March 2015 - What`s On Live

Wolves & B'Cntry Cover March.qxp_Wolves & B/Country 23/02/2015 20:30 Page 1
WOLVERHAMPTON & BLACK COUNTRY WHAT’S ON ISSUE 351 MARCH 2015
THE MIDLANDS ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
WOLVERHAMPTON & BLACK COUNTRY
’
What sOn
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
ISSUE 351
MARCH 2015
GINA YA
SHERE
SHOWING
HER
BEST BITS
IN WOLVE
RHAMPTO
N
CLAIRE SWEENEY
talks Sex In Suburbia
interview inside...
PART OF MIDLANDS WHAT’S ON MAGAZINE GROUP PUBLICATIONS
POP IN SPACE
We Choose To Go To
The Moon exhibition in
Wolverhampton
@WHATSONWOLVES WWW.WHATSONLIVE.CO.UK
TUESDAY 17 - SATURDAY 21 MARCH
Box Office 01902
42 92 12
BOOK ONLINE AT grandtheatre.co.uk
INSIDE:
FILM
COMEDY
THEATRE
LIVE MUSIC
VISUAL ARTS
EVENTS
FOOD & DRINK
& MUCH MORE!
Spring NEC A4:Layout 1 26/01/2015 14:59 Page 1
The ultimate stitching, knitting & crafting shows!
THURS 19 - SUN 22 MARCH
NEC, BIRMINGHAM
OPEN 9.30AM - 5.30PM (SUN 5PM)
RBIGGEST SHOW EITVOER
S!
OVER 300 EXHIB
MR SELFRIDGE COSTUMES // INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTIST SOPHIE FURBEYRE
THE SEWING CLUB // ‘FRACTURED IMAGES’ QUILTING DISPLAY
PAPERCRAFTS & CARDMAKING // KNITTING, QUILTING & STITCHING
JEWELLERY MAKING & BEADING // CATWALK FASHION SHOWS
FREE WORKSHOPS & DEMONSTRATIONS // PROGRAMME OF TALKS
www.ichfevents.co.uk
or phone Ticket Hotline 01425 277988
Buy tickets on-line
Tickets: Adults £10.50 in advance, £12.50 on the door
Seniors £9.50 in advance, £11.50 on the door
SAVE UP TO
£2 OFF!
EACH ADULT AND SENIOR TICKET
IF ORDERED BY 5PM MON 16 MARCH 2015
Contents March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 22:03 Page 1
March 2015
INSIDE:
Editor:
Davina Evans
davina@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281708
Shaun Williamson
Editorial Assistants:
Brian O’Faolain
stars in One Man, Two
Guvnors at The Grand p25
brian@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281701
Lauren Foster
lauren@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281707
Adrian Parker
adrian.parker@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281714
Sales & Marketing:
Lei Woodhouse
lei@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281703
Chris Horton
chris@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281704
Subscriptions:
Adrian Parker
adrian.parker@whatsonlive.co.uk
01743 281714
Claire Sweeney
Managing Director:
Paul Oliver
talks Sex In Suburbia
interview p6
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
Website Development:
Eddie Payne
Contributors:
Graham Bostock: Theatre
James Cameron-Wilson:
Film; Alev Dervish: Music
Eva Easthope, Jessica
Aston, Patsy Moss, Jack
Rolfe, Jan Watts, Reggie
White, Simon Carter
Head Office:
13-14 Abbey Foregate,
Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE
Tel: 01743 281777
e-mail: info@whatsonlive.co.uk
One Man Breaking Bad - Miles Allen talks about his love of the cult drama.
Interview page 8
TO GET THE VERY
LATEST LISTING
INFORMATION,
VISIT:
whatsonlive.co.uk
INCLUDING
BOOKING ONLINE
The Midlands’ most
comprehensive
entertainment website
Follow us on...
This publication is
printed on paper from a
sustainable source and is
produced without the use
of elemental chlorine.
We endorse the recycling
of our magazine and
would encourage you to
pass it on to others to
read when you have
finished with it.
What’sOn
MAGAZINE GROUP
Wolverhampton
& Black Country
@whatsonwolves
Staffordshire
@whatsonstaffs
News p4
Music p13
Comedy p22
Theatre p25
Dance p40
Film/DVD p43
Visual Arts p51
Events p55
Eating Out p65
Shropshire
@whatsonshrops
Shen Yun
East meets West
in the Midlands p55
March 2015
M
T
W
2
3
4
T
F
S
S
6
7
8
1
5
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless
otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers.
30 31
News March Region two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:36 Page 1
News
A ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Wolverhampton Theatre
appoints new Chief Exec
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has appointed the current Chief Executive and Artistic
Director of the Lichfield Garrick as its new
Chief Executive. Adrian Jackson has been
leading the Garrick since 2006. He will join
the Grand on a full-time basis when he
leaves his current post in the summer.
Commenting on the appointment, Jeremy
Brown, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, said: “On
behalf of the board I would like to say how
thrilled we are on the appointment of Adrian
Jackson. It’s an exciting time for the theatre,
and we look forward to working with Adrian
and the whole Grand Theatre team in the
years to come.”
Artist’s impression of the expansion
More adventures in Thomas Land
Adrian Jackson
Festival celebrates ten years
of walking in Ironbridge
Organisers behind the annual Ironbridge
Gorge Walking Festival have announced its
to celebrate it tenth anniversary with ten
days of free, varied and rewarding walks in
and around Telford’s Ironbridge Gorge World
Heritage site in May. Promising walks for all
ages and abilities, the festival offers a programme of fifty graded outings split into two
parts. Most walks are under five miles but
there are also long hikes for regular and
experienced walkers. New additions to the
2015 programme include a linear nine mile
walk from the Ironbridge Tollhouse to
Bridgnorth. The Ironbridge Gorge Walking
Festival takes place from Fri 1 to Sun 10
May. For full details, visit, www.visitironbridge.co.uk/walkingfestival
Tom Odell added to Forestry
Live’s summer line-up
Singer/songwriter Tom Odell is the latest big
name to be added to this year’s Forest Live
programme of concerts across the country.
Tom will perform in the Midlands at
Delamere Forest, Cheshire (4 July), and
Cannock Chase Forest, Staffs (12 July).
Odell, whose debut album Long Way Down
shot to number one in the charts, will be
joined by the supremely talented Rae Morris.
Forest Live is an independent programme
organised by the Forestry Commission.
4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
A massive £2.5million expansion is set to transform Drayton Manor Theme Park’s famous
Thomas Land, increasing its size by a whopping forty percent. The only one of its kind in
Europe, the Staffordshire theme park’s Thomas Land is a celebration of the adventures of
Thomas The Tank Engine and friends. The expansion will include three brand new rides Flynn’s Fire Rescue, Captain’s Sea Adventure and Toby’s Tram Express - and a ‘stunning’
new two-storey Sodor Airport terminal. Commenting on the expansion, Colin Bryan, CEO of
Drayton Manor Theme Park, said: “This year marks the sixty-fifth anniversary of Drayton
Manor, and throughout our long history we’ve always prided ourselves on offering a fun day
out for the whole family. That was the reasoning behind the launch of Thomas Land in 2008.
Since then the area has gone from strength to strength and has provided an immersive experience for fans both young and old. We are delighted to be extending it this year with all these
fantastic new rides and facilities for our visitors to enjoy.” The expanded Thomas Land will
open over Easter.
Income from sales is spent protecting,
improving and expanding England’s forests
and woodlands, increasing their value both
to people and wildlife.
Other big names to
appear at this year’s
concerts include
Paloma Faith (10 July)
and Robert Plant &
The Sensational
Space Shifters (11
July). For further information and to book
tickets, visit,
Tom Odell
www.forestry.gov.uk
Tamworth’s creative quarter
gets the green light
Tamworth town centre looks set to be rejuvenated after the green light was given to plans
for a new ‘creative quarter'. The ambitious
project is being part-funded to the tune of
£2.95million by the Government's Single
Local Growth Fund. It will begin next year,
create one hundred-plus jobs and cost a
total of £5.5million.
The project includes the conservation, redevelopment and improvement of Tamworth
Assembly Rooms. The venue will benefit
from the creation of a café bar and exhibition
space, a new box office, studios, a multi-use
area and glazed double doors to help open
up the building’s front façade. Speaking to
the Tamworth Herald, Tamworth Borough
Councillor Steve Claymore revealed that the
Creative Quarter project could provide the
wider town centre with an additional economic value of between £10million and
£13million.
“I can't speak highly enough of what the
project will mean to the town as a whole,”
said Councillor Claymore.
Debut children’s novel from
Shropshire author
Shropshire author Ed Patterson has launched
his first novel for children. Derek Fish And
The Surprise sees a small boy travelling back
in time to search for his family’s stolen treasure. Full of swashbuckling action, cruel
pirates, a monstrous squid and magic that
sets the heart pounding, it’s the perfect read
for children aged nine
and upwards. A fun
read for adults, too.
The novel is available
only on Amazon
Kindle and costs just
99p. Visit www.derekfish.com for more
information and the
first four captivating
chapters.
News March Region two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:36 Page 2
A Black Country welcome...
One of the Midlands’ longest-running shows
has been given a facelift for 2015.
A Black Country Night Out has been
delighting audiences across the region for
years, and has featured performances from
local comedians Aynuk & Ayli, Tommy
Mundon, Dolly Allen & Giggetty. Bringing a
fresh look to proceedings, this year’s shows
welcome the addition of the latest ‘brilliantly
talented’ Black Country acts - including
Jonny Cole, who’s earning himself quite a
reputation for his musical parodies of modern local life. Joining Jonny will be Kaylee
Cropper, a ‘Black Country wench’ who
regales audiences with stories of her life.
Meanwhile, music from The Ronaldos, featuring Ron Rogers from T’Pau, promises to
get the aisles well and truly rocking.
Jonny Cole
EYB seeking young talent
One of the country’s most prestigious youth
ballet companies is this month inviting budding dancers to audition for a full-length
production of Swan Lake, taking place at
Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn in July. The
award-winning English Youth Ballet is on the
lookout for one hundred young male and
female dancers, aged eight to eighteen,
who will perform in Swan Lake alongside
professional principal dancers. Theatre
Severn will host three performances of the
ballet, on 10 and 11 July. Auditions take
place at the theatre on Mon 9 March, with a
4.30pm to 6.30pm slot for dancers aged
eight to eleven, and a 6.45pm to 8.30pm
slot for youngsters aged between twelve
and eighteen. A performance course fee
applies. For further information and to register, call 01689 856747 or email
misslewis@englishyouthballet.co.uk
Legally Blonde in Wolves
Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company
is set to stage the city’s first ever amateur
production of Legally Blonde The Musical.
The hit show, a 2011 Olivier Award-winner,
is being presented by the company at the
Grand Theatre from Tuesday 10 to Saturday
14 March. Legally Blonde is the latest in a
long line of popular musicals to be staged
by the talented ensemble, with previous
shows including Grease, Footloose,
Copacabana, West Side Story and Half A
Sixpence. Tickets for the show cost from £8
to £18.50 and can be purchased at
www.grandtheatre.co.uk
Nasty Nick hooked
on The Grand
EastEnders bad boy ‘Nasty’ Nick Cotton
is set to get even nastier - by taking on
the role of Captain Hook in
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s 2015
pantomime. Actor John Altman, who’s
been playing Nasty Nick in the hit BBC
soap over the last thirty years, will take
top billing in Peter Pan this Christmas.
John will be joined in Wolverhampton
by The Chuckle Brothers, who’ll play
comedy duo Paul & Barry Smee in the
swashbuckling adventure. Commenting
on the announcement, Michael
Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos
Entertainment’s pantomimes division,
said; “I’m delighted that John has
agreed to join us in pantomime this
Christmas. John is a first-rate actor, and
to have him cast alongside the hilarious
comedy talent of The Chuckle Brothers
guarantees us another sensational season at the Grand Theatre.” Peter Pan
runs at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
from Saturday 12 December 2015 to
Sunday 24 January 2016. Tickets are on
sale now and are available from
www.grandtheatre.co.uk or by calling
the ticket office on 01902 42 92 12.
IN BRIEF
Lichfield festival
back in town...
Organisers of the popular Lichfield Blues &
Jazz Festival have
announced the line-up
for this summer’s
event. Taking place at
various city centre
locations, including
the Cathedral,
Guildhall and George
Hotel, the four-day festival (25 to 28 June)
will feature performances from Tommaso
Starace Quartet, John
Etheridge, Steve Ajao
and the Climax Blues
Band.
Commenting on the
2015 programme, festival organiser Brian
Pretty said: “This will
be a great week-end
of music for locals and
visitors alike and will
boost the local economy.” Venues and interested sponsors can
contact Brian via
adminmanager@lichfieldarts.org.uk
John Etheridge
24 Hour Culture Survey: The results..
A major region-wide survey has found that arts and culture are
very important to people in the West Midlands.
The 24 Hour Culture Survey sought to discover how people experience arts and culture in their everyday lives.
The survey took place during one twenty-four hour period - from
noon on Friday the 24th to noon on Saturday the 25th of October
2014.
The findings show that arts and culture are integral to the lives of
many people. Ninety-eight percent of respondents said they felt
that arts, culture and heritage are important to them.
The main reasons for appreciating arts and culture were that they
keep the mind stimulated and give meaning to people’s lives.
Other major reasons include increased health and wellbeing,
keeping communities together, improving the lives of children and
young people, and the positive effect of arts and culture on jobs
and economics.
Libraries were the most popular cultural
venue over the twenty-four hours, with 14%
of respondents visiting a branch. Twelve percent saw a play or drama during the twentyfour hour period, and 11% visited an art exhibition. Twenty-four percent of respondents
sang for their own pleasure and 15% took
part in textile crafts such as knitting or
sewing...Check out the findings at
www.24hourculture.co.uk
You Me At Six to headline Slam Dunk
You Me And Six, Taking Back Sunday and Lower Than Atlantis
have been announced as part of this year’s Slam Dunk Festival
line-up. Now in its tenth year, Slam Dunk is described as the
‘loudest punk rock festival’ in the UK, taking place at three strategically selected sites across the country - Leeds in the north,
Hertfordshire in the south and Wolverhampton here in the
Midlands (25 May). The festival will see the city’s Wulfrun Hall,
Civic Hall, Civic Bar
and outdoor stages
playing host to
some of the industry’s best pop punk,
ska, punk and hardcore bands. For further information,
visit www.slamdunkmusic.com
You Me At Six
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5
Claire Sweeney interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 17:54 Page 1
interview
“
An older lady had been
married for fifty years
and never looked left or
right, so we had to
explain to her what the
bag contained, bless
her. It was all done with
good humour.
”
Claire
Sweeney
talks about Sex In Suburbia...
Coming to public attention as Lindsey Corkhill in
Channel Four soap opera Brookside, Claire
Sweeney has since made a name for herself as a
song-and-dance girl. As well as starring in
numerous West End productions, including Guys
And Dolls, Chicago and Educating Rita, she’s also
toured the UK in hit musical Legally Blonde and
one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday.
This month Claire hits the road in Sex In
Suburbia, a show she’s co-written with Mandy
Muden. What’s On recently caught up with her to
find out more...
6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Claire Sweeney interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 17:54 Page 2
Where did the idea for Sex In Suburbia
come from?
All the appallingly bad dates my friends and I
have ever experienced. We’d tell each other
what had happened and get over the horror
of the experiences by laughing about them.
Then, about two years ago, my close friend
Mandy Muden and I started writing them all
down in my front room with the notion of
turning them into a comedy. At first we
weren’t even sure if we were funny! But the
play went down a storm with the audiences
last year when it first opened in Liverpool. We
take them through every emotion. They enjoy
themselves so much that they get up to
dance in the aisles and sing along to the big
musical anthems we’ve included, such as I’m
Every Woman, I Want To Break Free and, of
course, I Will Survive.
What happens in the show?
It’s all about the eternal subject of love and
romance, and the quest to find Mr Right
through a series of mainly unsatisfactory
dating experiences. But we’ve tried to take
the bad out of the date and make the
audience laugh by helping them to see the
funny side. In our comedy, the host of a latenight radio show is Britain’s leading agony
aunt. She takes calls from listeners about
their dates from hell - and the occasional one
from heaven - and dishes out her advice. In
the original show I played a relationship
expert, but this time I play myself - a working
mum with a baby. I decided to update it
because my baby boy, Jaxon, who was born
in September, has changed my outlook on
life. As a result, I’ve injected my own personal
experiences of motherhood into the show.
Have you changed anything else?
Yes, I’ve de-Scoused it so that it will appeal
more to a national audience. It was very
localised before, about famous names and
places in Liverpool, so I’ve taken out those
references and made it more generic.
However, all the dating stories remain the
same. Everyone can relate to them, wherever
they’re from.
Have you included your own experiences
of dating?
Yes, all the material comes from me and my
friends. I’m the woman who goes on all these
dodgy dates looking for love, then reaches a
stage in her life when she would like to settle
down and become a mum.
Well, you certainly achieved that, Claire!
Yes, I was due to go on tour with the show
when I found out I was pregnant. Being a
mum is the best thing ever, and Jaxon is the
love of my life.
What kind of baby-related stories are in
the show?
Funny anecdotes about pregnancy and
breastfeeding. I had the most gorgeous
pregnancy. I loved my growing bump and
being able to eat what I wanted. A few weeks
after I had Jaxon, people came up to
congratulate me on being pregnant. I hadn’t
lost baby weight and they thought I was still
expecting! I was a bit embarrassed and
replied indignantly, ‘Actually my baby’s six
weeks old’. You can’t ping back into shape
immediately.
Did you think twice about putting your own
material in?
No, I found it liberating. I’ve changed the
names and places but a few of the dates are
based on my real dating experiences. I
thought they were funny and I’m glad all the
women who saw them in the show thought
so too. You have to laugh in the face of
adversity, don’t you? At first you go, ‘Woe is
me!’ but then you turn it into a funny story
and laugh.
What are some of the more outlandish
dates experienced by friends?
Well, one of them found the macho man she
was dating wearing a frilly ra-ra dress!
There’s another extraordinary tale about a
cross-dresser. It’s the true story of a woman
married to an uncommunicative, unpleasant
man who suddenly discovers that he likes to
wear women’s clothes. After the initial shock,
she becomes the best of friends with his
alter-ego - who’s softer, warm and kind - and
it saves their marriage. There’s another
cautionary tale that carries the warning, ‘be
careful what you wish for’. A man wants to
take his wife to a ‘swingers’ club, but she’s
reluctant. When he finally persuades her to
experiment, she ends up loving it. He
becomes jealous and they end up getting
divorced. But there’s nothing vulgar about
our show; we’ve made it sympathetic and,
most of all, amusing.
Do women in the audience volunteer their
own stories?
Oh gosh yes! We have a slot in the show
where they can share their dating
nightmares. Instead of Blind Date we call it
Bad Date. We’d been hearing all these
disastrous stories and decided to ask the
audience if any of them knew the secret to a
happy marriage. A woman who’d been
married for years replied that her tip for
marital harmony with a husband was that you
should, ‘Just ignore him’. Every woman brave
enough to stand on stage receives a free
goodie bag from Ann Summers, who’re
supporting the show. An older lady had been
married for fifty years and never looked left or
right, so we had to explain to her what the
bag contained, bless her. It was all done with
good humour.
