ice Rink in
magical lakeside setting, Mon 24 Dec,
Trentham Gardens,
Stoke-on-Trent
ICE SKATING CHRISTMAS
EVE Take a spin around
the real Ice Rink in a
magical lakeside setting, Wed 26 Dec,
Trentham Gardens,
Stoke-on-Trent
LANDSCAPE DETECTIVES
TRAIL Self-guided family
trail to blow away the
festive cobwebs, Wed
26 Dec - Tues 1 Jan,
Croombe Park,
Worcestershire
FESTIVE SEASON SERVICE
With the Christmas festivities over, why not
blow away the cobwebs with a leisurely
steam train journey,
Wed 26 Dec - Sun 6
Jan, Severn Valley
Railway, Kidderminster
TOY COLLECTORS' FAIR
Toy fair for all ages...,
Thurs 27 Dec, NEC,
Birmingham
BONNETS UP DAYS An
opportunity for technically minded types to
get under the bonnets
of three of the Heritage
Motor Centre's cars, Fri
28 Dec, Heritage Motor
Centre, Gaydon,
Warwickshire
WAR OF THE WORLDS
Historian Andrew
Lound tells the dramatic history of HG Wells'
famous book, War Of
The Worlds, Fri 28 Dec,
The Potteries Museum
& Art Gallery, Stoke-onTrent
INTERSTELLA
SOUNDTRACK Free digital media workshop
where visitors can create their very own
sounds from infinity, Fri
28 Dec, The Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent
ICE SKATING SUNDAY
MIDNIGHT FIREWORK
DISPLAY Mon 31 Dec,
The Arcadian,
Birmingham
Variety is the
Life Of Spice..
Come out to play with a huge network of new friends.
A warm welcome awaits you!
Wouldn’t you love to be invited to
join a thriving club of 3000 friends
in the West Midlands (and 15,000
nationally!) who really know how
to enjoy themselves?
Well here’s your chance. We’re a
friendly, local action, adventure and
social group offering a wide variety
of opportunities for our members to
have fun together.
There’s literally something for
everyone; be it the latest adrenaline
pumping outdoor activities…
weekends & holidays… sports
nights… workshops on fascinating
subjects… or social nights including
theatre, parties and ‘behind the
scenes’ visits to all sorts of unusual
places you’ve always wanted to go.
Events take place at locations
across the West Midlands. Lots of
our members are single and come
along on there own, but we also
welcome couples and groups of
friends. There’s no hidden agenda
– we’re just one happy family of
friends. Members are all ages
(18–80!) and from all walks of life.
Get your FREE comprehensive
information pack today call:
0121 353 6161 (24 hours)
email claire@spicebham.com
or visit www.spicebham.com
The one unifying factor of anyone
joining Spice is that they want to live
life to the full.
Membership is equivalent to the
cost of just a pint of beer a week.
In fact, our money back promise
means that satisfaction is
guaranteed.
So what will
you be doing
tomorrow?
“It’s an opportunity to get to do lots of things you wouldn’t otherwise do
What our members are up to in December 2012
.
Saturday 1st December
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Eyam Leg stretcher Mountain
Bike Ride
Good Food Show
Guide Dog Training Centre Visit
Mince Pie Paddle
Private Dining with a Celebrity Chef
Walk with Wolves - Bedford
Your Spiritual Evolution
Jorvik Viking Centre
York Minster
Friday 21st December
Sunday 9th December
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Charity Spice Christmas Cake Club!
Christmas Adventure Trekking Day
Cupcake Christmas Decorating
Workshop
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Saturday 22nd December
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Ditton Priors + Brown Clee Hill
Ramble
Learn to Drift!
Sunday 2nd December
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Chadwick End Easy Ramble
Cupcake Christmas Decorating
Workshop
Land Yachting Introduction
Rock Weaseling Day
Singing for Beginners - Find your
Voice!
York Castle Museum
Monday 3rd December
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Badminton For Fun - Worcester
Spice Book Club
Tuesday 4th December
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Christmas Wine Tastings and Wine
Games
Preview Evening (Arden Hotel)
Wednesday 5th December
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Badminton For Fun - Wolverhampton
Christmas Behind the Scenes
(a whole season uncovered!)