Will the show appeal only to women?
At first we assumed it would be a comedy for
women, but we’ve seen men coming, too.
During a matinee performance, I saw a whole
group of fellas fill a row, and at the bar in the
interval I asked them why they’d come. They
replied that one of their mates had seen it,
loved it and recommended it, so they’d come
along as part of a lads’ day out. There are
elements of the show that men can definitely
relate to.
So have you written a scenario from a
man’s point of view?
Yes, one of them involves a bloke whose wife
is pulling out all the stops - the lingerie and
what have you - to seduce him when all he
wants to do is watch the footie. Another bloke
told us how he went on a date with this
gorgeous girl, but when she took him to her
house for a cup of tea, he was horrified to
realise that he’d taken her mother out the
week before!
Do you think the dodgy dating experience
is a modern phenomenon?
No, it’s always been like that. We know this
because our audiences include women from
all generations. We’ve had grandmothers,
mothers and daughters coming to the show
on a family outing, and they can all relate to
many of the stories we tell.
Who would your ideal date be and where
would you go?
My guilty pleasure is Ray Winstone. I’ve
never met him but he seems to get more and
more fabulous as he gets older. He’s such a
geezer, the type of bloke who’d look after
you. A night out at the theatre followed by a
slap-up meal would be perfect. Food and the
theatre are my two favourite things.
You starred in panto in Liverpool just
seven weeks after Jaxon was born. Has it
been difficult getting the baby/work
balance right?
It was hard at first, and Jaxon probably wants
to know why he’s no longer being breastfed
by a genie! I was playing the genie in
Aladdin, wearing a fabulous sparkly purple
costume, and used to feed Jaxon in the
interval. He seemed to love the music, the
magical surroundings and all my theatre
friends who’d help me look after him. Some
people said, ‘You should take time out and
stay at home with your baby,’ but I’m a
working mum who has bills to pay. Going
back to work so early wasn’t a case of getting
my life back and getting back on stage; it’s
what I do, and I believe it’s possible to
combine both successfully. So far so good!
You’re presenting a new radio show…
Yes, this month and next I’ll be presenting a
show on Sunday afternoons at 3pm on
Magic, the new national DAB radio station.
The show will feature reviews and
recommendations, with a focus on the Olivier
Awards 2015 and interviews with stars and
cast members of musical theatre. I’ll also be
playing a mix of Magic tracks and musical
hits. It’s my dream come true, so with this
and the tour of Sex In Suburbia, 2015 is
already shaping up to be a brilliant year for
me.
Will there be wedding bells for you and
Jaxon’s dad, Daniel Riley, this year?
We’ve no plans for that at all. We’re taking
every day as it comes with Jaxon, and I’m
full-on being a mum and preparing for my UK
tour. I’ve relocated with Jaxon to my house in
London. It suddenly dawned on me that the
house isn’t baby-friendly at all, so I’m having
all the sharp corners on tables and worktops
softened and warm carpets laid on all the
floors.
Will you be taking Jaxon on tour with you?
Yes, a close friend is coming with me who’ll
look after him while I’m on stage. He’ll be
with me the rest of the time. I love him so
much that I don’t want to be away from him.
How lucky am I!
Sex In Suburbia shows at New
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on
Tues 3 March, and Regent Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent on Sun 29 March
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 7
One Man Breaking Bad Interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 17:55 Page 1
interview
One Man
Breaking Bad
Squeezing sixty episodes of the cult drama into sixty minutes...
With a penchant for impersonations, LA actor Miles Allen continues to garner acclaim for his oneman parody of American drama Breaking Bad. With over one million YouTube hits and rave reviews
at last year’s Edinburgh Festival, Allen is this month bringing the show to the Midlands. What’s On
finds out what audiences can expect...
How would you describe One Man
Breaking Bad?
It’s a farcical love letter to all the people who
went through the bloodbath and tears of
Breaking Bad, and who’re now wanting to go
on a nostalgia trip and laugh at all the
different things that made it so special to
them. It follows roughly the same timeline
and the same plot points, condensed into a
much shorter time frame. There are jokes I
play on different scenes, including the more
serious moments. We have an interesting
take on them that leaves the audience in
stitches. Along the way there are other popculture references. It’s like a fusion of solo
theatre and stand-up. Sometimes I’ll make
comments about the series and my own
experience with it, plus there’s a bunch of
other different impressions in the show, like
Family Guy, Back To The Future and Lord Of
The Rings.
8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Why did you feel Breaking Bad was ripe
for parody?
When the show ended, I felt there was this
huge hole in my heart - as I’m sure was the
case for many other people. It was like ‘What
am I gonna watch now that Breaking Bad, the
greatest television show on earth, just
ended?’. I realised there was this huge love
and desire to see the characters re-enacted
through that YouTube video of mine, which
went viral in September 2013. It sort of
developed from there, leading to this oneman show that’s like a nostalgia trip for all the
fanboys and girls to enjoy.
Which character was the hardest to nail?
The most challenging was Walt Jr. He’s a
character with cerebral palsy, so it could be
perceived that I’m making fun of, or being
insensitive towards, someone with cerebral
palsy. My argument is that to not impersonate
Walt Jr just because he’s a character with
cerebral palsy, and to not treat him like any
other character, would be a greater act of
discrimination.
Which characters from the show are
featured in your parody?
All the main characters. There are a few
secondary characters but mostly it’s the
main ones: Walt, Jesse, Skyler, Walt Jr, Hank,
Mike, Gustavo Fring, Marie, Todd, Uncle
Jack, the Salamanca twins, and Saul, of
course.
How would you sum up the essence of,
say, Walter and Jesse?
Walt is very determined. He feels underappreciated so is constantly trying to prove
himself - but always for his family, he says.
Since he’s so smart, he really believes he’s
the best - and that comes out in his alter-ego,
Heisenberg. He’s this over-qualified high
And the easiest?
Jesse Pinkman, bitch! It started with
Jesse and spiralled from there.
One Man Breaking Bad Interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 17:55 Page 2
school chemistry teacher who could’ve been
making millions or billions of dollars with
Grey Matter, the company he left and which
then became very successful. So he’s got
this huge inferiority complex he’s trying to get
over.
With Jesse, it’s so funny how he starts out
like this character who we all perceive as a
lowlife, with not much going for him.
Originally the show’s creator, Vince Gilligan,
and the writers were going to kill him off at
the end of the first season, but his character
become so much more complex in terms of
why he chose to go into the drug business
and how he’s actually this really talented
craftsman. Towards the end of the show, he
actually becomes more of a protagonist for
us than Walt is. We sympathise with him
more because he’s still trying to do good,
and experiences a lot of pain. By contrast,
Walt’s character’s weird because he’s our
protagonist yet becomes more distant from
us. We start to disassociate ourselves from
him. I don’t know many shows which have
done that, and it’s what I find so riveting
about the series.
It’s not the most humorous show in TV
history, so in what ways have you made it
funny?
That’s what’s so interesting. If I were to do a
comedy about a comedy show, I’m not sure it
would be that funny. Because Breaking Bad
was so serious in its nature, they had some
comic relief on the show. They had to,
because the audience had to breathe at
some point. And it’s because of that
seriousness that the audience was more
willing and ready to laugh, to release the
tension the show constantly built up. So I
found it easy to make a comedy out of a
show that’s so serious, because people are
ready to laugh about it.
Was there anything that surprised you
about the audience reaction when you did
One Man Breaking Bad in Melbourne and
Edinburgh?
I was entirely shocked because it’s the first
one-man show I’ve ever done. I’ve been an
actor and a comedian, but it was my first
attempt at doing an hour-long format. Doing
voices and impressions is something I did in
middle school. I didn’t have any friends so
had to make up my own. So to go on stage
and basically do what I’ve done since then namely, entertain myself - and have people
enjoy it is amazing. It’s an amazing feeling to
have your talents resonate with other people,
and to create laughter and joy. I love making
people laugh. I think it’s a very noble cause,
because when you laugh you can’t feel any
negative emotion. It’s cool that I can bring
people to a heavenly state for even a brief
moment. I’m humbled by it.
Are you looking forward to taking the show
around the UK?
I’m really excited about that. I did it in
Scotland but I’ve not been to other parts of
the UK. I think it’s an amazing opportunity
and I can’t wait to go around all the various
regions of the UK and perform. Hopefully
they’ll enjoy it as much as everyone else has.
Did you expect the original YouTube clip to
cause such a sensation?
No, not at all. Everyone says ‘Oh, what if this
goes viral?’ but no-one expects it to happen.
That video clip was made at my friends’
beckoning when they heard me doing
impressions. I’d been growing my beard out
for a time and they said I looked homeless.
They said they should shoot a video of me
pretending to do impressions for food and
upload it. It was like ‘Friends might find it
amusing’ - but many more people found it
amusing apparently! It was a big surprise. We
had twenty views when I uploaded it, then,
the next morning, I’m getting calls from The
Huffington Post and The Daily Beast and I’m
like ‘Oh! Okay! I just went viral. That’s cool’.
People genuinely thought you were some
homeless guy, didn’t they?
Yes, but I was immediately going ‘This is just
a sketch’. I guess the real irony is that now
I’m going on tour, I’m actually going to be
sort of homeless. I’m moving out and putting
everything in storage for this tour, so I guess
it comes full circle.
When did you first get hooked on Breaking
Bad?
I had a couple of friends recommend the
show to me. I think it was when Series Four
was on that I got hooked on it. I’d just
graduated college, I didn’t have to do
homework anymore, so I was thinking ‘What
am I going to fill my time with?’. So I started
in on Breaking Bad, and the pilot episode
hooked me. I thought it was one of the
greatest openings to a show I’d ever seen.
That would’ve been in the May or June. By
August, when Series Five rolled around, I was
all caught up. There was a lot of time spent
sitting on the couch enjoying Breaking Bad.
You’ve hailed it as ‘the greatest TV show
ever made’. Why do you feel it’s so good?
Because with every aspect of it, everything is
at one hundred-and-ten percent. The writing,
the acting - not just a particular actor but the
ensemble of actors - the music, the editing.
Everybody seemed to be on their game. And
I think it looks at the concept of the slippery
slope better than any other story I’ve ever
seen put on screen. It’s a very philosophical
piece. In the first episode, the question posed
is ‘Can a morally compromising decision
that’s based on good intentions be justified?’.
I believe the rest of the series is an answer to
that question. I think the answer is complex,
but there’s also a clear end result that comes
from it.
Have you met any of the cast?
I haven’t, but there was a guy with a fedora
and sunglasses in one of my audiences
once. After the show he just looked at me
and gave me a nod. I’m not saying it was
Heisenberg - but who can know for sure?
My goal is one day to be able to perform the
show for the cast and crew, as a thank you
for everything they gave to it. I couldn’t
appreciate everything they’ve done more.
They gave America and the rest of the world
a fantastic series that’ll be watched by
generations to come.
How do you prepare for a performance
that’s so full on?
I do over forty different impressions
throughout the show, which is an hour long.
It looks like we’re going to be extending it for
the UK run to possibly eighty minutes. It
takes its toll on the voice, so there are a lot of
vocal warm-ups and cups of hot tea with
honey and lemon before a show. I have to
make sure my instrument, my voice, is ready.
If that goes, it’s not good. The show is reliant
on my voice, so I take a lot of care with it
when I’m on the road.
What originally led you into acting and
performing?
I studied acting in college. Once I graduated,
I moved to Los Angeles to live the dream. I
started out like any other person, a struggling
actor trying to pick up auditions for as many
gigs as possible. I had this idea that any
career opportunity that happened would
happen in LA, because that’s where I was.
Then, to my surprise, my first big break came
from Australia, where I performed this show. I
never saw it coming but I’m not gonna
complain about it. It’s been awesome. It’s
been a really cool ride.
When did you discover you had a flair for
impersonations?
I kind of say it jokingly but I was bullied a lot
growing up and didn’t have any friends. I
didn’t really have any skills that set me apart
either, so I kind of felt lost in the shuffle.
Some might say I was slipping through the
cracks. My parents were concerned, too.
Then, one day, I just impersonated Patrick
from Spongebob Squarepants on the school
bus and everyone was like ‘Wow, Miles, that
was really good’. For me it was, like,
affirmation! So I bought a Spongebob DVD
and watched the behind-the-scenes feature
about all the various voice actors. I was
hooked. I was like ‘This is so cool that they
do this for a living’. I started to copy them
and what they did. I did more and more
impressions. I lost count of how many I could
do, but in high school I think it was around
two hundred.
What are the keys to a great parody? And
the common pitfalls?
You have to walk the line of respecting the
integrity of the show whilst picking out the
nuances that the audience members really
enjoyed about the characters - like how
Skyler is always over-reacting and seems like
a bitch in every single scene. And how Walt
Jr is always eating breakfast. You have Saul’s
kind of sleazy nature and how he’s always
checking his hair. It’s picking up on those
nuances whilst always being ready to be
adaptable. I remember in Scotland, this guy
who was interviewing me asked ‘Do you have
anything in there about Irn-Bru?’. I didn’t
know what it was. He told me and I ended up
putting it in the show. When you have a show
that’s a parody and also has cultural
references in it, you need to be ready to
change those references as the show goes
on.
With Better Call Saul now on TV, are you
keeping an eye on it to see if it could be
your next parody project?
Oh yes! I don’t want to give anything away
about my show but I’m definitely keeping an
eye on Better Call Saul. Who knows? A One
Man Better Call Saul might be in the works...
One Man Breaking Bad shows at Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury on Monday 2
March, and Birmingham Town Hall on
Wednesday 11 March
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 9
Michael Brandon interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:11 Page 1
interview
“
I’m making love to Jacqueline Bisset for two days and they’re paying me’.
There’s so much stuff that, as an actor, you suffer...
”
Michael Brandon
stars in Arthur Miller classic...
Best known as one half of Dempsey and Makepeace, Michael Brandon’s wide-ranging repertoire
spans TV, film and stage. Citing starring in George Cukor’s Rich And Famous as one of his all-time
highs, Michael this month takes to the road to play Alfieri in Arthur Miller’s A View From The
Bridge. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...
10 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Michael Brandon interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:11 Page 2
What makes Arthur Miller such an
accomplished playwright?
He’s a genius. His writing, when you speak it,
is like Shakespeare. Alfieri is the voice of
Arthur Miller, and he is ‘a view from the
bridge’ - so I get to say these things to the
audience, then go into the scenes with the
other actors and the characters. Miller’s work
is like poetry. To sip it and to sink those
words within yourself, and then to be able to
feel and express them is a joy.
Is A View From The Bridge your favourite
Miller work?
Actually, it was an underrated work. I think I
was much more into the parts that I used to
work on in New York and in the studio - All My
Sons and Death Of A Salesman. They were
classics. A View From The Bridge, when it
came to me, intrigued me because it’s a
piece of heaven that’s not been exploited.
It’s quite a dark, heavy work...
Not for me. For me, there’s humour and a lot
of feeling. It goes deeper, and he starts telling
this story and remembering. Alfieri comes
from the neighbourhood, but he’s one of
those people who got lucky. He was lucky to
get an education and bettered himself, which
is why all of those immigrants came to Ellis
Island. They came to make a better life - not
get one but make one. He got an education
and became a lawyer, but he didn’t move off.
He came and brought it back to his
neighbourhood, so that people could benefit
from his advantage, from his learning.
What are the major challenges for an actor
in playing the role of Alfieri?
To make the poetry my own words, and to
put the feeling and the honesty behind them.
To be able to talk these words and to share
my experience with the audience, to interact
with the other actors on stage and as my own
self, as Alfieri, is a joy.
You’ve worked in the UK throughout your
career. Was that a conscious decision in
the beginning?
I came over to do Dempsey And Makepeace,
which was supposed to be a six-month gig.
Then I learned that there’s more to life than
the weather. I gave up weather for the life. I’ve
done a lot of theatre over here, and it’s all
very varied and all very exciting. I did a new
play in August called The Long Road South.
To do Singing In The Rain at Chichester and
in the West End, and to do one of the best
pieces ever written - Oliver Cotton’s Wet
Weather Cover - has been brilliant.
Very few American actors can point to that
kind of long-term success in the UK. How
have you managed to remain so highprofile here for so many years?
I think it was because Dempsey And
Makepeace was so popular. It had twenty
million viewers in the beginning. You don’t
get that anymore - I don’t even know whether
X Factor gets that many - because there are
far more channels now. It was because I hit
the mainstream. The popularity then gave me
the opportunity to play everything. Another
thing that’s very special here is that, as an
American, the British give me every
opportunity to play an American.
In America, I don’t get that opportunity
Despite Dempsey And Makepeace’s
success, you don’t seem to have been
typecast by the show. What’s the secret of
remaining viable for a wide range of roles
rather than becoming pigeonholed?
I guess I was typecast a little bit in the
beginning, but then things began to change.
I got Jerry Springer The Opera, and then a
brilliant piece for the BBC alongside Benedict
Cumberbatch called Hawking. I played Arno
Penzias, who discovered the Three Degrees
of Radiation that backed his Big Bang Theory.
You’ve been married to your Dempsey And
Makepeace co-star Glynis Barber for a
quarter-century. What’s the secret of a
successful showbiz marriage?
I really don’t know what it is. This is our
twenty-fifth year of marriage. I think we allow
each other space, and we’re a team as
parents - but it goes beyond just us. We also
have great friends. It’s all about bouncing off
the wall of love, and feedback, and truth.
You mentioned Jerry Springer The Opera.
What made that show so groundbreaking
and successful?
It was better than The Book Of Mormon. It
was amazing because it was a rude opera.
Richard Thomas, who wrote it, was drunk at
three in the morning when he watched Jerry
Springer and realised it was opera. Stuart Lee
never thought it would ever be anywhere
other than above a pub. It happened, people
responded. They saw the genius in it. It was a
great piece. When I first read it, I couldn’t
understand what it was. I really didn’t know. I
asked them to cut out the libretto and just
give me the part. It was amazing and it
should’ve gone on to Broadway. I’d still love
to do it again.
So you’d be up for it should it be
resurrected?
There’s been talk about it coming back.
Jerry’s got a new show going on in America,
so why not? I think there was talk that, if they
found a slot - maybe 2017 - Jerry would be
back.
You’ve made your way into the Marvel
Comics movie franchise, playing Senator
Brandt in Captain America...
Yeah, how about that? The first move was
getting Dr Who when David Tennant was the
Doctor. I was General Sanchez and was shot
by a Dalek. I had that under my belt and it
was great to move on to Captain America. So
yeah, good things.
You’ve revealed elsewhere that
superheroes were important to you as a
child. Why did you need them when you
were growing up?
It was a pay off. I had stacks and stacks of
comic books. I loved Batman. They were
better than the life there on the streets - the
fighting and the survival. The hard reality of
Brooklyn. That’s where comic books were
born. It was a fantasy life being a hero,
having a secret identity, an alter-ego. So to be
in them as a grown up, especially when
they’re made so well, is kind of a pay off.