Tamworth and Lichfield Pub Night
Thursday 6th December
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Curry and Quiz - Sutton Coldfield
Halesowen and Quinton Pub Night
Salsa Dance Workshop
Tudor Christmas Evening at
Tutbury Castle
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Center Parcs Christmas Party
Weekend
Whitby Moor and Coast Walking
Weekend
Saturday 8th December
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Abseiling for the Terrified
Christmas Carriage Ride
Colour U Confident Workshop
Dogs Home Visit (Birmingham)
Frankfurt Christmas Market Pub
Treasure Trail
Glass Blowing Workshop - Make a
Christmas Bauble
Temple Guiting Ramble
Vienna at Christmas Break
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Austrian Christmas at Franzls
Unihoc (Mixed Indoor Hockey)
Christmas Party Makeup Lesson
with Esther Marie
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A Victorian Christmas
Ballroom Dance Masterclass - Jive
Christmas Dinner Dance 2012
Christmas Dinner Dance
Accomodation
Preston Bagott Easy Ramble and
Lunch
Rally Driving Lesson
Sunday 16th December
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Friday 7th December
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Friday 14th December
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Christmas Carols Singalong Albert Hall
Santa Cycle and Present Drop
in Sutton Park
Monday 17th December
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Bromsgrove Pub Night
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Christmas Day Link Up 2012
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Borrowdale Twixtmas Walking Break
Christmas Clay Pigeon Shooting
Hartshill Hayes Ramble
Oxfordshire Twixtmas Walking Break
Quiz (Christmas Quiz)
Friday 28th December
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Spice Hits Town at the Jam House
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Borrowdale New Year Walking Break
Chester and Cheshire New Year
Walking Break
Easy Cycling Tour of Kingsbury
Water Park
Latimer and the Chilterns New Year
Break
Luxury New Year Walking and
Spa Weekend in the Peaks
Sunday 30th December
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Balloon Flight
Border Dales Moderate Ramble
Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2012/13
New Year's Eve Sleepover EXTRA NIGHT
Monday 31st December
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Baddesley Easy Ramble and Lunch
Bournville on Christmas Eve
Christmas Break: Kingston Upon
Thames
Christmas House Party at Fort Belan
■
■
Solihull Pub Night
Badminton For Fun - Wolverhampton
Badminton at NIA
Sutton Pub Night
Clifford Chambers Easy Ramble
and Lunch
Abberley Hill Ramble
Sunday 23rd December
■
Peter Pan
Kings Heath Pub Night
■
■
Badminton at NIA
Sutton Park Mulled Wine/Mince Pie
Ev Ramble
■
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Champagne
Dinner
New Year Party - Copthorne Effingham
Hotel
New Year's Eve Sleepover Beach Party
■
■
Dolly Parton - 9 to 5 The Musical
Warwick / Leamington Pub Night
For future listings visit:
www.spicebham.com
...and meet lots of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet”. Jamie, Spice member
Classifieds - Dec_Layout 1 26/11/2012 14:36 Page 1
classifieds
GREAT CAR PARKS
THROUGHOUT
THE MIDLANDS
INCLUDING OUR HURST ST CAR PARK
IN THE HEART OF
SOUTHSIDE, BIRMINGHAM
JUST 200 YARDS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THEATRE,
THE GLEE CLUB AND ARCADIAN CENTRE
TO FIND YOUR NEAREST CAR PARK OR TO
DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF A SEASON TICKET VISIT:
www.ncp.co.uk
Taking all Christmas party bookings now!
Special Offers & Party Packages
BOO
on all business staff parties.
NOWK!
● V.I.P Areas
● Extensice Luxurious Bar,
● Private Waitress Service & Sexy Dancers Around
● Ladies Welcome
Tel: 0121 643 8553
info@thesunsetclub.co.uk
www.thesunsetclub.co.uk.
89 Holloway Head,
Birmingham City Centre B1 1QP
Clubbing Gay - December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 16:36 Page 1
Clubbing
BIRMINGHAM
AIR Heath Mill Lane, Digbeth, B9 4AL. Tel:
0121 766 6646
BAMBU Kottwall House, Wrottesley Street,
B5 4BN Tel: 0121 6224124
BUSHWACKERS 103 Edmund St, B3 2HZ
Tel: 0121 236 4994
FLARES NIGHTCLUB 55 Broad St, B15
1AY Tel: 0121 252 3100
GATECRASHER 183 Broad St,
B15 1DA Tel: 0121 525 1300
02 ACADEMY 16-18 Horsefair, Bristol St,
B1 1DB Tel: 0121 622 8250
REFLEX 36-37 Broad St, B1 2DY Tel:
0121 643 0444
SNOBS NIGHTCLUB 29 Paradise Circus,
Queensway, B1 2BJ Tel: 0121 643 5551
BLACK COUNTRY
OCEANA WOLVERHAMPTON Bilston Rd,
Wolverhampton Tel: 0845 402 5290
SHROPSHIRE
C:21 NIGHTCLUB 21 Abbey Foregate,
Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 271821
BUTTERMARKET Howard Street,
Shrewsbury Tel: 01743 281712
VELVET 13 Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury
SY1 2DJ Tel: 01743 281712
FEVER 19 - 21 Hills Lane, Shrewsbury
SY1 1QU Tel: 01743 247508
Trevor Nelson announces Christmas gig in Brum
THE OFFICE 27a Market Street,
Oakengates TF2 6EN Tel:01952 616536
Gatecrasher, Birmingham, Thurs 27 December
PUSSYCATS NIGHT CLUB 17 Tan Bank,
Wellington, TF2 6EJ Tel: 01952 224260
SPIRIT NIGHTCLUB 18 Abbey Foregate,
Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 355055
STAFFORDSHIRE
COURTURE & NOIRE ET BLANC 139
Newport Rd, Stafford, ST16 2EZ Tel: 01785
244755
LIQUID Brunswick St, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1
1DR Tel: 01782 284333
REFLEX 3-5 Brockley Square, Stoke-onTrent ST1 5LY Tel: 01782 206170
TRINITY NIGHTCLUB Spinning School
Lane, Tamworth,ST1 1DR Tel: 01827 58772
WARWICKSHIRE
CAREYS NIGHTCLUB Hereford Place,
Coventry CV1 3JZ Tel: 02476 227 397
EVOLVE NIGHTCLUB 2 Spencer Street,
Leamington Spa, Coventry CV31 3NF Tel:
01926 881449
JJ’S Skydome Leisure Park, Croft Rd,
Coventry CV1 3AZ. Tel: 02476 555913
LIQUID & ENVY Leicester Road,
Nuneaton CV11 4B. Tel: 02476 344216
REFLEX Church St, Nuneaton, CV11 4BW
Tel: 02476 344216
WORCESTERSHIRE
BUSHWACKERS Trinity St, Worcester
WR1 2PW Tel: 01905 26878
TRAMPS Angel Place, Worcester WR1
3QN Tel: 019905 26936
VELVET LOUNGE Angel Place, Worcester
WR1 3QN. Tel: 01905 619966
Radio One DJ Trevor Nelson has confirmed that he’s to appear at Gatecrasher’s Birmingham venue
during the festive period. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the UK urban scene, the multi-awardwinning DJ initially came to prominence hosting the first national R&B radio show for the BBC in
1996. In 2002 Nelson was awarded an MBE for his work with the Millennium Volunteers, and in 2010
he received a Gold lifetime achievement award from the Sony Radio Academy. This Christmas gig
sees him performing in Gatecrasher’s main room alongside ‘the most upfront Urban acts in the
world right now’.
Gay SCENE
X Factor finalist to
perform at
The Nightingale
X Factor 2011 finalist Amelia
Lily has been confirmed to
perform at The Midlands Big
Gay Night Out this month.
The now-regular initiative
brings revellers from the region’s towns, cities and beyond
into Birmingham’s Gay Village for a night of non-stop partying. On Saturday 15 December, coaches from around the
Midlands and further afield will travel to the second city, providing their passengers with the opportunity to visit no fewer
than eighteen Gay Village venues. For just £15, the Big Gay
Travel Pass includes return travel, entry into the Nightingale
Club - the country’s largest gay venue outside of London and two free drinks. Coaches will depart from Leicester,
Nuneaton, Manchester, Stoke, Shrewsbury, Telford, Blackpool,
Wolverhampton, Sheffield, London, Liverpool, Derby,
Nottingham, Tamworth, Bristol, Worcester, Gloucester,
Northampton, Coventry, Warrington, Huntingdon, Oxford,
Cambridge, Leeds, Cardiff, Reading, Peterborough and
Cannock. Why not become a Rep for your city? TextBoney
‘REP’Mto
07581 225 027.
GAY NIGHTCLUBS
BIRMINGHAM
CLUB CHIC 28 Horsefair, B1 1DD.
Tel: 0121 666 6808
THE CORE Sherlock Street, B5 6NB
Tel: 0121 622 2797
THE NIGHTINGALE Kent St, B5 6RD
Tel: 0121 622 1718
THE VILLAGE INN & UNDERGROUND
152 Hurst St, B5 6RY Tel: 0121 622 4742
BLACK COUNTRY
THE LION Birchills St, Walsall, WS2 8NG
Tel: 01922 610977
GORGEOUS Salop St Wolverhampton,
WV3 0SR Tel: 0844 357 8570
SHROPSHIRE
C21 18-21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.
SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 271821 (MON ONLY)
SPIRIT 22 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury,
SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 355055 (MON ONLY)
STAFFORDSHIRE
THE FACTORY Bryan St, Hanley, StokeOn-Trent, ST1 2AA Tel: 01782 478799
WARWICKSHIRE
RAINBOWS Short St, Coventry CV1.
Tel: 02476 551738
WORCESTERSHIRE
VELVET CLUB Angel Row, Worcester,
WR1 3QN Tel: 01905 20218
Books-TV November_Layout 1 26/11/2012 10:51 Page 1
Books TV
Kylie/Fashion
By Kylie Minogue &
William Baker
Launched to coincide with Kylie’s
K25 celebrations, Kylie/Fashion
provides a visual account of how
the diminutive Aussie singer has
become one of the world’s bestselling and most-loved artists.
From the very beginning, when
she burst onto the music scene in
1987 with The Locomotion, style
icon Kylie’s fashion has been key
to her persona and performances.
Packed with iconic images, rare
and unseen archival photography,
video outtakes, fashion sketches,
designs and ephemera, additional
commentary and an afterword
written by Kylie herself, Kylie/Fashion charts the pop princess’s key fashion moments and her numerous collaborations with some of the world’s
greatest fashion designers - including Jean Paul Gaultier, who provides an
introduction to the book.
Seb Coe: Running My Life The Autobiography
By Sebastian Coe
While the nation revelled in Team GB’s success at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic
Games, there was one man in particular
who must have breathed a huge sigh of
relief that everything had gone according to
plan. Sebastian Coe will go down in sporting history not only for his personal success on the track, but also because of his
leadership in bringing the 2012 Olympic
Games to London. This is the ‘inspiring,
amusing and extremely moving’ story of
how Coe went on from a secondary modern and Loughborough University education to become the fastest middle-distance runner of his generation. His
rivalry with Steve Ovett, his move into politics and his initiation into the
House of Lords are subjects which all make for compulsive reading.
BOOKS
NO1
EDITOR’S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST
It Just Me?
Hart
1 IsMiranda
Rod: The
2 Autobiography
Rod Stewart
3
The Kitchen
Diaries II: A
Year Of Simple
Cooking Nigel
Slater
David
David Walliams
4 Camp
Ennis
Unbelievable
5 Jessica
Laugh your way through Christmas with
one of Britain’s favourite female comedians
Festive screening of children’s classic...
Following the success of its adaptation of The Gruffalo, the BBC
is set to screen an animated version of another of Julia
Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved children’s tales over
the festive period. Room On The Broom is an enchanting story
of friendship and family, and promises to be a viewing highlight
of the Christmas TV schedules. Shaun Of The Dead star Simon
Pegg narrates the tale, with Gillian Anderson, Rob Brydon,
Martin Clunes, Sally Hawkins, David Walliams and Timothy Spall
all lending their voices to proceedings.
Filming begins on new ITV Police thriller
Filming has begun on A Life Of Crime - a new three-part ITV
thriller which tells the story of an
impulsive policewoman’s accession
through the Metropolitan Police
Force and the impact it has on her
private life. Written by Declan
Croghan (Waking The Dead), the
show stars Golden Globe nominee
Hayley Atwell in the central role of
Denise Woods. Additional casting
includes Richard Coyle, Con O’Neill,
Amanda Drew, Christopher Fulford
and Ruth McCabe.
New Saturday night comedy for the BBC
Three of the biggest names in British comedy are set to star in a
new BBC One entertainment show early next year. David
Walliams, Frank Skinner and Micky Flanagan will feature in I
Love My Country - a series of eight fifty-minute shows hosted by
Walliams which will see two teams of well-known faces from the
worlds of sport, entertainment and music (led by Frank and
Micky) battle it out in a competition to see who knows Britain
best.