Back to the beginning... Why did you
decide to become an actor?
Because I wasn’t happy with anything else.
I couldn’t really do a day job. I didn’t know
what to do. I was studying law, and here I am
now playing a lawyer, playing Alfieri, but it
was so boring. It’s not like ‘I object!’, like we
see on TV and in the movies. It was a lot of
case history and a lot of learning. After high
school, I’d had enough. Then I had a blind
date, and I was telling her that I wasn’t happy,
that my job sucked, and she was hysterical.
She said, ‘You should become a comic or an
actor’. It was like the green scent of the sea
washing in and blowing away the dust. All of
a sudden, I knew what I wanted to do. So I
gave myself two years to become a movie
star. Not unrealistic at all! That’s what I said to
myself - and I did it. After acting school,
banging on doors, doing auditions, a student
film here and there and a Broadway show
with Al Pacino called Does A Tiger Wear A
Necktie?, I got the movie Lovers And Other
Strangers. I’d seen the play, I’d snuck in to
see it time and time again, and now I was in
its movie version. There are times when the
reality exceeds your fantasies - I’ve had a lot
of them and I’m grateful for them. That’s why
this life has been such a blessing.
You’ve played a wide range of roles - on
stage, on TV, in film. If you had to select
one of your performances to keep for
posterity, which would it be and why?
There are different ones for different things. I
think playing Brad in Oliver Cotton’s Wet
Weather Cover was probably one of the best
acting roles.
In the movies, it has to be George Cukor’s
last film, Rich And Famous, with Jacqueline
Bisset. I made love to Jacqueline in the
bathroom of an aeroplane - Barbra Streisand
tried to buy that scene out of the film to make
a movie about the Mile High Club. Anyway, I
did that, and all I kept thinking the whole time
is ‘I’m making love to Jacqueline Bisset for
two days and they’re paying me’. There’s so
much stuff that, as an actor, you suffer...
Do you have any specific professional
ambitions you’d like to fulfill - a character
you’d love to play, for example - or do you
simply sit back and see who makes
contact?
I don’t know what it is yet, but yes. It’s the
one that’s coming, it’s that surprise. That’s
what it’s like because you’re living
existentially. Alfieri just came at the right time
and in the right place. There’s a reality in that
moment, and I find that juicy. When you start
out and nobody knows you or wants to know
you, and you bang on doors and get turned
away, and you can’t get an agent, you never
give up and you never take it personally.
Good things come. My dream is that there’s
still an Oscar waiting...
Michael Brandon stars in A View From
The Bridge at Wolverhampton Grand
Theatre, from Tues 24 to Sat 28 March
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 11
Jason Manford (CA) online.qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:18 Page 1
interview
Jason
Manford
happy to be playing
Leo Bloom in The Producers
As a stand-up comedian and panel show host, Jason Manford needs no introduction. His chirpychappy routines regularly sell out arenas across the country, while his TV appearances guarantee
plenty of appreciative armchair fans. Back in 2012, Manford surprised West End critics with his
portrayal of Italian barber Pirelli in a revival of Sweeney Todd. Preparing to take to the stage once
again, this time playing Leo Bloom in the UK tour of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Jason recently
took time out from rehearsals to talk to What’s On...
What makes The Producers your 'favourite
musical of all time'?
I guess it’s because it’s written by a comedian,
so it naturally lends itself to a comic sensibility.
There are so many obvious ‘big gags’, but
there are also loads of subtle jokes. Every day
you’re finding another gag somewhere, and
that’s mainly why it really suits me. It’s really
funny and, in a way, a little offensive - but I
guess in 2015 we’re a bit more blasé about
what we find offensive. I imagine at the time of
its original release, it would’ve been seen as a
lot more offensive.
What does your experience as a stand-up
comedian enable you to contribute to the
role of Leo Bloom?
I guess you see the world through different
eyes. Mel Brooks came up with the original
idea back in the 1960s and it was based on
two stories. He’d heard about this sloth of a
producer, and he’d also heard about these
criminals who were laundering money. So he
basically put the two ideas together. As a
comic, that’s what you do all the time - you
hear two or three funny stories and you
amalgamate them to create a routine. So I
guess in that respect, for me as a comic who’s
always writing, it’s great just to be given a
really funny script and not have to do
anything. It’s not like when you’re given a
sitcom script and you’re going through it,
trying to make it funnier.
Do you have a favourite one-liner that you
deliver?
I love the blue blanket scene at the beginning.
It’s fun, neurotic, hyperactive and really crazy.
I’m basically Judy Garland - that’s who Leo
Bloom is. He’s brand new to showbusiness
and is having his eyes opened very quickly to
a lot of things he’s never experienced before.
My favourite line of his is “Stop the world, I
want to get on”. It’s a really big moment for
him, and you could just imagine a young Judy
Garland saying it off camera.
Will it be a bit of a jolly, working alongside
fellow comedians Ross Noble and Phill
Jupitus?
We’re having so much fun at the moment.
Both of them are playing the same part at
different times in the tour, and already they’re
bringing things to it that aren’t in the script different ideas and different moments that are
just really funny. But the whole cast are great
fun. It’s really weird coming into a different
world, where people sort of know each other a
bit and you’re the outsider. Everyone is just
really excited to be involved in such a brilliant
musical.
You cut your teeth on the stage in Sweeney
Todd, for which you received plenty of
acclaim. Did that set the bar in terms of the
pressure you put on yourself?
What’s interesting is that I’m so used to being
on top of my game. I put loads of work into it
and I make sure that it’s good - but when you
come to do something like this, where
Jason Manford (CA) online.qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:18 Page 2
somebody else is directing it, somebody else
has written it, someone else is producing it,
it’s hard to let go of the power that you
normally have. Sweeney Todd is at the top of
the Premier League of musicals. It’s a great
Sondheim show, and to perform alongside
Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball was just
fantastic, even for the short run that I did. I
guess after a taste of that, I was just waiting
for another Premier League musical.
Do you ever foresee acting superceding
your career as a stand-up comedian?
I don’t think so. I love stand-up - it’s my
favourite way of performing because it’s so
direct. Everything you say, the audience is on
it. You can’t get better than that.
So what made you decide to become a
comedian?
I was sixteen or seventeen when I first started
and I didn’t really think about it. I just had
some funny ideas and an opportunity to do a
few gigs, so I did them. There wasn’t a
business plan. I think I started in ’98 or ’99. I
think I first got paid for a gig in 2004, so there
was a good five or six years of going at it and
getting into debt. I had other jobs. I was
working in an office, on a building site, in a
burger restaurant or a toy shop. I had
hundreds of jobs and would do them for as
long as possible - basically until they sacked
me because I kept heading off to do a gig
somewhere!
Were you funny at school?
I thought I was hilarious, but since school I’ve
occasionally bumped into someone in a
supermarket and they’ve said, ‘I can’t believe
you’re a comedian’. I was a naughty boy at
primary school level, although I never brought
the police to the door, as my mum always
points out with pride. One of the punishments
my dad used was to send me to stand in the
corner and face the wall. The wall he chose
had a bookshelf, and invariably I would pick
up a book. I remember going into school and
everyone else was reading TIm And Tina Go
To The Beach. I was bored out of my brain, as
I’d just finished reading Lord Of The Rings. I
was quite an advanced reader from an early
age, so I was really bored at school. So I
became naughty and thought of daft things to
do. By the time I reached secondary school, I
was always telling daft stories. Mrs Cooper,
my English teacher, wasn’t very happy when I
used to interrupt her lessons. On one
occasion she asked me to share my story
with everybody. So I did, and it got a laugh.
Mrs Cooper said it was a fun story and set me
extra homework for that night to write it out as
a story, which I did. That was the first piece of
material that I wrote. I guess I was about
twelve or thirteen. I took it into her and she
said, ‘Well, that’s what really happened, so
why don’t you go away and see if you can
add to it and make things up around the story,
rather than it being purely fact’. She advised
me to lose a couple of elements of the story
which weren’t as important and to add some
things that would be really funny. I probably
remember her advice better than she does,
but it was a key moment for me.
What’s your process when writing material,
and where do you find your inspiration?
I suppose it’s a bit clichéd but ‘life’, really. I’m
surrounded by funny people. The kids are
funny, and I’m always hanging around with
funny people - even this cast. We’ve been out
to dinner a few times with Cory, who plays
Max, and he makes me laugh so much. He
tells me stories and I’m like, ‘I’m writing that
down, I could use that’. I like to try and be
open-minded about things. I do find myself in
scrapes sometimes and wonder, ‘Why am I
here? Why have I done this?’, but it’s always
because there’ll be some fun in it.
What kind of shape do you think the UK
comedy scene is in at the moment?
I think there are a lot of brilliant comics at the
top level, but there are also loads of brilliant
comics coming through from comedy clubs.
Me and my brother have a comedy club
business and it’s hard. It doesn’t make any
money, but it’s kind of putting something
back in. It’s what we both wanted to do, and
we’ve discovered loads of great comedians.
Do you both scout for new talent, or do you
leave that to your brother?
He’s a comic as well, but he’s also the
operations manager for the business.
So what career advice would you give to a
raw, hungry, up-and-coming comedian?
I’d say, don’t take any of my work!
I would just say to people, compare yourself
to yourself. Don’t think ‘Why has that guy got
that’, or ‘Why is Michael McIntyre doing so
well?’, or ‘I’m really funny, so why is so-andso doing that gig, not me?’. You know what,
just don’t worry about it. If you’re doing better
now than you were six months ago, then
you’re doing well.
Can you relate to that? Have you ever
compared yourself to other people?
No. From early on, my dad instilled in us,
‘Your horizon becomes your middle distance.
Aim far, and one day you’ll get there and
you’ll get a new aim’. You’re constantly
striving to move forward and make yourself
better. There’s actually no point in comparing
yourself to anybody else. It’s not healthy.
There will always be a Michael McIntyre.
There will always be a Peter Kay. There will
always be a Richard Branson, a Bill Gates and
all of those people. There’s always going to
be someone better than you, but that should
make you strive more.
What's been your worst experience of
being heckled?
Oh horrible, horrible experiences. Horrendous
gigs. There was a guy once where the gig
went so badly he was waiting in the car park
to ask for his money back.
And did you give it him?
No, but it was really awkward. It was like a
really polite mugging.
What's your favourite joke?
I’ve got a routine that I love doing about the
woman in Coventry who put a cat in a bin a
few years ago. It’s one of those stories that
everyone remembers. There’s also a joke I
did on my very first Apollo show: ‘The weather
in Manchester is like the Muslims in Iraq, its
either sunny or Shiite’. What I love about that
is, because of my accent and being a
northerner, people think, ‘Oh, he’s probably a
racist, he’s got that accent’. When you say the
words ‘Muslims in Iraq’, you do see half the
audience thinking, ‘Hey up, where’s this
going?’. In the end, though, it’s just simple
international word play, a bit of a silly pun. You
hear the audience laughing, but you’re also
aware of them breathing a sigh of relief. I like
playing that card a little bit.
You mentioned about your business with
your brother. Will you be popping into that
very well-known comedy club during your
time in Brum?
I think so, yes. We’re there on Broad Street on
Saturday nights. I‘ve played it a couple of
times and I’ve got some other big-name
comics coming to play over the next few
months. I like to keep those as a bit of a
surprise - I guess to reward loyalty. Rather
than put them on general sale and get a load
of people who’ve never been and will
probably never come again, I try to only let
people know who’ve already booked tickets.
It kind of works.
Tell us about the new BBC drama you’ll be
appearing in later this year...
It’s called Ordinary Lives and is written by
Danny Brocklehurst, who’s a brilliant writer.
He did The Driver for the BBC. He also did
Shameless and Clocking Off. It’s very funny
but also quite sad. My character is a guy
who’s about to get sacked and panics. He lies
and says his wife has died, even though she’s
at home and fine. I guess he slightly enjoys
the lie because he gets a lot of sympathy and
attention, which he’s never experienced
before. There’s some comedy and some
obvious drama in the unravelling of the lie, but
it’s just a guy having a midlife crisis and
making it worse for himself. It’s a great cast Michelle Keegan, Mackenzie Crook, Sally
Lindsay, Max Beesley and Jo Joyner - a really
solid cast and it’s really well written. The
producers are either side of making Happy
Valley for the BBC, so they know what they’re
doing too.
Do you consider working on TV a bit of a
breeze in comparison to touring?
It’s certainly easier. Obviously there’s not as
much travelling, there’s nobody staring at you
and nobody’s paid twenty-five-pounds or
whatever on the understanding that you make
them laugh! That said, the immediacy of
stand-up is very attractive. Once you’ve told a
joke, you get a laugh, you know it’s gone well.
With TV, you film the scene and then wait four
months until it’s on the telly to get a reaction.
But it’s always good to have that variety...
I think so. I’d get bored otherwise. With standup you only tour once every couple of years,
so you need something to do for the rest of
the time..
You’ve got Sweeney Todd and The
Producers under your belt. Is there another
big stage role that you’d love to take on?
I’d love to play Javert in Les Miserables. I
don’t know if they’d ever employ a comedian
in that role - but like my dad always points
out, ‘Frank Spencer did Phantom Of The
Opera, so if that can happen, anything can
happen’.
The Producers shows at New Alexandra
Theatre, Birmingham, from Mon 2 to Sat
25 April; Manford’s Comedy Club takes
place at Players Bar, Broad Street,
Birmingham every Saturday evening.
Harriet Walter Interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:17 Page 1
interview
Harriet
Walter
talks about playing Linda
Loman in Arthur Miller classic
With a career embracing stage, TV and film, Dame
Harriet Walter is rightly regarded as one of
Britain’s most versatile and talented actors. What’s
On recently caught up with Harriet to talk about her
role in the RSC's production of Death Of A
Salesman, which opens this month in Stratford...
It’s nine years since you last performed for
the RSC. What does it feel like to return to
the company which has played a huge part
in your career?
I’ve had a loose connection with the RSC
since I was thirty, sometimes spending time
away doing other things, but I just think of it as
another project. I don’t really think of the RSC,
I think of working with Greg Doran and Tony
Sher on an Arthur Miller play. It will be
interesting working on the main stage there.
This will be my first time since the
refurbishment, so that will be exciting.
You’re currently in rehearsal. What do you
think Greg’s direction will bring to this
Arthur Miller classic?
It’s early days and we’re currently going
through Greg’s usual precision of examining
every single layer of the text. You do the first
read-through and you think, ‘This is a great
play’. Then you break it down into little bits
and it’s so much more complex. It’s like
Chekov or Ibsen - there are so many layers
underneath. As actors, we need to know what
they are. Greg gets everybody round the table
so that we all hear the play and get to
understand the whole play and everybody
else’s part, which means that everybody owns
the production - even if you’re only saying a
few lines. That’s a method used
with Shakespeare plays and it really pays off.
There’s no such thing as a ‘bit part player’.
Everybody contributes.
How would you analyse the character of
Linda Loman?
Linda is probably like millions of women of her
time, living through her family and her
husband. She seems to have no ego of her
8 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
own that’s not attached to being a successful
wife and mother. You would call her selfless,
but she’s not a doormat. She’s strong,
controls her feelings and puts her husband
first, even above her children. She doesn’t like
the fact they fight, but she’ll always put her
husband before her boys.
If you were to meet Linda, woman to
woman, what would you tell her?
She’s basically the full-stop of an era of
women’s behaviour which feminism later
questioned. If she’d have been born even ten
years later, she’d probably not behave in the
same way. The whole notion of women having
a destiny of their own, separate from their
families, was not at all widespread then.
Obviously there were lots of exceptions,
individual women who made their mark or did
something special, but Linda’s just like the
majority of women at that time, where her
pride and ego is wrapped up with making a
good home.
What would I tell Linda? I’d have to tell her
about all the discoveries of modern-day
feminism. I’d have to tell her about all the
things I’ve discovered in my lifetime - about
women’s autonomy and women’s rights - but
she’d probably not want to listen. I think if I sat
next to her at a dinner party, she’d regard me
as an alien.
How do the challenges of performing a
modern classic differ from the disciplines
you have to adopt in a Shakespeare play?
They don’t differ that much. When you’re
dealing with a great classic, they have a
universality about them that means you study
the text. Picking the words through, one by
one, and looking for every nuance is what you
do with Shakespeare, and also what you do
with a great classic like this. You’re dealing
with great writers. Great writers who didn’t put
one word in accidentally; writers who thought
through every single phrase. If it doesn’t come
easily to you, then you have to do the same
thing that you would do with a Shakespeare
piece, which is to find a path to what the
playwright originally meant. With a modern
thing that’s a bit more loosely written, or with a
TV or film script, you can sort of say, ‘I don’t
think I’ll say that, I think I’ll say this’, because it
might add a bit more. You can’t do that with
the classics because they meant what they
said. They’re very rock solid, and if they’d
intended something to be clearer, then they’d
have said it. If it remains unclear to us, then it
has to remain unclear to the audience. The
ambiguity has to be preserved.
It’s well documented that you wanted to act
from the age of nine, so what or who
inspired you to become a performer?
It comes up in this play: ‘I’m a younger sibling
and I wanted attention’. The younger brother
seeks attention because it’s the older brother
that matters to the family. I think that’s
something I grew up with, and I recognise the
need to be noticed and listened to. I wasn’t
not listened to or not noticed, but that was my
perception. I hero-worshipped my sister - just
like Happy Loman, the younger brother, heroworships Biff. You have this perception that
you’re playing second fiddle.
Now, as an older actor, what are your views
on the availability of roles for ‘women of a
certain age’?
It’s well documented. We’re all saying it. There
aren’t enough of them. I liken it to musical
Harriet Walter Interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:17 Page 2
chairs; there are fewer and fewer chairs but
the same amount of people trying to chase
them. A lot of people decide to pre-empt that
and stop being an actor, which I think is very
sad. If that’s what you like doing, then you
should be able to do it. It’s not so much the
amount, it’s the quality of the parts. There are
too many cliches about older women. We’re
just as interesting and complex as we were
when we were younger, it’s just that we don’t
tend to be the centre of the play, for lots of
hysterical reasons.
You’re currently performing alongside your
husband, Guy Paul, in Clara Brennan’s
two-hander, Boa, at the Trafalgar Studios.
Why is this such a great role for an older
female actor?
Because she’s not defined by her age but as
a person, and I get to do flashbacks where I
play her when she was younger. She’s an allround human being. She’s not a heroine,
she’s not a manipulater or a cuddly granny any of those cliches you get with female roles.
She’s lots of different things, and the writer
has acknowledged that we’re all kind of
complicated and don’t get less complicated
as we get older. She’s also, dare I say it, still
very much portrayed as sexual, something
you’re not normally allowed to be when
playing older people.
Do you see the recent shift towards actors
like yourself and Maxine Peake performing
some of Shakespeare’s more famous male
characters as a sign that the glass ceiling
is finally beginning to crack?
I think it really is. The classics are infinitely
flexible. You can do them in so many ways.