Become engrossed in this candid
account of life as one of the world’s
most enduring rock stars
Quick, easy recipes just what a busy
Editor needs...
Serious banter from
Britain’s ‘favourite’ funnyman
From girl next door to poster girl - read about one
of the biggest successes in sporting history...
Micky Flanagan
David Wallams
Frank Skinner
Eating Out December_Layout 1 26/11/2012 11:00 Page 1
Eating Out
British Curry Awards
nominations announced
The Horseshoe Bar and Restaurant in Hall Green,
Birmingham, has ended a very successful year
by receiving a nomination for Best Restaurant in
the West Midlands at the British Curry Awards.
The prestigious awards, dubbed the Oscars of
the curry industry, celebrate and recognise the
best Indian restaurants across the UK. First-time
nominee The Horseshoe is nominated alongside
Itihaas, Asha’s and Pushkar Cocktail Bar &
Dining. Walsall restaurant Five Rivers A La Carte
is nominated as Best Newcomer.
Rustic elegance in Warwick
Wrapchic says Ola around
the Midlands
Indian burrito business Wrapchic is opening a
Coventry outlet to add to its growing portfolio of
sites. Opening in July in Birmingham’s Great
Western Arcade, the burrito company also has a
premises in Leicester.
Wrapchic delivers popular Indian dishes in a variety of Mexican styles, including burritos and
tacos. Each filling reflects a region of India,
meaning hungry lunchtime patrons can choose
such delights as Mutton Madrasi or Chicken
Mughlai. Over the festive period, the eatery will
be serving a special Indian turkey filling, offering
a tasty middle-of-the-day treat for on-the-go
Christmas shoppers.
Fine dining on the menu at newly
opened boutique hotel
A former BBC broadcasting centre in the heart of
Worcestershire has been re-opened as a boutique hotel following the completion of a £4million
restoration project. Located in the Vale of
Evesham, the Wood Norton was once a hunting
lodge for European royalty. The new hotel features a restaurant which makes use of the finest
local produce, a contemporary bar and alfresco
dining terrace, a private dining area, a state-ofthe-art boardroom and meeting facilities, extensive grounds, formal gardens, and a beautiful
wedding venue for up to two hundred-and-fifty
guests. For further information, visit www.thewoodnorton.com
REVIEW
The latest addition to
Warwick’s dining scene
comes in the shape of
High Pavement, located on
High Street. With exposed
brickwork and unclothed
tables with comfortable
chairs in shades of blue,
the atmosphere is one of
cosy, slightly rustic elegance.
Unlike with many restaurants, the menu is refreshingly different. There are
around sixteen 'little plates'
(£5 to £9.50, including
delights such as pig's
cheek, rabbit, and a number of veggie options)
which can serve as individual starters or, as our
friendly and knowledgeable waitress suggested,
can be combined to create
a meal in their own right.
My dining partner and I
opted to share scallops,
smoked belly pork and
pea puree (melt-in-themouth delicious), and
breaded lamb breast with
a quirky yet totally tri-
umphant mint and apple
chutney.
There are only six 'bigger
plates' on the menu, all fish
or meat, which will set you
back between £14 and
£22. I chose fillet of plaice,
scallop bon bon, with
Champagne and caviar
sauce. The accompanying
creamy mash had real
depth, superbly complementing the delicate
flavours of the fish. My
friend’s corn-fed chicken
breast, braised leeks and
creamed potatoes was
cooked perfectly although he felt that the
dish would perhaps benefit
from another contrasting
flavour, to give it a bit more
punch.
For dessert there’s only
one choice on the menu a board of five 'little puds',
including bubblegum
Turkish delight, lemon
sherbet granita and cherry
bakewell. It's an intriguing,
fun and tasty idea, but I
think a little more variety is
needed. Although there
was a scrummy chocolate
marquis on the small
Specials menu, repeat visitors could tire of the limited
choice.
What’s good to report is
that everyone at High
Pavement seems genuinely interested to hear diners’
observations, and I suspect the menu will be
tweaked a bit over the
coming months. Although
a little on the pricey side,
there’s no denying this is
one restaurant that offers
very good food in great
surroundings. And with its
inviting bar, lunchtime food
offer and private dining in
the pipeline, it comes highly recommended.
Jack Rolfe
Food:
■■■■■
Service:
■■■■■
Ambience: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Overall value ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
OVERALL ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
High Pavement
Bar & Dining
3 High Street
Warwick
CV34 4AP
Tel: 01926 494725
Restaurant REVIEWS
New restaurant
launches at Nuvo
Many of you may know Nuvo as
that late-night bar off
Birmingham’s Broad Street that
attracts a cool crowd with its
fantastic cocktails and great
music.
What some of you may not
know is that the ground floor
has quietly been turned into an
a la carte restaurant with around
thirty-five covers. So five nights
a week you can enjoy a new
gastro-style menu offering eight
starters and eight classic main
dishes.
One Friday night we opted for a
table by the window on the blue
sofas; very comfy with a good
view, but maybe a bit too low for
dining purposes. Similarly, the
rest of the tables on the main
floor had chairs with short
backs, so I doubt they would
have been any comfier.
We chose some cocktails from
the drinks menu as the place
started to fill up with loud afterwork drinkers - it still seems to
be the go-to place for the fun
crowd wanting a club-like
atmosphere.
After a quick peek at the menu,
we made our decisions. Three
starters; wild mushroom
bruschetta, tempura prawns and
scallops. All classic entrées, and
all very well presented.
The wild mushroom bruschetta
was my favourite (£4.95). Even
though the bread was slightly
too toasted, the strong brandy
and garlic cream was just delicious. The tempura king prawns
were perfectly stir-fried and
served with coriander, ginger
and sweet chilli dressing
(£8.50). Our caramelised Isle of
Skye king scallops were
extremely tasty, and came
topped with a crisp slice of serrano ham, parmesan, and a
tomato dressing (£9.50).
For the main course I chose the
Restaurant LISTINGS
supreme of free range chicken
breast, served on top of a slightly hard stack of olive crushed
potato (£14.50). The free range
chicken was indeed supreme moist, tasty and melt-in-themouth. The medley of mushrooms with tarragon cream
sauce was good, but all I kept
thinking about was my lovely
mushroom starter with the
brandy and garlic cream. So I
asked the staff if I could swap
my mushrooms, and they duly
obliged!
Hubby was giddy with delight
about his slow-cooked crispy
belly of pork, which was served
with mashed potato, bacon and
mushrooms, baby onions and
mustard cream sauce (£13.95).
Nicely presented, the dish featured - and I quote - “the best
crackling I’ve ever tasted; crisp,
crunchy and salty. Just perfect!”.
Our evening was rounded off
with a pair of nice desserts - a
warm treacle tart with vanilla ice
cream (£4.95) and a vanilla
crème brûlée, with shortbread
biscuit (£4.95).
Service was friendly and attentive, but the bass line of the
music made my chest
thump….and that’s not good
when you’re eating! I’m not sure
about the merit of having an a la
carte restaurant in a loud nightclub, but it’s certainly a striking
setting - and the quality of the
dishes will definitely make me
go back for more.
Anita Champaneri
Food:
Service:
Ambience:
Overall value
OVERALL
Nuvo
11 Brindleyplace
Birmingham
B1 2LP
Tel: 0121 631 1600
■■■■■
■■■■■
■■■■■
■■■■■
■■■■■
For full listing information on
restaurants, including opening times and type of cuisine, visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Birmingham
AALTO RESTAURANT
Hotel La Tour, Albert
Street, Birmingham B5
5JT 0121 718 8000
AL FRASH 186 Ladypool
Road, Sparkbrook, B12
8JS 0121 753 3120
THE ASQUITH 11 Newhall
Street, Birmingham,
B3 3NY 0121 200 1588
ASHA’S 12-22 Newhall
Street, B3 3LX 0121
200 2767
AZZARI TOO
204 Lightwoods Rd,
B67 5AZ 0121 429
6621
BANK 4 Brindleyplace,
B1 2JB 0121 633 4466
BAR EPERNAY 171-172
Wharfside Street,
The Mailbox, B1 1RL
0121 632 1430
BAR ESTILO 10-114
Wharfside St, The
Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121
643 3443
BARNT GREEN INN
Kendal End Rd, Rednal
B45 8PZ 0121 445
4949
BARAJEE 265 Broad St,
B1 2DS 0121 643 6700
BELLA ITALIA 102 New
St, B2 4HQ 0121
6431548
BERLIOZ Burlington
Arcade, New St, B2
4JQ
0121 633 1737
BLUE MANGO Regency
Wharf, Broad St, B1
2DS
0121 633 4422
BLUE GINGER 32 Poplar
Road, Kings Heath,
B14 7AD 0121 444
0999
BLUU Fleet St, Summer
Row, B3 1JH 0121 236
9013
BRANDED BULL STEAKHOUSE 175 Broad
Street, B15 1DT 0121
643 5968
BUONISSIMO 1 Albany
Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX
0121 426 2444
BYZANTIUM 11 York
Road, Kings Heath,
B14 7SA 0121 444
5444
CAFE IKON 1 Oozells
Square, Brindleyplace,
B1 2HS 0121 248 3226
CAFE ROUGE
Brindleyplace, Broad
Street, B1 2HJ 0121
643 6556
CAFE SOYA Unit 2,
Upper Dean Street B5
4SG 0121 622 3888
CARLUCCIO’S The
Water’s Edge,
Brindleyplace
B1 2HP 0121 633 9262
CELEBRITY INDIAN
44 Broad St, B1 2HP
0121 643 8969
THE CHAMELEON 1
Victoria Square, B1
1BD 0121 643 2233
CHEZ JULES 5a Ethel St,
B2 4BG 0121 633
4664
CHI 61 Newhall St,
B3 3RB 0121 233 3150
CHUNG YING
16-18 Wrottersley
Street, B5 4RT 0121
622 5669
CHUNG YING GARDEN 17
Thorpe St, B5 4AT
0121 666 6622
CIELO 6 Oozells Square,
Brindleyplace, B1 2JB
0121 632 6882
CITY CAFE GRILL Hylton
Garden Inn, 1
Brunswick Square,
Brindleyplace, B1 2HW
0121 643 1003
COFFEE ROOM BAR &
BISTRO Hurst St, B5
4TD 0121 605 4343
COTE The Mailbox,
B1 1RX 0121 631 1587
CUCINA RUSTICA 24
Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX
0121 233 2277
DEL VILLAGGIO
Unit 528, Middle Mall,
The Bullring. B5 4BE
0121 643 1400
DEOLALI BAR RESTAURANT
23A St Mary's Row,
Moseley B13 8HW
0121 442 2222
DUET CUISINE Unit 1,
Fort Dunlop. B24 9FD
0121 748 1234
EDMUNDS 6 Brindley
place, B1 2JB 0121
633 4944
FUMO 1 Waterloo Street,
Birmingham B2 5PG
0121 643 9979
HARJEES SPICES 512
Stratford Road,
Sparkhill, Birmingham,
B11 4AH
0121 773 6130
THE HORSESHOE BAR &
RESTAURANT 1214
Stratford Road, B28
9BH
0121 777
2340
ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3
1JL 0121 212 3383
ITIHAAS BRASSERIE
Selfridges Food Hall,
Bullring, Birmingham
B5 4BP 0121 212 3383
JAMIES ITALIAN Middle
Mall, Bullring Shopping
Centre, B5 4BE
0121 270 3610
JIMMY SPICES Regency
Wharf, Broad St, B1
2DS 0121 643 2111
JUJU’S Canal Square,
B16 8EH 0121 456
3384
THE JUNCTION 212 High
Street, Harborne, B17
9PT 0121 428 2635
KINNAREE THAI 22
Waterfront Walk, B1
1SN. 0121 665 6568
LA BANCA 1986
Pershore Road,
Cotteridge, Kings
Norton, Birmingham
B30 3AS 0121 459
2204
LA BASTILLE 220
Corporation St, B4 6QB
0121 236 1171
LAS IGUANAS Arcadian
Centre, Hurst St, B5
4TD 0121 622 4466
LA PLANCHA 113
Alcester Road,
Moseley, Birmingham
B13 8DD 0121 449
5430
LASAN 3-4 Dakota
Buildings, James St, St
Paul’s Square, B3 1SD
0121 212 3664
THE LOFT LOUNGE
143 Bromsgrove St,
B5 6RG 0121 622
2444
LOVES The Glasshouse,
Browning St, B16 8FL
0121 454 5151
MANIC ORGANIC
46 Poplar Road,
B14 7AG 0121 441
3802
MAHARAJA 23/25 Hurst
St, B5 4AS 0121 622
2641
MECHU 47 - 59 Summer
Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212
1661
METRO BAR & GRILL 73
Cornwall St, B3 2DF
0121 200 1911
MILLER & CARTER 178180 Wharfside St, The
Mailbox, B1 1RN
0121 643 7738
MINT Yew Tree Retail
Park, Stoney Lane
Yardley, B25 8YP
0121 789 8908
MIRAGE FUSION
Broadway Casino,
Broadway Plaza
Ladywood Middleway,
B16 8LP 0121 456
5557
MOUNT FUJI The
Bullring, B5 4BH 0121
633 9853
OLD JOINTSTOCK PUB 4
Temple Row, B2 5NY
0121 200 1892
NATHANIEL’S RESTAURANT 13 St Mary’s Row,
Moseley, Birmingham,
B13 8HW, 0121 449
9618
OLD SPECKLED HEN
Mere Green Road,
Sutton Coldfield. B75
5BL 0121 308 9410
OPUS 54 Cornwall St,
B3 2DE 0121 200 2323
THE ORIENTAL The
Mailbox, 128-130
Wharfside St, B1 1RQ
0121 633 9988
PASTA DE PIAZZA 11
Brook Street, St Paul’s
Square, B3 1SA
0121 236 5858
PEACHY KEENS 1741
Coventry Road, Yardley
B26 1DS 0121 764
5519
PENNY BLACKS
The Mailbox, 132-134
Wharfside St, B1 1XL
0121 632 1460
PEPPERS 5b Broad
Street, Birmingham B15
1EJ 0121 633 4411
PICCOLINO
9 Brindleyplace, B1
2HS 0121 634 3055
PITCHER & PIANO
Brindleyplace, B1 2HP
0121 643 0214
PONTE DI LEGNO 44-44a
Woodbridge Rd,
Moseley, B13 8EJ
0121 449 8064
POPPY RED Arcadian
Centre, Birmingham B5
4TD 0121 687 1200
PUNJABI HAVELI 1558
Stratford Rd, Hall
Green, B28 9HA 0121
745 3636
PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall
St, B3 2DH 0121 212
9799
PUSHKAR 245 Broad St,
B1 2HQ 0121 643 7978
THE RECTORY 50-54 St
Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS
0121 605 1001
RED PEPPERS 117
Wharfside St, B1 1RF
0121 643 4202
ROSE MURREE 94 -96
Hagley Rd, Edgbaston,
B16 8LU 0121 456 4500
SABAI SABAI
25 Woodbridge Rd,
Moseley, B13 8EH
0121 4494498
SAN CARLO 4 Temple St,
B2 5BN 0121 633 0251
SHAH’S Unit 16, 1160
Warwick Road, Acocks
Green B27 6BP 0121
707 8297
SHIMLA PINKS 215 Broad
St, B15 1AY 0121 633
0366
SHOGUN TEPPANYAKI
The Mailbox, 27 - 29
Wharfside St, B1 1RD
0121 632 1253
SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield
Rd, Edgbaston B13 3DU
0121 454 3434
THE SLUG AND LETTUCE,
Brindley Place,
Birmingham B1 2HL
0121 633 3049
SPICE EXCHANGE,
1845 Pershore Rd
Kings Norton, B30 3DJ
0121 451 1007
STRADA 109-111
Wharfside St, The
Mailbox B1 1XL
0121 643 7279
SYRIANA 1 Constitution
Hill, B19 3LG 0121
2369444
TGI FRIDAYS 180 Hagley
Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham B16 9NY
0121 454 1930
THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq,
B1 2HL 0121 643 3993
TIN TIN CANTONESE,
The Waters Edge,
Brindleyplace, B1 2HL
0121 633 0888
ULYSSES 42a Bristol
Street, B5 7AA 0121 622
3159
THE VAULTS Newhall
Place, Newhall Hill,
B1 3JH 0121 212 9837
VMF - ASTON VILLA FOOTBALL CLUB Villa Park,
Trinity Rd, B6 6HE 0121
326 1570
WAGAMAMA Brindley
Place, birmingham B1
2HL 0121 643 7656
THE WAREHOUSE CAFE 5457 Allison Street,
Digbeth, B5 5TH
0121 633 0261
WING WAH 278
Thimblemill Lane, B7
5HD 0121 327 7879
WOKTASTIC Paradise
Place, B3 3HJ 0121 236
3130
WONGS 5-11 Fleet St, B3
1JP 0121 212 1888
ZIZZI 183 High St,
Harborne B17 9QE
0121 428 4228 also at
The Mailbox B1 1RL
0121 632 1333.