Death Of A Salesman was done in Beijing,
and it means a lot to them. We transpose
these classic plays to different situations,
different times and bring in different ethnic
characteristics - so why can’t women play
men? I don’t think I’m in favour of changing
the gender of the part. I don’t think we should
be playing Hamletta. I think it should be
women playing men. The main thing is
making Shakespeare work in front of an
audience. A lot of women I know would
become better and better at it as they became
more experienced. In female roles we don’t
have a King Lear that we can climb towards.
With our productions at the Donmar, the
feedback so frequently was ‘I forgot you were
women, I just saw the play’. It should always
be just about the performance. If I can
pretend to be the Empress of Egypt, I can
also pretend to be a Roman soldier. That’s
what acting is.
How do opportunities for a young female
actor starting out today differ from those
available to you, say, forty years ago?
There wasn’t the Hollywood possibility when I
was young. You couldn’t turn into Keira
Knightly. That just didn’t happen. There wasn’t
so much access to an American career and
such a film industry. Now, in one department,
the emphasis is very much on looks - both
young men and young women - and if you’re
not in the particular mould of the Hollywood
star, there isn’t so much opportunity. There’s a
lot going on in TV, and there are lots of parts
for girls there. I think on stage, to really cut
your teeth as a theatre actor, most of the
young women I know - even if they’re the
beautiful, glamourous ones who go to
Hollywood - would give their eye teeth to be
me and to be doing Shakespeare. A lot of
them would love to be doing the classics on
stage, but you can’t practise. We used to
have the whole regional repertory system,
which would extend your training and give a
lot of jobs to people - but as we all know, that
system has shrunk.
Making a career on the back of physical
beauty can be very shortlived, whereas
real talent can stand the test of time...
Of course, there are a lot of lucky people who
are both - very physically beautiful and very
good actors. I think the point is, you soon
discover the ones who really want to go on
and have a lifetime career, and the ones who
see it as a great way to spend the early part of
their lives. Perhaps if they had more examples
like mine, of people who carry on acting
throughout their life, or role models of older
women who carry on doing interesting parts,
then they’d see their future in a different way
and have different aspirations. There’s a lot
more commercial pressure, a lot more agent
pressure than when I was young. It’s very
hard if you’re very beautiful and you want to
be a serious actor. There are lots of agents although there are notable exceptions - who
say ‘Come on, make hay while the sun
shines. Go out there and make a blockbuster
because you’ll make some money, and then
you’ll be able to do anything’. There’s a
certain amount of truth in that. You can come
back to theatre, but if you’re very young and
inexperienced, you do need to practise being
on stage. You can’t just come off the big
screen having never done it. There are very
few exceptions who can do both, but you do
need to have that training and testing ground
that repertory theatre used to provide. It’s a
very different picture to mine. I never stopped
working through my early days. I was always
in fringe companies or regional theatre. I built
up a lot of experience in front of an audience,
which meant that when I was exposed to a
large part on the RSC stage I was kind of
ready.
Looking back, what would you tell your
eighteen-year-old self if you had the
opportunity. What would you have done
differently?
I don’t really know. I’ve never been very
career-minded. I don’t think it’s done me any
harm, but there are some career moves that I
could’ve made which would have made me
more successful.
Your repertoire is vast. Did your career
naturally evolve or did you have a plan?
I work extremely hard. It certainly doesn’t
drop into my lap. I’ve gone to the ‘bird in the
hand’ a lot of the time and not really made a
plan, but I believe that if you do the last job
well... I do try to be as varied as possible. I
think that helps because different jobs will
come from different corners. If you make a
little bit of a start in all of the categories, then
those branches will grow and you have more
choices. I don’t want to grow stale. I
continually want to try new things.
You’ve played some of history’s feistiest
women during your extensive career.
Which role has been the hardest to
master?
Probably Hedda Gabbler because she’s quite
difficult to reach. She’s quite unsympathetic.
Her energy is very internal and she’s quite
eaten up. I found that hard.
How far do you think you’ll have to dig into
your own character to find Linda Loman?
She’s very different to me, but she’s the
person that I might have been had I been
born at that time. She’s not a million miles
away from my mother and mother-in-law, so I
have to think of them. I’m certainly a very loyal
person, but I would step into the breach
more. She keeps quiet and suffers in silence.
Looking back over your career, what do
you class as your greatest achievements?
The things that I’ve found difficult feature
amongst my most memorable achievements.
Cleopatra was a high point, as I never thought
I’d be able to achieve that. And I loved the allfemale stuff at the Donmar. And I love working
on film. I just tend to love the thing I’m doing
next, really.
Some actors speak of the need to genrehop between TV, stage and film in order
not to get bored. Do you relate to that?
I don’t very easily get bored, but I think it’s
more to do with the challenge. I’ve written a
few books because I’ve wondered where I
was going to get more of a challenge from
acting. As I said before, the parts tend to get
less complex, less long, and you’re doing
more back-up parts as you get older.
It actually gets easier in some respects, so
you want to conquer something new. It’s then
that I tend to trip up into writing or something
else to meet my challenges.
You’ve tried your hand at curating with the
Infinite Variety exhibition, which recently
showed at the RST. How was that
experience?
I don’t think I’d do that again. It was a lot of
organising and admin-based work, which isn’t
my strong point, but it was a learning curve.
If you could change one rule in
theatreland, what would it be?
The most important thing for me is to win new
audiences and make it more relevant - and
that’s partly about making seats cheaper and
making it less elitist. I think a lot of companies
are already doing that - well, trying to - but the
economics make it tricky. If it were to be more
widespread, then we’d have much more
interesting programmes because the
audiences would be wider.
Finally, what was your first reaction when
you were offered an DBE?
My first reaction was ‘I’d better turn it down’.
I’m one of those people who questions the
whole honour system, but at the same time I
obviously felt very honoured. I was a bit torn
initially and then took a slightly feminist view
of it. There are so many theatrical knights,
I wanted to bump up the number of dames.
Part of the reason there aren’t more theatrical
dames is that there aren’t the parts for us,
and so it became a slightly feminist thing.
That justified it for me - but in another way,
I felt very honoured that someone had
remembered me. In this profession you can
often feel that you’ve come and gone without
having anything to show for it. So having
that on my list is very nice. I still question the
fairness of the honours system, but I’m glad
to be one of the lucky ones.
Death Of A Salesman shows at Royal
Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, from Thurs 26 March to Sat 2 May
ray coulthard interview online.qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:20 Page 1
interview
“
Talent isn’t to do
with money. All of
the money in the
world won’t make
you a good actor.
”
Ray Coulthard
talks about playing George VI on stage...
ray coulthard interview online.qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:20 Page 2
Following a two-year hiatus from the theatre, during which time he starred as Lord Egerton in TV’s
Mr Selfridge, Ray Coulthard this month returns to the stage to perform opposite Jason Donovan in
Roxana Silbert’s staging of The King’s Speech. What’s On recently caught up with Ray to discuss
the challenges of playing King George VI....
The King’s Speech sees you return to the
stage for the first time in two years. What
drew you to this particular role?
The challenge. I’ve been at home quite a bit,
looking after my five-year-old daughter. My
other half is an actress and she’s been doing
lots of theatre while I’ve been doing lots of
television, so I really wanted to find something
that makes me feel like an actor again - and
this is it. Touring, being on the road and
tackling a part that’s so challenging - it ticks
all of the boxes, really.
What research and preparation goes into
playing someone with a stammer?
You can see quite a lot of George VI on
YouTube, on the Pathe news stuff, so I just
watched lots of that to try and work out when
he stuttered, on which sounds he stuttered
and how he stuttered. Looking at the footage,
together with other research I did, I realised
people tend to stutter on certain sounds
which are formed in certain parts of the
mouth. But George VI, bless him, seemed to
stutter on all of them. To be honest, the
difficulty I found with this part is not how to
stutter but when to stutter. Obviously if I
stuttered too much, we’d have a six-hour play.
It’s finding the moments when he’s
completely debilitated by his stutter, which
tend to be with his public speaking - but there
are lots of clues in the writing. For example,
my character says: ‘I never stutter in the
presence of my wife’ - so there’s one person
you don’t have to stutter with at all. In his
relationship with Lionel Logue he obviously
starts off stuttering, but as the relationship
progresses he stutters less and less. It’s a
very technical exercise.
Is your George distinguishable from Colin
Firth’s?
I know Colin. Interestingly I worked with him
many years ago on The English Patient, where
I played his clerk. I hadn’t seen him for quite a
few years and then, bizarrely, a couple of days
after I was offered this part, I bumped into him
in London and had a good chat with him
about it. They changed quite a lot in the film.
They changed a lot of the script and made it a
much simpler story. It was a lot more domestic
and excluded a lot of the political angle.
There’s a big part of this play that’s basically a
political thriller: the abdication of my brother,
me taking the throne and how that’s going to
work; Wallis Simpson; Hitler and the Nazi
party; the impending war. These are all things
that aren’t concentrated on in the film.
In terms of my own performance, I stutter very
differently to Colin. I guess because it was a
film, they cut a lot of the dialogue and allowed
a lot more stuttering.
I hadn’t seen the film until about a week before
we started rehearsals, and I was very
encouraged by the fact that it was very
different. People who come to see a play, and
who’ve seen the film, will notice a big
difference. Hopefully for the better. What’s
great about the play is that it’s inherently
theatrical, and I think a lot of these elements
had been eliminated for the film. It’s brilliantly
structured, incredibly moving and very
emotionally manipulative but without being
sentimental.
How have you found the experience of
working with Jason?
It’s been really lovely. He’s an incredibly open
and generous man, with very little ego. He’s
done a lot of theatre work in the past but
hasn’t done much in the way of plays, which
is a very different process. He’s stepped up to
that challenge incredibly well.
We met for a drink and a chat a few times
before we started rehearsals and had a look
at the script together. He’s incredibly easy to
work with, and I’m hoping this whole thing is
going to be an equally enjoyable journey for
both of us.
From an actor’s perspective, what’s are
Roxana’s strengths as a director?
We’ve worked together before, and what’s
great with Roxana is her attention to
psychological detail. We’re very different in
the way we work. Whereas she works very
internally, from what’s going on in the head, I
work quite technically and quite physically,
and only then do I find the psychological stuff.
So we sort of challenge each other in our
approaches, which I think works.
Of course, her bag has always been new
plays, and although this isn’t a new play, it
hasn’t been done that much - not like
Shakespeare plays, where you’re constantly
looking for a new approach. With something
like this you have to look at what the intrinsic
story is, what the relationships are and what
you’re feeling in every second, which is what
Roxana is brilliant at.
Where did your journey as an actor begin?
As a kid I was always doing a lot of amateur
stuff and really got the bug for it. I grew up in
Ellesmere Port, up on the Wirral. There were
lots of drama groups around. We did a lot of
drama at school too. I was involved in the
Cheshire Youth Theatre and then went off to
do my A Levels. By the time I was seventeen,
I was directing stuff and touring it around the
county. Then I went off to drama school - I
went to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and had a fantastic time with some great
people. My best friends now are my drama
school buddies. We were very lucky; we had
a great year. Then I went off into theatre and
travelled all around the country. Those were
the days when you could still start off in the
repertory companies and do a lot of theatre,
playing some great roles. I meet people now
who’ve been acting for five years and have
never done a play. I like doing television, but
it’s not a patch on theatre. Theatre’s in my
bones, and I agree with the old adage that
film is a director’s medium, television is a
producer’s medium and theatre is an actor’s
medium. You’ve got to do the groundwork
and, as an actor, the stage is where you cut
your teeth and learn your skills.
Has your career taken any surprising turns,
or has it very much taken the path you
mapped out?
You can’t map it out. If you try to map it out
you’ll go mad - invariably the road doesn’t go
where you want it to go.
I suppose one of the most interesting turns for
me has been that I always play the poshest of
the posh. I’m actually a working class lad
from Ellesmere Port! I grew up in a one-parent
family. My dad died when I was four. I grew up
on the social, lived in a council house and
went to the local comp, which wasn’t the best
comp in the world. Therefore the big thing for
me, I guess, was when Trevor Nunn invited
me to join the ensemble company at the
National back in 1998/9. I think I still had that
slight working-class chip on my shoulder. I
played Vlass in Summerfolk, and I remember
one night, after one of the first performances,
standing and taking a bow in front of a full
house in the Olivier Theatre and thinking,
‘Wow, I never thought they’d let me on here.
How did this happen?’. I guess that gave me
a great sense of achievement. I’d been off
doing massive parts around the country but
to be at the National Theatre, surrounded by
the creme de la creme of British acting, was a
very big thing for me. I let myself belong, so
to speak, and it was a big turning point for my
confidence.
So what’s the biggest misconception about
actors?
I think most people have this image of actors
as being gregarious people, the life and soul
of the party. Actually, in my experience, it’s the
exact opposite. Actors are usually the ones at
the back, having a quiet chat and not getting
involved. For an awful lot of people, acting,
when they find it, is their salvation. It rescues
them. It’s something that they find to take
them out of whatever situation they’re in. I
was from a working-class family in Ellesmere
Port and there weren’t a lot of opportunities.
Acting saved me. It took me away from that. It
gave me opportunities. It took me into a
completely different world, and so I think
there’s a part of an actor which stops them
giving up. I think they feel they owe the
profession a debt, and it’s somehow hard to
walk away from it.
Would you like to use your back story as
inspiration for young people from similar
backgrounds to seek out a career in
acting?
I’d like to, but I realise I was incredibly lucky. I
got into a very good drama school and it was
paid for. I don’t know how people cope with it
these days. We didn’t have any money. We
had nothing. To go to drama school, I had a
subsidence allowance and my fees paid. I feel
really sorry for working-class kids these days,
and I think that’s why acting’s becoming more
and more elitist. The thought of taking on this
massive debt is so daunting. The bottom line
is that it shouldn’t be so expensive. Talent isn’t
to do with money. All of the money in the
world won’t make you a good actor.
What would you like to have in the diary
after The King’s Speech?
I love doing theatre, so hope it continues
along that route. So more of the same, I think.
The King’s Speech shows at The REP,
Birmingham, until Saturday 7 March, and
Malvern Theatre, Worcestershire, from
Monday 27 April to Saturday 2 May
Gary Wilmot Interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:17 Page 1
interview
“
We’ve got to make
them laugh, we’ve got
to make them cry, and
we’ve got to make them
feel something. I think
Rachel’s production will
do just that.
”
Gary
Wilmot
explains why comedy is
a serious business ...
Gary Wilmot Interview (CA).qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:17 Page 2
Having starred in almost as many hit musicals as there are hit musicals, Gary Wilmot continues to
be a firm favourite with Midlands audiences, his recent portrayal of Dame Trott in Jack And The
Beanstalk at Birmingham Hippodrome earning him further critical acclaim.
This month sees Gary return to the region to play Ali Hakim in a new production of Rodgers &
Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. What’s On recently caught up with him to find out more...
As an actor, rather than a song-and-dance
man, what do you find appealing about
playing Aki Hakim in Oklahoma!?
There’s not much song and dance for me
with this one. There’s only one song I sing,
which is more of a song-speak song called
It’s A Scandal. I’m mainly just acting. But it’s
a fantastic character and different from
everyone else on stage. Hakim stands out he’s supposed to be Persian, although we’ve
yet to decide on that. He’s a salesman - a
peddler - who comes into town and peddles
his wares, woos the women and leaves.
Why do you think musicals like Oklahoma!
retain their popularity in the twenty-first
century?
Because they’re complete escapism from
everyday life - when they’re done properly,
which this one is. My main reason for taking
this role was because of the director, Rachel
Kavanaugh, who is extremely brilliant. I know
she’ll get something extra special out of it as
a piece, and out of me as a performer. And I,
in turn, will learn an awful lot. She’s very
good at telling the story. She goes through it
with a fine tooth comb and finds a nuance in
every interaction. It’s real escapism. In this
business, we’re here to massage people’s
emotions. We’ve got to make them laugh,
we’ve got to make them cry, and we’ve got to
make them feel something. I think Rachel’s
production will do just that.
How do you feel a role in a musical differs
as an acting experience from a more
serious, classical role?
Funnily enough, for me it doesn’t differ at all.
A role is a role, and if you feel you can play
the character, it’s immaterial whether he sings
or not. If you can play the character, then you
can sing as that character. Back in the day,
singers would sing and that was the voice
they had. When I’m in character, I tend to find
the voice that the character would have. For
instance, in Me And My Girl, the singing voice
I used was very different to the one I used
when I was playing Carmen Jones, or when I
was in Copacabana. In comparison, the voice
that I used as Fagan was very different from
all three of those. I try to immerse myself in
the character and then find the voice that
they would use. It’s hard on the vocals for the
first few weeks, but once it settles down, it’s
much better and much more interesting to do
it that way.
A lot of the roles that you play are quite
lighthearted. Is there a ‘serious’ actor
within you, straining to get out?
There’s an expression that ‘comedy is a
serious business’ - and it is. You have to take
it all very seriously. I really don’t see there’s
anything different between playing a comedy
or a tragedy. It all has to be believable, and
that’s what you try to achieve. Even tragic
characters aren’t tragic all the time. It’s
different in the result, of course, but you can
only take your own bag of tools into a
rehearsal room. You have to use your own
emotions to interpret what you’re reading on
a page. A character can only be an extension
of yourself.
You’ve been a household name for many
years. What’s the hardest challenge that a
performer has to meet, or the biggest
sacrifice that he has to make, to stay at the
top of the profession?
I don’t know if I’d call it a sacrifice, really. I
suppose there are things that happen that
make it terribly difficult. I’ve been married
three times, and travelling all over the country
isn’t good for family life. It’s tough. Some
people manage, but over the years, I haven’t.
I’m managing it now, though, and it’s
fantastic. I feel sorry for people who’re
married to explorers; somebody who wants
to go to the North Pole, who they don’t see
for six months. My wife’s incredibly
supportive when new projects come up
which may take me away from home. I’d say
that if there’s any fall-out from being in this
business, then that’s it - but I don’t think
sacrifice is the right word to describe it.
Has it become harder to bag the big roles
as you’ve got older?
I’ve never been worried about bagging roles.
I take each role as it comes. If it’s an
interesting role - it doesn’t have to be the
starring role - then I’ll do it. If it’s with a bunch
of really nice people as well, then that can be
more interesting than having a really big role.
It’s a collaborative art and everybody relies
on everybody else, so it’s important to have
that good working relationship with people.
I’ve been in great shows with horrible people,
and I’ve been in horrible shows with great
people. I’d much prefer the latter.
Oklahoma! follows hot on the heels of your
panto role as a Dame at Birmingham
Hippodrome. Has playing a Dame been
everything you expected it to be?
There were a few surprises - but yes, it’s a lot
of what I expected it to be. I don’t know
whether I’ve fallen in love with playing a
Dame, though. Again, I just see it as another
role; a fun role where I can have a laugh, be
creative and be expressive - but then I expect
to do that with every role. I saw a film of
Arthur Askey, who said that when you’re
playing a Dame, the audience “have to know
it’s a man” - and that’s exactly the kind of
Dame I’ve tried to create.
You also spoke about your ‘Christmas
musical’ project. Has that moved forward?
I’m always looking for someone to do it. I
knew when I started writing that to get a
Christmas show into a theatre at Christmas is
a tough thing, because so many venues rely
on the revenue and the popularity of
pantomime. You get a theatre that has a soldout pantomime and it means they can put on
other stuff throughout the year that might be
a little bit more expensive to do - or shows
that don’t make much money. I’m still
pushing and trying to find the right venue.
I’ve been helped a little bit this year by White
Christmas and Elf, who’ve done pre-
pantomime runs and been very successful,
so maybe that’s the way forward. But yes, it’s
all finished and ready to go.
You’re still pretty relaxed about it, though?
There’s no urgency?
No, not really. I’m a writer, but because I don’t
make my living out of it, I’m not quite so
desperate. If I needed to do it to keep the
wolf from the door, then that would be a
different matter. I’ve had a fantastic year,
where my work has just dovetailed - I’ve
hardly finished off doing one show before I’ve
found myself rehearsing another. I’ve been
very lucky. I’m extremely tired and don’t really
have the motivation to give it my full attention
anyway. But who knows, come August, when
Oklahoma finishes, there might be a venue
for it.
If you had to choose one song-and-dance
number as a favourite from your career,
which would you choose?
Mr Bojangles. It’s not from a musical but it’s a
wonderful song and a terrific story. I find it
quite emotional when I sing it. I’ve had good
responses from audiences, too. If I had to get
up tomorrow and sing one song, it would be
that one.
Looking back over your professional
career, what would you say has been the
highlight?
It’s yet to come. I’m always looking for new
stuff. I come in under the radar sometimes
and I’m very, very happy with that. Unlike so
many actors, I’m not sitting at home or
having to work in a bar or ticketing agency.
I’ve been extremely fortunate and I’m happy
to just keep going. When people ask me to
do things, if I feel they’re right for me, then I’ll
do them. Highlight? That’s difficult, because
there are so many good things that I’ve been
involved in.
Without being too modest, are you
surprised that you’re still very much in
demand?
Yeah, I suppose I am. I’ve been doing this for
nearly forty years now, so I guess I must be
doing something right. I try to be as pleasant
as I can but also to get the job done. It’s
tough under certain circumstances to get the
job done properly. I like things to be perfect,
but I don’t think I’d call myself a perfectionist
- I’m not that ruthless. I’m quick to recognise
that there’s more than one way to skin a cat,
and just because I think it’s the right way
doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the only way.
I’ve learned a lot from not being belligerent.
The bottom line is, it’s only showbusiness.
You’re not saving lives.
Oklahoma! shows at Grand Theatre,
Wolverhampton, from Tues 3 to Sat 7
March, and Birmingham Hippodrome,
from Tues 30 June to Sat 4 July.
Cirkopolis for online.qxp_Layout 1 27/02/2015 11:15 Page 2
feature
Cirque
Eloize
bringing contemporary
circus to the Midlands...
WIN
TI
CKETS
whatso
nlive.c
to enter o.uk
The internationally acclaimed Cirque Éloize visits the Midlands this month. Expressing its
innovative nature ‘through theatricality and humanity’, it combines circus arts with music, dance
and theatre in a groundbreaking and original manner.
Simon Harper recently visited France, where Cirque Éloize has been performing, to find out more
about the company and the show...
With its constant focus on artistic research,
Cirque Éloize ranks amongst the leading
contemporary circuses. With ten original
productions to its credit, it’s presented over
four thousand performances in four hundredand-forty cities in forty different countries.
Now, the Canadian-based company, founded
in 1993, is preparing to perform in the UK. It
brings its show Cirkopolis to Birmingham
Hippodrome from 25 to 28 March.
“Cirkopolis is inspired by Fritz Lang’s
legendary film, Metropolis,” explains Samuel
Charlton, one of twelve Cirkopolis artists who
bring the show to life through skills such as
hand to hand, juggling, the German wheel,
banquine and the teeterboard. “It also nods
in the direction of the old industrial world of
Kafka and German Expressionism. It’s an
extremely visual circus show. Yes, the basis of
the show is circus, but a heavy contemporary
dance influence has been brought in by codirector and choreographer Dave St-Pierre.
He’s from a contemporary dance
background, and his influences are very
visible in the show. St-Pierre is known for his
raw style of dance - not necessarily placed
and clean acrobatics, but raw, powerful,
breathtaking work that has the audiences on
the edge of their seats.”
Before becoming a professional circus artist,
Samuel was extremely successful in judo. He
won international competitions and two
consecutive UK national championships.
“I’m an acrobatic base in the show, meaning
my speciality is hand to hand. I work with
another English guy, Reuben Hosler. We’ve
been working together for ten-and-a-half
years. Basically, Reuben does handstands on
my hands, and I’m the base artist that
supports him. He does flips and I catch him.
There are definitely some scary moments for
the performers. There are always risks.”
(insert hand to hand pic)
So how do Samuel and his fellow performers
rehearse and prepare for a show as physical
as Cirkopolis in a way that avoids those risks?
“We start by rehearsing small sections and
piecing them together one by one. We can
work all day and sometimes into the evening
and weekends. With performance shows like
this, getting to know each other is really
important. Seeing how we work together and
learning how we interact is really important. It
helps us build up trust with each other and
improves the professional relationship on and
off stage. That’s important when you’re on the
road with a show. We’re like family to each
other.”
Samuel is one of three talented British artists
in the show. He’s worked on other
productions similar to Cirkopolis, but he
acknowledges that this production is different
to previous ones in which he’s performed.
“As well as the performances, the large
projections fill the back-drop and bring
something different to the show,” he says.
“They allow the production to move from one
sort of universe to another very quickly.
There’s so much variety in Cirkopolis too lots of different types of performance and lots
of circus skills, such as the Chinese pole,
trapeze and cyr wheel, as well as the
disciplines I’m involved in. Ashley Carr,
another British artist in the show (insert pic),
is more of an actor than a dancer. He brings a
lot of comedy to the performance. His scene
is funny but very thoughtful and moving too.
And, of course, there’s a very high standard
of acrobatics throughout. The mixture of all
these things is quite rare.”
One of the most exciting aspects about being
back in the UK for Samuel - and especially
back in the Midlands - is being able to
perform in front of his family. He hails from
Newton Harcourt in Leicestershire, and this
will be the first time that some of his family
have seen him perform professionally since
he left the UK to train overseas. “I’m really
looking forward to family and friends seeing
the show - people who haven't seen me
perform for over ten years. I moved to Paris to
train at the National Circus School before
heading to the National Circus School in
Montreal. For my grandparents, it’ll be the
first time they’ve seen me perform.”
Although Samuel is away from the UK whilst
touring and now resides in Canada, he does
have the added comfort of being able to work
with his wife, Myriam Deraiche (insert pic),
who features as the contortionist in the show.
“Her performance is one of the most beautiful
moments in Cirkopolis. You can hear a pin
drop. The audience sit in silent appreciation, I
guess. There are five male artists on stage
with Myriam, and she doesn’t touch the floor
for the whole duration of the piece. I think UK
audiences will really enjoy this moment in the
production - it seems to be really popular
wherever we perform the show.”
So how does Samuel sum up Cirkopolis in
five words? “Acrobatic, fast, sensitive, funny
and energetic,” he replies without hesitation.
“Very, very energetic!”
Indeed it is. The souvenir brochure asks the
question, “Is Cirkopolis circus? Is it dance? Is
it theatre?”. The truth is, it’s all three - and so
very much more besides. A brilliant night at
the theatre that will leave you wanting to see
more.
Cirque Eloize perform Cirkopolis at
Birmingham Hippodrome from
Wed 25 to Sat 28 March.
Music March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:13 Page 1
Music March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:13 Page 2
Music
Ameriie
The Drum, Birmingham, Sat 28 March
Grammy-nominated soulstress Ameriie makes a
long-awaited return to The Drum with a full live
band and a big back-catalogue.
Her show blends hits from her
thirteen-year career (including
One Thing, Why Don't We Fall
In Love and All I Have) with
brand new material from her
forthcoming album, Bili - a project in which she’s completely
immersed herself.
Steeleye Span
Stafford Gatehouse, Sat 14 March
Since the late 1960s, via incarnations too numerous to mention, Steeleye Span have been preserving and celebrating traditional folk songs in their
own innovative way. They've enjoyed commercial
success along the way, too - their single, All
Around My Hat, reached number three in the
charts in the 1970s, the album going gold.
Traditional musicians who’re honest in their love
and appreciation of the songs and tunes they play,
they return to the Midlands with a show blending
new gems with familiar classics.
Morrissey
Barclaycard Arena (formerly NIA), Birmingham,
Fri 27 March
Revered by many, reviled by others, Morrissey has
been performing and recording as a solo artist
since The Smiths broke up in 1987. His sensitive,
melancholic persona and poetic, literate lyrics
spoke directly to a generation of disaffected young
people in the 1980s, elevating him to the status of
icon and guaranteeing a solid fan base in the
decades which have followed.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, though. In 1992, for
example, he was erroneously reported to be aligning himself with the BNP - and there have been
some pretty acrimonious feuds with his managers,
associates and former colleagues along the way
too.
It’s a measure of his charisma and singular identity
that, despite such controversies, he continues to
attract big audiences to his concerts.
Royal Blood
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Wed 11 March
Forming in 2013, rock duo Royal Blood almost instantly took the music industry by storm.
Not only did they support Arctic Monkeys for two Finsbury Park shows in 2014, their
eponymous debut album was verified by the Official Charts Company as the UK’s fastestselling British rock debut album for three years. Oh, and they’ve impressed Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, too. “Their album has taken the genre up a serious few notches,” says
Jimmy. “It's so refreshing to hear, because they play with the spirit of the things that have
preceded them, but you can hear they're going to take rock into a new realm - if they're
not already doing that. It's music of tremendous quality.”
Foo Fighters, meanwhile, are so impressed that they’ve given the pair supporting slots alongside Iggy Pop - on selected dates during their 2015 UK and US tours.
Duke Special
Henry Tudor House,
Shrewsbury,
Wed 11 March
Although sounding like
a band, Duke Special
is, in fact, just Peter
Wilson - singing and
playing his piano. Resembling Tim Minchin,
with his long dreadlocks, eyeliner and
hobo chic outfits, Peter
presents shows that
are well known for incorporating theatrical
elements of vaudeville.
This twenty-one date
tour is in support of his
new album - Look Out
Machines! - which will
be released next
month in conjunction
with PledgeMusic.
Duke’s Shropshire gig
is taking place in one
of Shrewsbury’s oldest
and most historic buildings. As well as hosting
live music and comedy
shows, Henry Tudor
House is also a highly
rated restaurant.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 133
Music March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:13 Page 3
MARCH LICHFIELD GUILDHALL
Fri 6th March 8.00pm
THE MATT SCHOFIELD
£15.00
BAND
T
Sat 14th March 8.00pm
BEN WATERS
£15.00
T
Sat 28th March 8.00pm
CHRIS HELME
T
£14.00
APRIL LICHFIELD GUILDHALL
Fri 10th April 8.00pm
£16.00
Gordon, Ray, Clive and John
4 PARTS GUITAR
Sun 19th April 8.00pm
MÁIRE NÍ
CHATHASAIGH AND
CHRIS NEWMAN £14.00
Sat 25th April 8.00pm
THE JAR FAMILY
£13.00
MAY LICHFIELD GUILDHALL
Fri 1st & Sat 2nd May
SPRING BEER
FESTIVAL
Sat 9th May 8.00pm
£15.00
PAUL LAMB &
THE KING SNAKES
JUNE LICHFIELD GUILDHALL
25th - 28th June
LICHFIELD
BLUES AND JAZZ
FESTIVAL
Four days of great
Blues and Jazz with..
n
The Blues Band
n Sleaze Bros
n Jay Phelps Quartet
n Tommaso Starace Quartet
n John Etheridge
Organ Trio
n Steve Ajao
n Climax Blues Band
n Nick Dewhurst Band
n Walsall Jazz Orchestra
n Blast Off
For a programme or further information contact:
Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield. WS13 6LU
BOX OFFICE 01543 262223
www.lichfieldarts.org.uk
registered charity no 1156217
14 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Music March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:13 Page 4
Music PREVIEWS
Spandau Ballet
Genting Arena (formerly LG Arena),
Birmingham, Thurs 19 March
“It just keeps getting better and better,” says
Tony Hadley, in talking about the public's reaction to Spandau Ballet's decision to reform. “We’d hoped that we'd be welcomed
back, but what's happened has been completely beyond our expectations.”
Tony really shouldn't be all that surprised that
the boys have been so enthusiastically reembraced. After all, in their time, Spandau
Ballet sold twenty-five million records, had six
multi-platinum albums and twenty-three hit
singles - so it's fair to say the band's got a sizable, if nowadays somewhat older, fanbase.
They visit Birmingham as part of their Soulboys Of The Western World tour.
Lionel Richie
Barclaycard Arena (formerly NIA), Birmingham, Sat 14 March
Boasting in excess of one hundred million album sales, a Golden Globe, numerous Grammy
Awards and the Crystal Award for Humanitarianism, Lionel Richie is a twenty-four carat superstar. This latest concert - All The Hits All Night Long - blends new material with old. Undoubtedly on the playlist will be classics such as Hello, Dancing On The Ceiling and Endless Love,
as well as mega-hits from his Commodore days, like Easy, Brickhouse and Three Times A
Lady.
Richie was recently confirmed for Glastonbury 2015’s ‘legends’ slot, which has previously
been filled by the likes of Dolly Parton, Tony Christie and James Brown
Gypsy Fire
Lichfield Garrick, Staffs, Thurs 19 March
Combining breathtaking musical virtuosity
and sheer dynamics, this highly rated jazz
quartet have pushed the boundaries by
showing what can be achieved on purely
acoustic instruments. Comprising two
acoustic guitarists, a jazz violinist and a double bassist, Gypsy Fire perform with real passion and skill. Although the quartet formed a
relatively short time ago, in 2010, their CV already features a performance at the Royal Albert Hall (as part of Late Night Jazz).
Tam de Villers Quartet
Marika Hackman
The Hive, Shrewsbury, Sat 14 March
The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 25
March; The Rainbow Venues, Birmingham,
Thurs 26 March
If you want to know what you’re signing up to
when you attend a concert by this talented
quartet, the following explanation from the
ensemble’s official website may be of help:
‘What starts out as a jazz piece leads us into
a contrapuntal baroque fantasie, then veers
off into abrasive progressive rock, skimming
past rockabilly twangs before plunging into a
trance-inducing minimalist motif’.
Got it?...
If not, you should just take the plunge and
buy yourself a ticket anyway. Tam and his fellow musicians have been garnering praise
and picking up plaudits like they’re going out
of fashion, so are well worth a look.
They’re here promoting eagerly awaited new
album Panacea, which is being released this
very month.
GoGo Penguin
Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, Fri 13 March
The Matt Schofield Band
Lichfield Guildhall, Staffs, Fri 6 March
“I had some very distinct goals in mind with
this latest collection,” says Matt Schofield of
new album Far As I Can See - in support of
which he’s making this welcome return to
Lichfield. “The goals came from many
places; things I felt I hadn’t fully realised on
previous studio records, my influences old
and new - including musicians I’ve wanted to
work with for years - and a need to keep
growing, pushing myself and represent
where I’m heading now.”
Matt’s latest set of gigs follows his return
from a tour of the US, where his alreadyglowing reputation was further enhanced.
“In Schofield,” stated the LA Times, “the UK
has produced the best blues guitarist from
any country in decades. Head and shoulders
above the herd”.
‘Jazz, techno, hip-hop and dubstep are
glimpsed here, but for all the looping motifs
and dancefloor vibes, this is the work of three
sure-footed improvisers with deep jazz roots.’
So read The Guardian’s recent review of
Manchester-based three-piece GoGo Penguin. The band have received plenty of critical acclaim since they released debut album
Fanfares in 2012. Their 2014 follow-up, v2.0,
was named one of the Barclaycard Mercury
Prize Albums of the Year.
“I was a fan of the nu-folk scene when I was
younger,” says twenty-three-year-old multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Marika Hackman, “but I'm trying to take it somewhere
different - I'm drawn to the darker, melancholic side of things.”
Hackman attended school with famous
model Cara Delevingne - with whom she
used to have a band - and English folk singer
Johnny Flynn, who
produced her
debut single, You
Come Down, and
helped her get her
first record deal,
with Transgressive.
She released her
debut album, We
Slept At Last, in
September last
year, in support of
which comes this
current tour.