10 Poplar Rd, Solihull,
B91 3AB 0121 704 5030
ZORBAS 359-361 Olton
Boulevard, Solihull B27
7DP 0121 706 4709
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
THE FAIRLAWNS AT
ALDRIDGE 178 Little
Aston Road, Aldridge,
Walsall WS9 0NU 01922
455122
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 WS1
2EQ 01922 640363
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 MANGO TREE Chester
Road, Stonnall, Walsall
WS9 9HJ 01922 457344
THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst
Lane, Tipton DY4 9AB
0121 557 1402
RED FORT Fold St,
Le Truc, Birmingham
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
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
460662
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,
Shifnall TF11 9AZ 01952
463020
THE FOX INN 46 High St,
Much Wenlock TF136AD
01952 727292
FRANK CAFE BAR 128
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
HADLEY PARK HOUSE
Hadley Park, Telford TF1
6QJ 01952 677269
THE HAYWARDS at The
Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop,
Shrewsbury SY1 1UY
01743 353107
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 BÉCASSE 17 Corve St,
Ludlow, SY8 1DA 01584
872 325
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
MAD JACKS 15 St Mary’s
St, Shrewsbury, SY1
1EQ 01743 358870
THE MALTHOUSE The
Wharfage, Ironbridge
TF8 7NH 01902 433712
MORGANS 1 Bellstone,
Shrewsbury SY1 1HU
01743 239114
MR UNDERHILLS Dinham
Weir, Ludlow Shropshire
SY8 1EH 01584 874431
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
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
TRAITORS GATE Castle St,
Water Lane, Shrewsbury
SY1 2BX 01743 249152
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,
Cannock. WS11 0HN
08712 070417
JASMINE PEKING 21 High
St, Eccleshall, Stafford
ST21 6BW 01785
851200
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
Restaurant LISTINGS
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
PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2
Mill Street, Stafford,
ST16 2AJ 01782 263
737
THE PEARL18 Market St,
Kidsgrove, ST7 4AB
01782 788887
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
THE SWAN HOTEL 46
Greengate Street,
Stafford ST16 2JA
01785 258142
THORNBURY HALL, RASOI
Lockwood Rd, Kingsley
Holt, Stafford ST10 2DH
01538 750831
WOLSELEY ARMS
Wolseley Bridge,
Stafford ST17 0XS
01889 883179
Warwickshire
7 SQUARE 7 Old Square,
Warwick CV34 4RA
01926 411 755
NO. 9 CHURCH STREET
Stratford upon Avon,
Warwickshire CV37 6HB
01789 415522
ART KITCHEN 7 Swan St,
Warwick CV34 4BJ
01926 494303
AUBERGINE 32 Smith St,
Warwick CV34 4HS
01926 400 086
THE ALMANACK Abbey
End North, Kenilworth
CV8 1QJ 01926 353637
THE BLUEBELL 93 High
Street, Henley-in-Arden,
Warwickshire, B95 5AT
01564 793049
BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St,
Coventry, CV1 3BA 024
7622 9274
BROWNS Earl St,
Coventry CV1 5RU 0247
622 1100
CARLUCCIOS 13
Waterside, StratfordUpon-Avon CV37 6BA
01789 267424
CASTLES 6 Castle St,
Warwick. CV34 4BP
01926 492525
CATALAN 6 Jury St ,
Warwick CV34 4EW
01926 498 930
THE CHURCH STREET
TOWNHOUSE 16 Church
Street, Stratford-uponAvon CV37 6HB 01789
262222
EGO 29 The Square,
Kenilworth, CV8 1EF
01926 864463
FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd,
Henley in Arden. B95
5QR 01564 793783
FIVE RIVERS 20-22
Victoria Terrace,
Leamington Spa, CV31
3AB 01926 431999
GEORGETOWN 23 Sheep
St, Stratford-Upon-Avon,
CV37 6EF 01789
204445
HELP OUT MILL Heather
Rd, Shakerstone,
Nuneaton. CV13 0BT
01530 260666
HOGARTH’S HOTEL 4
Ashes Rd, Solihull, B93
8QE 01564 779988
HORTONS 165 High
Street, Solihull B91 3ST
0121 709 3177
INDIA RED 1-2 Abbey St,
Nuneaton. CV11 5BP
02476 342090
JIMMY SPICES 64-66
Station Rd, Solihull, B91
3RX 0121 709 2111
LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans
Nest, Bridgford, Stratford
upon Avon. CV37 7LT
01789 264804
MATRICARDIS 97 High St,
5AT 01564 792735
MERCHANTS Swan Street,
Warwick CV34 4BJ
01926 403833
NAYA 148 High St,
5BS 01564 793089
NAILCOTE HALL Nailcote
Lane, Berkswell,
Coventry, CV7 7DE
02476 466174
NICOLINIS 14 The Parade,
4DW 01926 421620
ONE ELM 1 Guild St,
Stratford-Upon-Avon,
thE dINNEr cLub
The Mill, Stone, Staffordshire
CV37 6QZ 01789
404919
OSCARS 39 Chandos St,
4RL 01926 452807
PEEL’S Hampton Manor,
Hampton-in-Arden,
Solihull, B92 0EN 01675
446080
PREZZO 1-3 High St,
Warwick CV34 4AP
01926 475867
QUEANS RESTAURANT 15
Dormer Place,
Leamington Spa CV32
5AA 01926 315522
RESTAURANT 23
34 Hamilton Terrace,
Holly Walk Leamington
Spa, CV32 4LY 01926
422422
ROBBIES 74 Smith St,
Warwick CV34 4HU
01926 400470
ROOFTOP RESTAURANT
@ The RST, Waterside,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
CV37 6BB 01789
403449
SAFFRON GOLD Market St,
Westgate House,
Warwick CV34 4DE
01926 402061
THE SAXON MILL
Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe,
Warwick CV34 5YN
01926 492 255
SIGNATURES @ The
Belgrade Theatre,
(ESt 86)
a rEcIpE for fINE food aNd Good compaNy
SINGLE?