The Beat
The Robin, Bilston, Fri 20 March
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.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 15
Music March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:13 Page 5
Music LISTINGS
For full listing information on gigs,
including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
SUN 1 MAR
PAUL CARRACK Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
THE MAVERICKS Symphony Hall, B’ham
STRAY FEATURING DEL
BROMHAM The Robin,
Bilston
THE COAL PORTERS
Kitchen Garden Cafe,
Birmingham
NOTHING BUT THIEVES
The Sunflower Lounge,
Birmingham
SHRAPNEL & BLUDVERA
The Oobleck, B’ham
MCGOLDRICK, MCCUSKER
& DOYLE Mac - Midlands
Art Centre, B’ham
INPUT HAVANA, THE FIX,
THE NATURAL EMOTIONS,
ELLIE POOLE & AMY ELLIS
The Roadhouse, Birmingham
MON 2 MAR
MEGSON Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
TIGERCLUB, BAD GRAMMAR & ENQUIRY The
Flapper, Birmingham
TUE 3 MAR
TINASHE The Institute,
Birmingham
BUDDY WHITTINGTON &
HIS BAND The Robin,
Bilston
GLAMOUR OF THE KILL
The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
BRYAN CORBETT QUARTET
The Jam House, Birmingham
WED 4 MAR
BARBARA DICKSON Birmingham Town Hall
SONGBIRD – THE EVA
CASSIDY STORY New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
RAY QUINN The Robin,
Bilston
GLAMOUR OF THE KILL
The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent
IN THIS MOMENT Wulfrun
Hall, Wolverhampton
JOHN RENBOURN & WIZZ
JONES Kitchen Garden
Cafe, Birmingham
THE VERONICAS The Institute, Birmingham
EDDY MORTON & THE
BUSHBURYS AND SUNJAY
BRAYNE The Red Lion
Folk Club, Birmingham
SOULMANIA The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE CADILLAC THREE The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
STEADY HANDS, BIG TENT
AND THE GYPSY LANTERN
& MELLOW PEACHES
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
Birmingham
JUDITH OWEN The Glee
Club, Birmingham
YELLOWCARD & LESS
THAN JAKE O2 Academy, Birmingham
THE STEVE GIBBONS
BAND The Robin, Bilston
COVES The Sunflower
Lounge, Birmingham
JIM CAUSLEY & LUKAS
DRINKWATER Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
THE COUNTERFEIT SIXTIES TRIBUTE SHOW The
Edge Arts Centre, Much
Wenlock, South Shropshire
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED The Jam House,
Birmingham
HOTTER THAN HELL TRIBUTE TO KISS The
Roadhouse, B’ham
PETER KNIGHT'S
GIGSPANNER mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
FRI 6 MAR
THE SENSATIONAL SIXTIES EXPERIENCE New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
LOS PACAMINOS FEAT
PAUL YOUNG The Robin,
Bilston
HAWKWIND Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton
LIVE & DANGEROUS Tamworth Assembly
Rooms, Staffordshire
JON GOMM The Glee
Club, Birmingham
FIRES THAT DIVIDE O2
Academy, Birmingham
COVENANT The Institute,
Birmingham
MATT SCHOFIELD Lichfield Guildhall, Staffs
MR BEN The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
THE BORN AGAIN BEATLES
The Roadhouse, Birmingham
BRYAN CORBETT QUARTET
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
THE ALBION The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
LISA KNAPP Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South
Shropshire
ROBIN NOLAN TRIO Theatre On The Steps,
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
THUNDEROUS JONES,
SISTER SHOTGUN &
CRAWLIN HANDS The
Flapper, Birmingham
ED SOLO & DEEKLINE
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
THE DARKMESS & VON
KRYSTAL ROKZ Route 44,
Birmingham
GA GA Brew House, Burton-upon-Trent
CLEAN BANDIT O2 Academy, Birmingham
HALESTORM, NOTHING
MORE & WILSON Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
BC CAMPLIGHT Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
GOOD LUCK MOUNTAIN
Kitchen Garden Cafe,
Birmingham
THE QUIREBOYS The
Robin, Bilston
SAT 7 MAR
TUE 10 MAR
THU 5 MAR
THE MEAT LOAF STORY
New Alexandra Theatre,
WOOD MAC Birmingham
Town Hall
STOMP & HOLLER Theatre On The Steps,
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
THE ILLEGAL EAGLES
New Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
KING KING The Robin,
Bilston
GRANT NICHOLAS The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
COLLIE BUDDZ O2 Academy, Birmingham
LITTLE COMETS The Institute, Birmingham
JAWS The Institute,
Birmingham
SOUL & MOTOWN DISCO
Birchmeadow, Broseley,
Shropshire
STARS OF AFRO BEAT The
Drum, Birmingham
AN IRISH NIGHT IN TRIBUTE TO MIKE STANLEY
Lichfield Garrick, Staffs
THE STARS FROM THE
COMMITMENTS Prince Of
Wales Centre, Cannock
ICONIC 80'S The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
TOMMY SCOTT Alfie
Bird’s, Birmingham
THE HANDSOME FAMILY
The Institute, B’ham
MISS HALLIWELL The
Sunflower Lounge,
Birmingham
MOTOWN NIGHT WITH
SHARN ADELA The Place,
Oakengates Theatre,
Shropshire
CRACKED ACTORS Boar's
Head, Kidderminster
INCARCERATE The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
HOLLY THOMAS Symphony Hall, B’ham
HOLLOW PEOPLE, HOPE
FOR RETURN, BIGGER
THAN SEATTLE The Flapper, Birmingham
MR BEN The Jam
House, Birmingham
RUMOURS OF FLEET-
16 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
SUN 8 MAR
KARNATAKA The Robin,
Bilston
JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH
Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
FOZZY The Slade
Rooms, Wolverhampton
ROBIN NOLAN TRIO Henry
Tudor House, Shrewsbury
FLOWERS Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
RICH MCMAHON Kitchen
Garden Cafe, B’ham
TREVOR BURTON The
Roadhouse, B’ham
40 WATT SUN, RUMOUR
CUBES & SUNWOLF The
Flapper, Birmingham
SOUL ACOUSTIC The
Glee Club, Birmingham
MON 9 MAR
LENE LOVICH BAND The
Roadhouse, B’ham
IDLEWILD The Institute,
Birmingham
WEDNESDAY 13 The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
ELEANOR MCEVOY
Kitchen Garden Cafe,
Birmingham
BEN DRUMMOND The
Jam House, B’hamSLAB, BARON GREENBACK, HIBAGON &
WOMEN Scruffy Murphys, Birmingham
WED 11 MAR
ROYAL BLOOD Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
THE GLORIOUS FOOLS
The Robin, Bilston
THE ELO EXPERIENCE
New Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
DUKE SPECIAL Henry
Tudor House, Shrewsbury
LOSTATHOME O2 Academy, Birmingham
GOSPEL CENTRAL The
Jam House, B’ham
NANCY KERR & THE
SWEET VISITOR BAND
The Red Lion Folk Club,
Birmingham
KIM CHURCHILL The
Sunflower Lounge,
Birmingham
CHRIS WOOD New Vic
Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme
NATHAN CARTER Prince
Of Wales Centre, Cannock
THU 12 MAR
THE FUREYS New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
STEEL PANTHER Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
ROOM 94 O2 Academy,
Birmingham
ARCHITECTS & EVERY
TIME I DIE The Institute,
Birmingham
PAUL WELLER Victoria
Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
BENJAMIN YELLOWITZ
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
THE QUIK BEATS The Jam
House, B’ham
PHAROAHE MONCH The
Oobleck, Birmingham
THUNDER & LIGHTNING,
WINTER'S EDGE,
CHEMIKILL & CELESTIAL
WISH The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
SHIVER Hare & Hounds,
Birmingham
FRI 13 MAR
THE ILLEGAL EAGLES
Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre
THE ZOE GREEN BAND
Route 44, Birmingham
THUNDER The Barclaycard Arena, B’ham
MOON SUGAR, SHOOT THE
TOWN, SEMANTICS &
BROTHERS OF CAEDMON
The Actress & Bishop,
Birmingham
ONE NIGHT OF TOM
JONES Crewe Lyceum
GOGO PENGUIN Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
DREAMING OF KATE The
Robin, Bilston
THE CHARLATANS Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
BOB FOX mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
THE QEMISTS O2 Academy, Birmingham
DETROIT SOUL The Jam
House, Birmingham
MUSED The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
MEDLAR Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
MODESTEP O2 Academy, Birmingham
CYMBALS, BATSCH &
FIELD HARMONICS Hare
& Hounds, Birmingham
U2UK The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
TOM GREEN SEPTET Symphony Hall, B’ham
PUPPET REBELLION,
LONGFALLBOOTS, ONE
TON BULLET, BEFORE THE
STORY END The Flapper,
Birmingham
SAT 14 MAR
DETROIT SOUL The Jam
House, Birmingham
BLACK STAR RIDERS Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
JAMES HYPE & ILL PHIL
Alfie Bird’s, B’ham
LIONEL RICHIE The Barclaycard Arena, B’ham
THE STRANGLERS O2
Academy, Birmingham
LEGENDS OF LEGENDS
The Drum, Birmingham
STEELEYE SPAN Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
MARTYR DE MONA O2
Academy, Birmingham
THE BLOCKHEADS The
Robin, Bilston
WINGS OVER ABBEY ROAD
Theatre On The Steps,
Bridgnorth
EUROPE Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
X FACTOR LIVE TOUR
2015 Genting Arena,
Birmingham
BEN WATERS Lichfield
Guildhall, Staffs
ZUN ZUN EGUI The Sunflower Lounge, B’ham
WARD THOMAS The Institute, Birmingham
SUNSET SONS The Institute, Birmingham
KODALINE The Institute,
Birmingham
MAETLOAF The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
HOT RED CHILI PEPPERS
The Roadhouse, B’ham
NFWI - SINGING FOR JOY
FINAL Birmingham Town
Hall
HUEY MORGAN Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
CHARLIE SLOTH, BOY BETTER KNOW, FRISCO, ARTFUL DODGER AND MORE...
The Institute, B’ham
HANNAH WANTS The
Rainbow Venues, Birmingham
THE BLUES BROTHERS EXPERIENCE The Place,
Oakengates Theatre,
Shropshire
MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM
Alfie Bird's, Birmingham
BITTERSWEET REVENGE,
VOODOO SIOUX & VICIOUS NATURE The Asylum, Birmingham
TAM DE VILLIERS The
Hive, Shrewsbury
GUTS FOR GLORY, HIDDEN, LIQUID METAL, NOVACROW Scruffy
Murphys, Birmingham
ANDREAS MOUTSIOULIS
Birmingham Conservatoire
HEADS SOUTH LATIN JAZZ
QUINTET St Mary’s
School, Craven Arms,
Shropshire
RITUALS, NATIVE WRECK
& MARLOES The Flapper,
Birmingham
O’HOOLEY AND TIDOW
Birchmeadow, Broseley,
Shropshire
SUN 15 MAR
NATHAN CARTER Birmingham Town Hall
CARL PALMER, MARTIN
TURNER AND THE
STRAWBS Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton
DUKE SPECIAL The Glee
Club, Birmingham
LAST NIGHT OF THE
SPRING PROMS Symphony Hall, B’ham
CHRIS WOOD Kitchen
Garden Cafe, B’ham
THE CARPET CRAWLERS
The Robin, Bilston
DECIMATE, NO WARNING
SHOT & DAYS OF END The
Flapper, Birmingham
LADIES SING THE BLUES
The Roadhouse, B’ham
MUSIC AND DANCE FROM
AROUND THE WORLD
Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
AARON KEYLOCK The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
MON 16 MAR
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK
FLOYD SHOW Victoria
Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
ANDY JORDAN The Institute, Birmingham
CLOUD CASTLE LAKE
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
TUE 17 MAR
DAN WALSH Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
PAPA ROACH O2 Academy, Birmingham
LONELY THE BRAVE The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
JAMES HOUSE The
Robin, Bilston
EBAN BROWN The Glee
Club, Birmingham
PALMER HILL BAND The
Jam House, B’ham
WED 18 MAR
PLACEBO O2 Academy,
Birmingham
STEVEN WILSON Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
REG MEUROSS & JESS
VINCENT Red Lion Folk
Club, Birmingham
ALABAMA 3 The Robin,
Bilston
DORJE Alfie Bird's, Birmingham
BIG WOLF BAND The Jam
House, Birmingham
HARDCORE SUPERSTAR
The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
NERVANA The Institute,
Birmingham
ONLY SHADOWS & LITTLE
DYNAMITE Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
THU 19 MAR
PALOMA FAITH The Barclaycard Arena, B’ham
SPANDAU BALLET
Genting Arena, B’ham
GYPSY FIRE Lichfield
Garrick, Staffs
THE REALLY HOT CHILI
PEPPERS The Robin, Bilston
Music March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:13 Page 6
FLATBUSH ZOMBIES &
THE UNDERACHIEVERS
The Institute, B’ham
MAD DOG MCREA Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
TRAGEDY The Oobleck,
Birmingham
DR HOOK FEATURING RAY
SAWYER Victoria Hall,
Stoke-on-Trent
KINGSLAND ROAD The Institute, Birmingham
CRAOBH RUA Kitchen
Garden Cafe, B’ham
KILLING WITH A
VENGEANCE & SWAMP
DONKEY O2 Academy,
Birmingham
NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION Alfie Bird’s,
Birmingham
COLD OCEAN LIES The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
ECHO LAKE Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
CHRIS POOLE & THE
SHADES The Jam
House, Birmingham
THE ED SHEERAN EXPERIENCE The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
ANCHOR DOWN, THE VECTORS, VICTORY LANE &
FEET FIRST UK The
Roadhouse, B’ham
FRI 20 MAR
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK
FLOYD SHOW The Barclaycard Arena, B’ham
LAST ORDER Route 44,
Birmingham
SACK SABBATH &
MEGADETH UK The
Roadhouse, B’ham
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
WARPAINT The Institute,
Birmingham
THE ANSWER The Institute, Birmingham
FANFARE CIOCARLIA
Town Hall, Birmingham
UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE
The Jam House, B’ham
VOULEZ VOUS Lichfield
Garrick, Staffs
P!NK MISS UNDERSTOOD
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
THE BEAT The Robin, Bilston
HOBSONS INLAND SEA
SHANTY SINGERS Ludlow
Assembly Rooms,
South Shropshire
REFLECTION OF SILENCE
The Drum, Birmingham
SING FOR A CAUSE Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
HANG THE BASTARD The
Oobleck, Birmingham
THE SLOW REVOLT Alfie
Bird’s, Birmingham
NATHAN GRISDALE The
Institute, Birmingham
BLACK TONGUE MESSIAH
The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
SAT 21 MAR
UP4 THE DOWNSTROKE
The Jam House, B’ham
KICK UP THE 80'S The
Robin, Bilston
GRETCHEN PETERS Birmingham Town Hall
MIKE PETERS O2 Academy, Birmingham
ANDY BENNETT Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
JIMMY BUCKLEY Festival
Drayton Centre, North
Shropshire
CLARE TEAL Lichfield
Garrick, Staffs
DROP OF LIFE Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
KIRVANA - A TRIBUTE TO
NIRVANA The Slade
Rooms, Wolverhampton
THE WEEKEND ANTHEMS
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
REAL FRIENDS The Asylum, Birmingham
HABITATS The Sunflower
Lounge, Birmingham
ARRIVAL UK - THE NO.1
INTERNATIONAL ABBA
TRIBUTE The Place,
Oakengates Theatre,
Shropshire
DAFT AS PUNK O2 Academy, Birmingham
ZO, SY SMITH & CARMEN
RODGERS The Institute,
Birmingham
THE LITTLE UNSAID Ort
Cafe, Birmingham
THE SEX PISTOLS EXPERIENCE The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
HIGHER ON MAIDEN
Route 44, Birmingham
TROY REDFERN WITH
JACK BRETT AND FRIENDS
TREV ROWLEY & PAUL
HARRISON Ludlow Brewing Company, Shropshire
ALLUSONDRUGS & KALEIDOSCOPE The Flapper,
Birmingham
SUN 22 MAR
SAM SMITH Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
TRUST FUND,
SQUEAKEASY & OKINAWA
PICTURE SHOW Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
THE FUREYS Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
DROPKICK MURPHYS O2
Academy, Birmingham
SETH LAKEMAN The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
PURLING HISS The
Oobleck, Birmingham
JIM MORAY The Hive,
Shrewsbury
LUCY WARD Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
MON 23 MAR
SAM SMITH Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
THE SUBWAYS The Institute, Birmingham
KIESZA The Institute,
Birmingham
THE BLACKOUT The Asylum, Birmingham
LOGIC O2 Academy,
Birmingham
TUE 24 MAR
JOAN ARMATRADING Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
CHUCK RAGAN AND THE
CAMARADERIE The Institute, Birmingham
OYSTERBAND The Robin,
Bilston
USHER The Barclaycard
Arena, Birmingham
THE GLAMOPHONES The
Jam House, B’ham
SHE MAKES WAR Ort
Cafe, Birmingham
WED 25 MAR
THAT'LL BE THE DAY Theatre Severn, Shrews-
bury
JOAN ARMATRADING
Birmingham Town Hall
TRAIN The Barclaycard
Arena, Birmingham
LOTTE MULLAN & JAZZ
MORLEY Hare &
Hounds, B’ham
GUN The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
THE CORONAS O2 Academy, Birmingham
ALEXANDER O'NEAL The
Jam House, B’ham
PETE COE The Red Lion
Folk Club, Birmingham
LUCY ROSE The Institute,
Birmingham
THE MARRAKESH EXPRESS Kitchen Garden
Cafe, Birmingham
BRIDIE JACKSON AND THE
ARBOUR The Robin, Bilston
MARIKA HACKMAN The
Sugarmill, Stoke-onTrent
THE BONFIRE RADICALS
Ort Cafe, Birmingham
ALLUSONDRUGS The Underground, Stoke-onTrent
CHIC FEATURING NILE
RODGERS O2 Academy,
Birmingham
THU 26 MAR
THE RAMONAS The Institute, Birmingham
PINK FAIRIES The Robin,
Bilston
DENNIS GREAVES & MARK
FELTHAM Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
FUSE ODG The Institute,
Birmingham
BLUE Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
DEL CAMINO The Jam
House, Birmingham
DR HOOK FEATURING RAY
SAWYER Wulfrun Hall,
Wolverhampton
DUTCH UNCLES The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
WALKING ON CARS &
PORTA ISLA O2 Academy, B’ham
THE VERY WORST OF THE
TIGER LILLIES Lichfield
Garrick, Staffs
NEW STREET ADVENTURE
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
MARIKA HACKMAN The
Rainbow Venues, Birmingham
ANDREW MONTGOMERY
Alfie Bird’s, Birmingham
BIG BOY BLOATER The
Roadhouse, Birmingham
FRI 27 MAR
FRED ZEPPELIN The
Robin, Bilston
CARA DILLON Birmingham Town Hall
THE BLUES BROTHERS EXPERIENCE Lichfield Garrick, Staffs
THE SUBTERRANEANS
The Jam House, Birmingham
FOUR YEAR STRONG O2
Academy, Birmingham
GUNS VS ROSES The
Roadhouse, Birmingham
RICK WAKEMAN Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
HOODIE ALLEN The Institute, Birmingham
MORRISSEY The Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
REN HARVIEU The Glee
Club, Birmingham
SCROOBIUS PIP Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
MIC LOWRY The Institute, Birmingham
KILL IT KID The Slade
Rooms, Wolverhampton
ERRORS & UBRE BLANCA
The Rainbow Venues,
B’ham
THE MODFATHERS - TRIBUTE TO PAUL WELLER
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
STOMP AND HOLLER
Brewhouse, Burtonupon-Trent
PROJECT JAM SANDWICH
SpArc Theatre, Bishops
Castle, Shropshire
MEME DETROIT, TRUEHEIGHTS, BURN DOWN
RYDELL, GEM & CHASING
DEER O2 Academy,
Birmingham
ROMARE Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
KARAKORUM The Actress
& Bishop, Birmingham
SOUL DUO VELVET Bar
Opus, Birmingham
STOP STOP & VOODOO
SIOUX Route 44, Birmingham
NOBLE/SANDERS/BANNER
Fri 27 Mar, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
p
SAT 28 MAR
THE SUBTERRANEANS
The Jam House, Birmingham
MAZ MIZTRENKO Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
ROBIN TROWER &
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
Birmingham Town Hall
SOLEY MOURNING &
HIGHTALE The Slade
Rooms, Wolverhampton
CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN The Institute,
Birmingham
FLEETWOOD BAC The
Robin, Bilston
THE COUNTERFEIT
STONES Lichfield Garrick, Staffs
CHRIS HELME (THE SEAHORSES) Lichfield Guildhall, Staffs
MCBUSTED The Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham
GERRY CROSS THE
MERSEY Tamworth Assembly Rooms, Staffs
FYFE The Sunflower
Lounge, Birmingham
ULTRA 90S The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
GUNS 2 ROSES The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
THE WORLD OF PANDORA
O2 Academy, B’ham
AMERIIE The Drum,
Birmingham
GA GA Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, Shropshire
SOULED OUT 2 FUNK The
Roadhouse, Birmingham
DJ PIERRE Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
THE BAD FLOWERS The
Institute, Birmingham
HOT WAX The Institute,
Birmingham
IVOR & LYN'S CLASSIC
ROCK DISCO Route 44,
Birmingham
THE FURROW COLLECTIVE
Mac - Midlands Arts
Centre, Birmingham
SUN 29 MAR
MCBUSTED The Barclaycard Arena, B’ham
GORDON CAMPBELL BIG
BAND Birmingham Town
Hall
HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW
The Oobleck, B’ham
HUE AND CRY The Robin,
Bilston
POP FACTOR Lichfield
Garrick, Staffs
RAYMOND FROGGATT The
Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
DENNIS GREAVES & MARK
FELTHAM Henry Tudor
House, Shrewsbury
BARS AND MELODY O2
Academy, Birmingham
RANG BARSE - A RAIN OF
COLOUR The Drum,
Birmingham
PAT MCMANUS BAND
Route 44, Birmingham
MON 30 MAR
SIMPLE MINDS Victoria
Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
AXIS OF The Slade
Rooms, Wolverhampton
TUE 31 MAR
GLEE CHOIRS CONCERT I'M STILL STANDING
Wolverhampton Grand
Theatre
SIMPLE MINDS De Montfort Hall, Leicester
WOLF ALICE The Institute, Birmingham
DR HOOK FEATURING RAY
SAWYER Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Music Venues Box Office Across The Midlands
Birmingham
02 ACADEMY
0121 622 8250
THE ACTRESS & BISHOP
0121 236 7426
ADRIAN BOULT HALL
0121 331 5901
THE ASYLUM
0121 233 1109
THE BARBER INSTITUTE
0121 414 7333
BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL
0121 780 3333
CBSO CENTRE
0121 780 3333
FLAPPER 0121 236 2421
THE GLEE CLUB
0871 472 0400
HARE & HOUNDS
0121 444 2081
THE INSTITUTE
0121 643 0428
IRISH CENTRE
0121 622 2314
THE JAM HOUSE
0121 200 3030
THE KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE
0121 443 4725
GENTING ARENA
0844 338 8000
BARCLAYCARD ARENA
0844 338 8000
THE RAINBOW
0121 772 8174
RED LION FOLK CLUB
0121472 4253
THE ROADHOUSE
0121 246 2273
ROUTE 44
0121 708 0108
SYMPHONY HALL
0121 780 3333
THE VICTORIA
0121 633 9439
Staffordshire
THE YARDBIRD
0121 212 2524
FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE, LEEK
01538 386112
Black Country
CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON
0870 320 7000
DUDLEY CONCERT HALL
01384 815577
FOREST ARTS CENTRE
0845 111 2898
NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE
01902 572090
ROBIN 2, BILSTON
01902 401211
SLADE ROOMS
WOLVERHAMPTON
LICHFIELD GUILDHALL
01543 262223
THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY
STOKE-ON-TRENT
01159 454 593
TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS
01827 709618
VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY
0870 060 6649
STAFFORD GATEHOUSE
01785 254653
0870 320 7000
Warwickshire
STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL
01384 812812
WULFRUN HALL,
WOLVERHAMPTON
THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON
01926 311311
0870 320 7000
THE KASBAH, COVENTRY
024 7655 4473
NAILCOTE HALL,
BERKSWELL
02476 46 6174
Shropshire
BIRCHMEADOW, BROSELEY
01952 882210
THE BUTTERMARKET,
SHREWSBURY
01743 355055
THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE,
MUCH WENLOCK
01952 728911
HENRY TUDOR HOUSE
SHREWSBURY
01743 361666
THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY
01743 234970
LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS
01584 878141
THEATRE SEVERN,
SHREWSBURY 01743 281281
THE PLACE, OAKENGATES,
TELFORD 01952 382382
WEM TOWN HALL
01939 232299
STRATFORD CIVIC HALL
01789 207100
THE TIN MUSIC & ARTS,
COVENTRY
0247 655 9958
Worcestershire
ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE
01527 577330
HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN
THEATRE 01905 611427
MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER
01905 613336
THE RIVER ROOMS,
STOURBRIDGE
01384 397177
For additional information
and to find out What’s On
at these venues.
Visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17
Classical March Region two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:11 Page 1
18 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Classical March Region two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:11 Page 2
Classical Music PREVIEWS
Tesla String Quartet
The Barber Institute, Birmingham,
Fri 20 March
Comprising Ross Snyder and Michelle Lie
on violins, Edwin Kaplan on viola and Serafim Smigelskiy on cello, the Tesla String
Quartet formed at New York’s Juilliard
School in 2008 and quickly established
themselves as one of the most promising
young ensembles in the city. Winners of
numerous awards - including the Gold
Medal at the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition - and prizewinners
in both the London and Bordeaux International String Quartet Competitions, Tesla
this month visit the Midlands to perform
the following: Schubert’s String Quartet in
C minor, D 703, Quartettsatz; Linus
Köhring’s 7 Aphorismen; Mendelssohn
String Quartet in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2.
Welsh National Opera featuring Lesley Garrett
Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 4 - Sat 7 March
Founded in Cardiff in 1943, Welsh National Opera (WNO) is a regular visitor to the Midlands,
presenting seasons of work at the Birmingham Hippodrome. The company is committed to producing operas which are extremely accessible for its audiences, whether they be opera-going
regulars or people attending a performance for the very first time.
WNO’s latest Birmingham visit sees the company presenting three works...
Legendary soprano Lesley Garrett stars in Chorus! (Wed 4 March), a fully staged extravaganza
featuring some of opera's greatest moments. Scenes from Il trovatore, Madam Butterfly, The
Pirates Of Penzance and Peter Grimes are all included.
Dominic Cooke’s version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Thurs 5 to Fri 6 March), meanwhile, benefits from some truly surreal staging, and features an angry lobster, a newspaper-reading lion
and a fish that’s also a bicycle.
Last but certainly not least in this imaginative spring season is a hugely inventive version of
Humperdinck’s Hansel And Gretel (Sat 7 March) that revels in the story’s most deliciously sinister moments. The production is directed by Richard Jones.
Rigoletto
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 6 March
Verdi’s tragic tale of misunderstanding,
revenge and sacrifice is here performed by
the Russian State Ballet and Opera House,
accompanied by a thirty-piece live orchestra.
Widely regarded as one of the Italian composer’s finest works, this opera in three
acts centres on a hunchbacked court
jester (Rigoletto), his beautiful daughter
Gilda and the Duke of Mantua, whom he
serves.
Rigoletto will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Birmingham Festival
Choral Society
Elgar Concert Hall, University of
Birmingham, Sat 21 March
Thallein at Frontiers
Frontiers Festival
Various locations, Birmingham, Mon 16 - Fri 27 March
A two-week celebration of bold new music, this Birmingham Conservatoire-led initiative features a packed programme of cutting-edge performances and exhibitions.
Taking place at various venues across the city - including the Library of Birmingham and Cafe
Ort - the festival also provides a platform for some of the most exciting young talent in contemporary music.
Highlights of the 2015 festival include a rare UK outing by French ensemble Court-Circuit.
Founded more than twenty years ago by Phillippe Hurel and Pierre Andre Valade, the ensemble is held in high regard for its risk-taking approach to classical music.
Jonathan Harvey’s seminal From Silence also features, as does Gerard Grisey’s Le temps et
l’ecume and the world premiere of Ed Bennett’s new work for piano and live electronics. There
are also performances by contemporary pianist Xenia Pestova, the experimental and energetic
Decibel Ensemble, and Birmingham Conservatoire’s own Thallein Ensemble.
Bob Chilcott’s epic Circlesong is the highlight of this special concert reflecting the
circle of life. Written for two choirs, a wide
variety of percussion instruments and two
pianos, Circlesong received its premiere at
the city’s Adrian Boult Hall in 2004.
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Ben van Tienan’s Find My Way and works by Maxwell
Davies and Gerald Finzi also feature in this
mouthwatering programme. The concert
sees the Birmingham Festival Choral Society performing alongside CBSO Young
Voices and Atherstone Choral Society.
Bob Chilcott
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 19
Classical March Region two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:11 Page 3
Classical Music PREVIEWS
Carducci String Quartet
The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury, Sun 8 March
Performing more than ninety international
concerts each year, Carducci is regarded
as one of the most successful string quartets in the business. The Washington Post
described their playing in a recent concert
as displaying 'a deep and almost familial
sense of unity... full of life and vitality...
extravagantly beautiful...'
Featuring Matthew Denton and Michael
Fleming on violins, Eoin Schmidt-Martin on
viola and Emma Denton on cello, the quartet this month visit the region to perform
Journeys To Enlightenment as part of the
Shropshire Music Trust 2015 season. A
musical journey comprising Elgar’s Quartet, Shostakovich’s Quartet No1 and
Beethoven’s Quartet Op18 No6, this Lion
Hotel concert is the first of three Carducci
visits to the county this spring. The quartet
will return to play Maidment Hall at
Shrewsbury School on 12 April and Concord College on 10 May.
European Union Chamber Orchestra
Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 6 March
Boasting, as it does, some of Europe’s finest young professional players, the European Union
Chamber Orchestra (EUCO) is seen as the musical ambassador for the European Union.
Since its formation in 1981, the orchestra has toured extensively, both across Europe and further afield, along the way performing with a wealth of distinguished classical artists, including
Nicola Benedetti, Julian Lloyd Webber, Alina Ibragimova and Emma Johnson.
This Staffordshire concert sees the EUCO joined by acclaimed Russian pianist Nikolai Demidenko, with Hans-Peter Hofmann conducting. Audiences can expect first-class renditions of
Handel’s Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba, Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, Mozart’s Piano Concerto
No.12, Bach’s Piano Concerto in F minor and Haydn’s Symphony No.59 (Fire).
Classical LISTINGS
For full listing information on classical
concerts, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
HANDEL'S HERCULES Sun
1 Mar, Birmingham
Town Hall
BEETHOVEN: A
MARATHON Sun 1 Mar,
Birmingham Conservatoire
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT - THOMAS TROTTER
Mon 2 Mar, Birmingham
Town Hall
HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC PLAY BEETHOVEN
AND DVORAK Tue 3 Mar,
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
RACHEL BARTON PINE
Programme includes
works by JS Bach,
Mohammed Fairouz,
Earl Maneein & Paganini, Tue 3 Mar, Adrian
Boult Hall, Birmingham
CHORUS! Soprano Lesley Garrett leads the
Welsh National Opera
in an extravaganza of
some of the greatest
moments in opera, Wed
4 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
COLLABRO English musical theatre boy band
who wowed the
Britain's Got Talent
judges & viewers with
their renditions of classic tracks, Thurs 5 Mar,
Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
CBSO: JANACEK'S
GLAGOLITIC MASS Featuring Luba
Orgonášová, soprano;
Sarah Connolly, mezzoSoprano; John Daszak
tenor; Clive Bayley.
bass & Thomas Trotter,
organ. Programme
includes works by
Berlioz & Janacek,
Thurs 5 Mar, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
PETER EDWARDS TRIO
Thurs 5 Mar, Bramall
Music Building, B’ham
THE MAGIC FLUTE Welsh
National Opera present
a warm & witty production fusing Mozart's
sublime music with
Dominic Cooke's surreal staging, Thurs 5 - Fri
6 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
CBSO FRIDAY NIGHT
CLASSICS: 21ST CENTURY BLOCKBUSTERS Featuring music from such
films as Gladiator, Sherlock, War Horse, The
Hobbit and many more,
Fri 6 Mar, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
RICHARD & ADAM Fri 6
Mar, Birmingham Town
20 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Hall
EUROPEAN UNION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Featuring conductor HansPeter Hoffman. Programme comprises
Holst's St Paul's Suite;
Haydn's Symphony
No.59; Grieg's Two Elegiac Melodies &
Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat, Fri
6 Mar, Victoria Hall,
Stoke-on-Trent
THE STRING SOUND
Unique and exciting
recital showcasing the
development of the
string family sound,
from early Renaissance
to modern day, Fri 6
Mar, Birmingham Conservatoire
BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE CHORUS WITH
DAVID SAINT Programme includes works
by Durufle, Aston &
Fielden, Fri 6 Mar, St
Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
RIGOLETTO The Russian
State Ballet & Opera
House present Verdi's
tragic tale of misunderstanding, revenge &
sacrifice. Sung in Italian
with English surtitles
and accompanied by a
large live orchestra featuring over thirty musicians, Fri 6 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Welsh National Opera
present Richard Jones'
endlessly inventive production of
Humperdinck's gorgeous opera which revels in the story's more
sinister moments... Sat
7 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
SHREWSBURY CANTATA
CHOIR SING ALONG DAY
Sat 7 Mar, St Chad’s
Church, Shrewsbury
LAST NIGHT OF THE
PROMS Featuring The
Shrewsbury Light
Orchestra, Peter RoadNight (conductor) &
Sheila Thompson
(leader). Medley of
prom music presented
by The West Shrewsbury Hospice Support
Group, Sat 7 Mar, The-
atre Severn, Shrewsbury
KATHERINE JENKINS IN
CONCERT Eagerly anticipated concert from the
record-breaking, multiplatinum-selling mezzosoprano, Sat 7 - Sun 8
Mar, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
CARDUCCI STRING QUARTET: JOURNEYS TO
ENLIGHTENMENT Programme includes works
by Elgar, Shostakovich
& Beethoven, Sun 8
Mar, Lion Hotel,
Shrewsbury
BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Sun
8 Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
IRVING BERLIN - RAGS TO
Katherine Jenkins - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
RITZES Mon 9 Mar,
Birmingham Town Hall
MONDAY SHOWCASE Programme features works
by Prokofiev,
Mendelssohn, Schubert, Poulenc & Mozart,
Mon 9 Mar, Birmingham
Conservatoire
EMERGING DIRECTORS:
SAN GIOVANNI BATISTA
Performed by Alessandro Stradella, Mon 9
Mar, Birmingham Conservatoire
THE SCHUBERT ENSEMBLE Programme comprises Chausson’s
Piano Quartet, Op. 30,
Tue 10 Mar, Adrian
Boult Hall, Birmingham
FRONTIERS: WOLFF AT
80, FINNISSY'S BEATS
Classical March Region two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:11 Page 4
AND HOWARD SKEMPTON
Tue 10 Mar, Birmingham Conservatoire
SHOSTAKOVICH WITH
PETER DONOHOE Featuring Orchestra Of The
Swan. Programme
includes works by
Haydn, Shostakovich &
Mendelssohn, Wed 11
Mar, Birmingham Town
Hall
CBSO BACH AND BRUCKNER Programme comprises Bach’s Violin
Concerto No 1 in A
minor & Symphony No
5, Wed 11 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
LA TRAVIATA LIVE Live
screening of English
National Opera's performance of Verdi's
operatic masterpiece,
Wed 11 Mar, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
CAMERATA SALZBURG
AND NICOLA BENEDETTI
PLAY MOZART Programme includes works
by Schonberg, Mozart
& Bruckner, Thurs 12
Mar, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
CBSO CENTRE STAGE:
BRAHMS' PIANO QUARTET
NO 3 Thurs 12 Mar,
CBSO Centre, B’ham
EMERGING DIRECTORS:
QUARTET FOR THE END OF
TIME Featuring Zhivko
Georgiev, Jack McNeill,
Lucy French & Mark
Pringle, Fri 13 Mar,
Birmingham Conservatoire
SOL3 MIO Featuring
tenor brothers, Pene &
Amitai Pati and their
baritone cousin Moses
Mackey, Fri 13 Mar,
Birmingham Town Hall
ELLEN KENT'S LA TRAVIATA OperaUpClose present the story of a nineteenth century Parisian
courtesan who, dreaming of a better life,
becomes involved with
a man who may finally
make her dreams come
true, Sat 14 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
CBSO BACH AND BRUCKNER Programme comprises Bach’s Violin
Concerto No 1 in A
minor & Symphony No
5, Sat 14 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA -
HOLST'S PLANETS Sun
15 Mar, Bramall Music
Building, Birmingham
FRONTIERS: THE YOUNG
COMPOSERS' PROJECT
CONCERT Sun 15 Mar,
Birmingham Conservatoire
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT - THOMAS TROTTER
Programme includes
works by JS Bach, Ireland, James MacMillan,
Hollins, Torch & Litaize,
Mon 16 Mar, Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
MONDAY SHOWCASE Programme includes works
by Shocker, Bozza, Britten, Debussy &
Beethoven, Mon 16
Mar, Birmingham Conservatoire
THE ROSAMUNDE TRIO
Programme includes
Boulanger’s D'un matin
de printemps; Mozart’s
Piano Trio in G major
K564 & Lalo’s Piano
Trio No.3 in A minor
Op.26, Tue 17 Mar,
Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham
CBSO CENTRE STAGE:
BEETHOVEN AND PENDERECKI STRING TRIOS
Featuring Moritz Pfister,
Catherine Bower and
Eduardo Vassallo. Programme includes Penderecki’s String Trio &
Beethoven’s String Trio
in D, Op 9 No 2, Wed
18 Mar, CBSO Centre,
Birmingham
BEYOND CLASSICAL Wed
18 Mar, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
CBSO RACHMANINOV'S
SECOND SYMPHONY Wed
18 - Thurs 19 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
FORTEPIANO GALA CONCERT Thurs 19 Mar,
Birmingham Conservatoire
THE EBLANA STRING TRIO
Programme comprises
Eugene Ysaye’s Le Chimay & Mozart’s Divertimento in E flat major
K.563, Fri 20 Mar, Birmingham Museum And
Art Gallery
BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE HANDPICKED
ORCHESTRA Programme
includes works by
Vaughan Williams,
Addison & Poulenc, Fri
20 Mar, Adrian Boult
Hall, Birmingham
THE FLUTE & HARP Programme includes works
Sol3 Mio - Birmingham Town Hall
by Mozart, Debussy &
Liszt, Sat 21 Mar, Cornbow Hall, Halesowen
CIRCLESONG See opposite page, Sat 21 Mar,
Bramall Music Building,
Birmingham
ENSEMBLE 360 Featuring
works by Schubert &
Arensky, Mon 23 Mar,
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
LAURA WRIGHT Tue 24
Mar, Bramall Music
Building, Birmingham
PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: SOFIA SARMENTO
- IMAGINARY BORDERS:
ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL
Programme includes
works by John Ireland,
Joao Pedro Oliveira &
new work from Ignatius
Sokol, Benjamin O'Sullivan & Tiago Morais
Morgado, Tue 24 Mar,
Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham
THE MIKADO Birmingham Savoyards' production of one of
Gilbert & Sullivan's
most popular operettas,
Tue 24 - Sat 28 Mar,
The Old Rep Theatre,
Birmingham
CBSO: BRAHMS AND
BEETHOVEN Programme
includes works by
Vaughan Williams &
Beethoven, Wed 25
Mar, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
CBSO: FRIDAY NIGHT
CLASSICS - QUEEN, ROCK
AND SYMPHONIC SPECTACULAR Fri 27 Mar,
Symphony Hall, B’ham
BBC PHILHARMONIC Fri
27 Mar, Victoria Hall,
Stoke-on-Trent
CBSO: HOLST, HAYDN &
BACH Fri 27 Mar, CBSO
Centre, Birmingham
THALLEIN AND INTEGRA
Fri 27 Mar, Adrian Boult
Hall, Birmingham
CANTIONES CHOIR AND
THE BORDERS ORCHESTRA Sat 28 Mar, Holy
Trinity Church,
Oswestry
CBSO BRAHMS AND
BEETHOVEN Programme
includes works by
Vaughan Williams &
Beethoven, Symphony
No 2, Sat 28 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
BIRMINGHAM CHORAL
UNION PERFORM
DANKWORTH AND
HOROVITZ Programme
includes works by John
Dankworth’s The Diamond and the Goose,
Joseph Horovitz’s Horrotorio and Malcolm
Arnoid’s Grand, Grand
Overture, Sat 28 Mar,
The Elgar Concert Hall,
Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM BACH
CHOIR: MAGNIFICAT! Sat
28 Mar, St Philip’s
Cathedral, Birmingham
ENGLISH SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA - MOZART TO
MENDELSSOHN Sun 29
Mar, Bramall Music
Building, Birmingham
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT: THOMAS TROTTER
Programme includes
works by Dupre, J S
Bach, Anderson & Flagler, Mon 30 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
Classical Box Office
ADRIAN BOULT HALL,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 331 5901
CBSO CENTRE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 780 3333
SYMPHONY HALL,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 780 3333
BARBER INSTITUTE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 414 7333
CORNBOW HALL,
HALESOWEN
01384 812814
ST CHAD’S CHURCH,
SHREWSBURY
0121 236 2251
BIRMINGHAM
CONSERVATOIRE
0121 331 5901/2
LION HOTEL, SHREWSBURY
01743 353107
NEW ALEXANDRA
THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM
0844 871 3011
NEW VIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME
01782 717962
ST PHILLIP’S CATHEDRAL,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 262 1840
BIRMINGHAM
HIPPODROME
0844 338 5000
BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL
0121 780 3333
BRAMALL CONCERT HALL,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 414 3344
OLD REP THEATRE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 359 9445
THEATRE SEVERN,
SHREWSBURY
01743 281281
VICTORIA HALL,
STOKE-ON-TRENT
0844 871 7649
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 21
Comedy Mar - Region Two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:24 Page 1
Comedy
Lloyd Langford
Comedy
Box Office
The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford,
Fri 13 March; The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton, Sat 14 March
Delivering his comedy in a laid-back style,
Welsh laughter merchant Lloyd Langford blends
personal anecdotes, memorable one-liners and
topical material to
excellent effect, and
has been described
as ‘one of the
sharpest comedic
minds on the circuit’
and ‘a born banterer’. Television gigs
include The Comedy
Store, Grouchy
Young Men, and
Russell Howard’s
Good News.