For the more discerning
unattached person, age 30-45 or 45+
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
Coventry, CV1 1GS
02476 846762
TAILORS 22 Market Place,
Warwick CV34 4SL
01926 410590
THAI ELEPHANT
20 Regent St,
Leamington Spa,
Warwick CV32 5HQ
01926 886882
THE TREVELYAN Warwick
Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon,
CV37 ONR
01789 295252
WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith
St, Warwick CV34 4HS
01926 491736
THE VINE INN 86 - 88
West St, Warwick CV34
6AW 07873 219005
ZIZZI 85-87 Regent
Square House, Parade,
Leamington Spa CV 32
4NL
ZORBA’S Olton Boulevard,
Solihull. B27 7DP 0121
706 4709
01926
852980
Worcestershire
ANAKARI 47 The Tythings,
Worcester. WR1 1JT
01905 21412
ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St,
Worcester WR1 3QT
01905 731131
ANUPAM 85 Church
Street, Malvern. WR14
2AE 01684 573814
BACCHUS 44 Worcester
Road, Bromsgrove B61
0TA 01527 877557
BENEDICTOS 34 Sidbury,
Worcester WR1 2HZ
01905 21444
BINDLES 55 Sidbury,
Worcester. WR1 2HU
01905 611120
BRAMBLINGS Hither
Green Lane, Redditch,
B98 9BE 01527 406600
THE BRIDGE INN Plough
Rd, Tibberton, Droitwich.
WR9 7NQ 01905
345874
THE BROOK INN Elcocks
Bank, Redditch. B97
5UD 01527 543209
BROWNS 24 Quay St,
Worcester WR1 2JJ
01905 26263
THE CHASE INN Chase
Rd, Upper Colwall,
Malvern. WR13 6DQ
01684 540276
CHESTERS 51 New St,
Worcester, WR1 2DL
01905 611638
CROWN & SANDYS
Main Rd, Ombersley,
WR9 0EW 01905
620252
EWE & LAMB Hanbury
Rd, Bromsgrove. B60
4DN 01527 871929
THE FIG TREE 99 Church
Street, Gt Malvern,
WR14 2AE 01684
569909
FOUR SEASONS 61
Lowesmoor, Worcester
WR1 2RS 01905 27026
FUSION BRASSERIE
Hawbridge, Stoulton,
Worcester WR7 4RJ
01905 840647
THE GARDENERS ARMS
Vines Lane, Droitwich.
WR9 8LU 01905 772936
THE GATE 36 Dodford Rd,
Bournheath,
Bromsgrove
B61 9JR 01527 878169
THE INN AT STONEHALL
Stonehall Common,
Worcester, WR5 3QG
01905820462
KING CHARLES II King
Charles House, New St,
Worcester WR1 2D
01905 22449
L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51
Graham Rd, Malvern.
WR14 2HU 01684
572427
LANGTREYS 89a High St,
Bromsgrove. B61 8AQ
01527 878242
LITTLE VENICE 1 - 3 St
Nicholas St, Worcester
WR1 1UW 01905
726126
LOTUS HOUSE 33
Ombersley St, Droitwich.
WR9 8QX 01905
770079
MAEKONG THAI 12
Worcester Rd,
Bromsgrove. B61 7AE
01527 578888
MASSALLA LOUNGE 35
Broad St, Worcester
WR1 3NH 01905
729955
MUG HOUSE Claines
Lane, Worcester WR3
7RN 01905 456649
OLD RECTIFYING HOUSE
North Parade, Worcester
WR1 3NN 01905
619622
ON THE ROCKS, Worcester
Rd, Bromsgrove. B61
7AE 01527 882412
PORTOFINO, 6 Worcester
Rd, Droitwich. WR9 8AD
01905 794799
PORTWAY ITALIAN,
Alcester Rd, Redditch.
B48 7HT 01564 824794
PUCCINI'S, 12 Friar St,
Worcester WR12LZ
01905 27770
RAJDOOT Cutnall Green,
Droitwich. WR9 0PW
01299 851000
RILY’S The Quadrant,
Redditch B98 8AE 01527
60544
ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Rd,
Aston Fields,
Bromsgrove. B60 2DZ
01527 889948
SAFFRON BISTRO 15 New
St, Worcester WR1 2DP
01905 610505
SINGAPORE 29 Friar St,
Worcester WR1 2NA
01905 613005
THAI GALLERY 26-32 Friar
St, Worcester WR1 2LZ
01905 25451
THAI LOTUS 147
Worcester Rd,
Bromsgrove. B61 7HN
01527 882606
THAI RAMA Walwyn Rd,
Gt Malvern. WR13 6QX
01684 541563
THE WILDMOOR OAK
Top Road, Wildmoor,
Bromsgrove B61 0RB
0121 453 2696
To get your restaurant listed here
e: j.cartwright@whatsonlive.co.uk
or call Jon Cartwright
on 01743 281703
p91 (IBC) R1_Layout 1 26/11/2012 15:07 Page 1
Christmas
CELEBRATE
WITH US....
Nestled in the heart of St. Paul's Square
and against the backdrop of the stunning
St Paul's Cathedral, Cucina Rustica is the
perfect setting for your stylish and
indulgent Christmas party.
We are determined to make it a
Christmas dining experience you
won't forget with our beautiful location,
added festive treats that await you at your tables.
VIEW OUR DELECTABLE CHRISTMAS 2012 MENU
WHICH IS NOW LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE!
Cucina Rustica
Tel: 0121 233 2277
Saint Paul's Square, 24 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham, B3 1DX
Email: info@cucinarustica.co.uk
web: www.cucinarustica.co.uk
Belgrade (FP-Dec)_Layout 1 26/11/2012 10:00 Page 1

Dec 2012 - What`s On Live

Transcription

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