John Shuttleworth
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 8 March
Perhaps the most talented man ever to emerge
from the fair steel city of Sheffield, John
Shuttleworth is a raconteur par excellence, an
accomplished musician, and a man who long
ago ascended like one of his own beloved
pigeons into the upper echelons of the showbusiness world. This gig offers the perfect
opportunity for
Midlands-based
lovers of light comedy and understated
but up-to-the-minute
fashions to enjoy an
evening in the company of Mr
Shuttleworth, care of
his creator Graham
Fellows, a one-time
chart buster with the
unforgettable hit
Jilted John.
Dave Spikey
Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton,
Wed 4 March; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent,
Sat 14 March
Dave Spikey is a very funny man, and he’s got
the silverware to prove it! A British Comedy
Award-winner and a Royal Television Society
Award-winner, he was the co-writer of Peter
Kay’s Phoenix Nights
on Channel Four,
and played the
role of Jerry in the
series.
22 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Rich Hall
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 21 March
His official biography somewhat less than modestly describes
American funnyman Rich Hall as ‘a grouchy, deadpan, comic
genius’. It also explains that he ‘quit his job as a hurricane-namer for
the United States meteorological service’ more than two decades
ago - since which time, it’s fair to say, the sun has been smiling
rather warmly on the hugely talented Virginian. With much of his
comedy centring on making fun of life across the pond in his homeland, Rich is perhaps best known for his creation of Otis Lee
Crenshaw, a bourbon-swilling redneck jailbird from Tennessee whose
many wives have all been named Brenda.
Gina Yashere
Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Fri 6 March;
mac, Birmingham, Sat 21 Mar
Gina's latest show comprises what she terms 'all her best bits' - and
there are certainly a fair few of those to appreciate! She's best
known from shows like Mock The Week, and has worked with Lenny
Henry, but a well-received performance on US TV's Last Comic
Standing has taken her career in another direction of late, with plenty of work now coming her
way from across the
pond.
ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE
01527 577330
BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL
0121 780 3333
CIVIC HALL,
WOLVERHAMPTON
0870 320 7000
COURTYARD THEATRE,
HEREFORD
01432 340555
THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM
0121 333 2444
DRUMMONDS BAR,
WORCESTER
01905 28190
THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE,
MUCH WENLOCK
01952 728911
EVESHAM ARTS CENTRE,
WORCESTERSHIRE
01386 446944
FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE,
LEEK, STAFFS
01538 386112
THE GEORGE HOTEL,
BURSLEM, STAFFS
07763301081
THE GLEE CLUB,
BIRMINGHAM
0871 4720400
HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM
0844 844 0044
HUNTINGDON HALL,
WORCESTER,
01905 611427
KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 443 4725
LUDLOW ASSEMBLY
ROOMS
01584 878141
MAC, BIRMINGHAM
0121 446 3232
OAKENGATES THEATRE,
TELFORD
01952 382382
PALACE THEATRE,
REDDITCH
01527 65203
PLAYERS BAR,
BIRMINGHAM
0121 643 6871
THE ROSES THEATRE
TEWKESBURY
01684 295074
ROYAL SPA CENTRE,
LEAMINGTON SPA
01926 334418
SHOWCASE, COVENTRY
0871 220 1000
THE SLADE ROOMS,
WOLVERHAMPTON
0870 320 7000
SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX
0121 704 6962
STAFFORD GATEHOUSE
THEATRE
01785 619080
THEATRE SEVERN,
SHREWSBURY
01743 281281
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
02476 524524
WULFRUN HALL,
WOLVERHAMPTON
0870 320 7000
Comedy Mar - Region Two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:24 Page 2
Comedy LISTINGS
For full listing information on comedy
gigs including times and dates visit
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
ALUN COCHRANE Sun 1
Mar, The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
ONE MAN BREAKING BAD
Mon 2 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
DARA O'BRIAIN Wed 4
Mar, Regent Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent
COUNT ARTHUR STRONG
Wed 4 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
DAVE SPIKEY Wed 4 Mar,
Festival Drayton Centre,
Market Drayton, North
Shropshire
STAND UP FOR THE
HEROES Featuring
Patrick Monahan, Andy
Askins, Geoff Norcott,
Andrew McBurney, Jay
Foreman, Adam
Rushton, Leo Kearse &
Hal Cruttenden, Wed 4
Mar, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
IVAN BRACKENBURY, IAN
D. MONTFORT & LAURA
LEX Thurs 5 Mar,
Bramall Music Building,
Birmingham
JONNY AWSUM, TIM
CLARK, MARVYN
DICKENSON, JACK SHANIK
& LOU CONRAN Thurs 5
Mar, Foxlowe Arts
Centre, Leek, Staffs
KUM-N-AVALOFF Thurs 5
Mar, Stourbridge Town
Hall
HENRY PARKER, NATHAN
CATON, MASAI GRAHAM &
SIMON GIBSON Thurs 5
Mar, The George Hotel,
Lichfield, Staffs
ROMESH RANGANATHAN
& SUZI RUFFELL Fri 6
Mar, The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
GINA YASHERE Fri 6 Mar,
Light House Media
Centre, Wolverhampton
KOJO, NINIA BENJAMIN,
AURIE STYLA & JOHN
SIMMIT Fri 6 Mar, The
Drum, Birmingham
IAIN STIRLING, JOJO
SMITH, IAN MOORE &
JOHN LYNN Fri 6 - Sat 7
Mar, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
BRENDAN RILEY, DANE
BAPTISTE, MARIA
SHEHATA & ALISTAIR
BARRIE Fri 6 - Sat 7 Mar,
Jongleurs Comedy
Club, Birmingham
ADAM STAUNTON, JONNY
AWESOME & EDDY
BRIMSON Sat 7 Mar,
Players Bar, B’ham
ALISTAIR BARRIE, DOUGIE
JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH
Sun 8 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
OMID DJALILI Mon 9
Mar, Victoria Hall,
Stoke-on-Trent
LOUDEEMY SOUP
COMEDY NIGHT Mon 9
Mar, The Blue Orange
Theatre, Birmingham
BARBARA NICE, WILL
DUGGAN, FREDDIE
FARRELL, DEAN MAVROS
& HARRIET DYER Tues 10
Mar, Rose Villa Tavern,
Birmingham
STEWART LEE Wed 11
Mar, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
ONE MAN BREAKING BAD
Wed 11 Mar,
Birmingham Town Hall
TIFF STEVENSON Wed 11
Mar, The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
SALLY-ANNE HAYWARD,
LARA A KING, V G LEE &
MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed
11 Mar, Kitchen Garden
Cafe, Birmingham
GARY LITTLE, DAVE
FULTON AND COMEDY
CAROUSEL WITH ANDY
ROBINSON Thurs 12 Mar,
The Glee Club, B’ham
LLOYD LANGFORD Fri 13
Mar, The Place,
Oakengates Theatre,
Telford, Shropshire
ANGIE MCEVOY, MATT
RUDGE WITH THE NOISE
NEXT DOOR & DAN
NIGHTINGALE Fri 13 Mar,
Jongleurs Comedy
Club, Birmingham
GARY LITTLE, DAVE
Omid Djalili - Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
FULTON, GEORGE ZACH &
COMIC TBC Fri 13 - Sat
14 Mar, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
LLOYD LANGFORD Sat 14
Mar, The Slade Rooms,
Wolverhampton
DAVE SPIKEY Sat 14 Mar,
Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
HELEN LEDERER Sat 14
Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
ANGIE MCEVOY, MATT
RUDGE, THE NOISE NEXT
DOOR & MATT RUDGE Sat
14 Mar, Jongleurs
Comedy Club, B’ham
STAND UP COMEDY
SHOWCASE Wed 18 Mar,
mac, Birmingham
PAUL THORNE, CARL
DONNELLY AND COMEDY
CAROUSEL WITH ANDY
ROBINSON Thurs 19 Mar,
The Glee Club, B’ham
ALAN CARR Thurs 19 Fri 20 Mar, The Place,
Oakengates Theatre,
Telford, Shropshire
PAUL THORNE, CARL
DONNELLY, JOE HEENAN &
STEPHEN GRANT Fri 20
Mar, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
JEREMY HARDY Fri 20
Mar, The Edge Arts
Centre, Much Wenlock,
South Shropshire
JONNY AWSUM, SULLY
SULLIVAN & PAUL PIRIE
Fri 20 Mar, Lichfield
Garrick
TONY HAWKS Fri 20 Mar,
The Glee Club, B’ham
STAND UP COMEDY
SHOWCASE Fri 20 Mar,
mac, Birmingham
BILLY PEARCE Fri 20 Mar,
Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre
JONNY CANDON, ALEX
BOARDMAN, TOM DEACON
& ROBERT WHITE Fri 20 Sat 21 Mar, Jongleurs
Comedy Club, B’ham
RICH HALL Sat 21 Mar,
Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre
GINA YASHERE Sat 21
Mar, mac, Birmingham
JOSH HOWIE, BRYAN
LACEY, NICK DIXON & RAY
PEACOCK Sat 21 Mar,
Players Bar, B’ham
LOL COMEDY CLUB THREE
COMICS & MC DAMION
LARKIN Sat 21 Mar,
Regent Theatre, Stokeon-Trent
PAUL THORNE, CARL
DONNELLY, FREDDIE
FARRELL AND STEPHEN
GRANT Sat 21 Mar, The
Glee Club, Birmingham
FIZZOG 50% FUNNIER
COMEDY SHOW Sat 21
Mar, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
RICHARD HERRING Sun
22 Mar, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
ONE MAN BREAKING BAD
Sun 22 Mar, The
Courtyard, Hereford
CAVE COMEDY RADIO
Tues 24 Mar, The Glee
Club, Birmingham
TIFF STEVENSON, MATT
REED & SPECIAL GUEST
TBC Wed 25 Mar, Henry
Tudor House,
Shrewsbury
ROY CHUBBY BROWN
Thurs 26 Mar, The
Place, Oakengates
Theatre, Telford,
Shropshire
Tom Stade - Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
TOM STADE Thurs 26
Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
PHIL NICHOL PLUS
COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH
ANDY ROBINSON & COMIC
TBC Thurs 26 Mar, The
Glee Club, Birmingham
PHIL NICHOL, JONNY
PELHAM, TIM CLARK &
COMIC TBC Fri 27 Mar
The Glee Club, B’ham
TONY VINO, DYLAN
RHYMER, JONNY EMMET,
JO COFFEY & DANNY
HURST Sat 28 Mar, The
National Brewery
Centre, Burton-onTrent, Staffs
TOMMY RAWSON, ALEX
SMITH & STEVE BUGEJA
Fri 27 Mar, The
Courtyard, Hereford
MATT RICHARDSON,
ADAM BLOOM & MICKEY
D Fri 27 - Sat 28 Mar,
Jongleurs Comedy
Club, Birmingham
ELLIE TAYLOR Sat 28
Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
COMEDY IN THE MET
Sat 28 Mar, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
PHIL NICHOL, JONNY
PELHAM, TIM CLARK &
ANGELA BARNES Sat 28
Mar, The Glee Club,
Birmingham
PAUL MCCAFFERY,
JESSICA FOESTEKEW,
DAN NIGHTINGALE &
JASON COOK Sat 28 Mar,
Players Bar, B’ham
CHRIS TURNER, ADAM
STAUNTON, MICK FERRY
& DAN NIGHTINGALE
Sun 29 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
For more comedy listings, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk 23
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:21 Page 1
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:21 Page 2
Theatre
WIN
TIC
KETS
One Man, Two Guvnors
whatso
nlive
to ente .co.uk
r
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 17 - Sat 21 March
Based on The Servant Of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, this National
Theatre production is directed by Nicholas Hytner and stops off in the
Midlands as part of its biggest-ever UK and Ireland tour.
Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to
Roscoe Crabbe, a small-time East End hood who’s now in Brighton
to collect £6,000 from his fiancée’s dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, who’s been killed by her
boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers.
You keeping up?...
Ex-EastEnders and Extras favourite Shaun Williamson stars.
Top Hat
Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 10 - Sat 21 March
When famous American headliner Jerry Travers arrives in
London to appear in his first West End show, it isn't long
before he meets the irresistible Dale Tremont. Quickly realising that she's the girl of his dreams, Travers determines to
follow her across Europe in a desperate attempt to win her
heart with his wonderful song and dance routines... Irving
Berlin’s celebrated score features such classics numbers as
Cheek To Cheek, Let’s Face The Music And Dance, Isn’t It A
Lovely Day To Be Caught In The Rain and Top Hat, White
Tie & Tails.
Calamity Jane
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 10 - Sat 14 March
WIN
TICK
whatso ETS
nlive.c
o.u
to ente
r
k
Boasting songs such as The Deadwood Stage, Black Hills Of Dakota, Windy
City and Secret Love, Calamity Jane tells the story of the Wild West’s most
notorious female outlaw, along the way offering an all-in combination of music,
comedy, drama and dance.
The famous 1950s film version, starring Doris Day and Howard Keel, remains
one of the best-regarded Hollywood musicals of its era.
This brand new stage show is presented by The Watermill Theatre, an ensemble who already have productions of Sweeney Todd and Sunset Boulevard
under their belt. West End star Jodie Prenger takes the lead role.
Read our interview with Jodie at whatsonlive.co.uk
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 25
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:21 Page 3
NT LIVE: BEHIND THE
BEAUTIFUL FOREVERS
GATEHOUSE THEATRE
Thurs 12 March
15
MARCH
Thurs 5 March, 7.30pm
An Evening With
Gervase Phinn
Tickets: £16.50
7pm, £12.50/£10 concs
A film screening from The National Theatre. Starring Meera Syal
and Directed by Rufus Norris. India is surging with global ambition.
But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a
makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own…
Fri 6 March, 7.30pm
GAGA
20th Anniversary Tour
Tickets: £12.00
CIRCUS OF HORRORS
GATEHOUSE THEATRE
Wed 18 March
Sat 7 March, 2pm
Winter Walkers:
The show that stormed into
the finals of Britain's Got Talent
and is now a West End smash
is back to mark its
20th Anniversary. The latest
incarnation ‘The Night of the
Zombie’ is set in a city ruled
8pm, £21/£19 concs
by the undead in 2020, performed by an almighty cast with a forked tongue firmly in
each cheek and the devil driver rock n’ roll of Dr Haze and
The Interceptors from Hell.
Three Keepers
Tickets: £6.00
Tue 10 - Sat 14
March, 7.30pm,
Sat Mat 2.30pm
Little Theatre Company
TEECHERS
The Lady Killers
THE MET STUDIO
Tickets: £9.00
Thurs 19 Feb & Fri 20 March
Fri 27 March, 7.30pm
Stomp and
Holler
Tickets: £10.00
Thurs 19, 7.30pm, Fri 20th 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £12.50/£11 concs
John Godber’s classic play about three year 11 students at a
struggling comprehensive school is a fast-moving and hilarious
classroom classic! Creating over twenty colourful characters
between them, including disgruntled teachers, unruly students
and obstructive caretakers, they paint a very funny - and touching
- picture of school life.
APRIL
Wed 15 April, 7.30pm
Vamos Theatre
Nursing Lives
Tickets: £10.00
BILLY PEARCE
GATEHOUSE THEATRE
Fri 20 March
Thurs 23 April, 8.00pm
National treasure and without
doubt one of Britain's most talented and best loved comedians
and performers. Multi-award
winner Billy has won just about
7.30pm, £18.50
every comedy award going,
including a British comedy award, solo comedian of the year, and
best television newcomer at the London Palladium.
Jive Aces
THE FUREYS
Tickets: £15.00
Fri 24 April, 8.00pm
Bucket Club:
Lorraine & Alan
GATEHOUSE THEATRE
Tickets: £10.00
Sun 22 March
The Fureys have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 37
years and are responsible for
some of the most stirring music
ever to capture the public imagi7.30pm, £19/£17.50 concs
nation. Their emotive songs stir
many emotions….tears and laughter, sadness and joy. A Fureys
concert is always a night to remember.
MAXINE PEAKE AS HAMLET
GATEHOUSE THEATRE
Mon 23 March
12A
A screening of the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre Production. From its sell-out run at Manchester's Royal Exchange
Theatre comes this unique and critically acclaimed production of
Shakespeare's tragic Hamlet. In this
stripped-back, fresh and fast-paced
version, BAFTA nominee Maxine
Peake creates a Hamlet for now,
giving a performance hailed as "delicately ferocious" by The Guardian
7.30pm, £12.50/£10 concs
and "a milestone Hamlet" by the
Manchester Evening News.
BOOKONLINE
Box Office 01785 619080
www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk
26 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street,
Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1AA
Box office: 01283 508100.
www.brewhouse.co.uk
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 4
Theatre PREVIEWS
Milked
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury,
Tues 17 - Wed 18 March
Producing quality new theatre about the contemporary rural world is the stated mission of
Shropshire-based company Pentabus, who
here present the debut offering from Channel
Four bursary award-winning playwright
Simon Longman.
Featuring the jobless Paul, the directionless
Snowy and a cow called Sandy, Milked
explores the experience of being out of work
in the countryside, reflecting on the way in
which ‘the emptiness can be a safe haven as
well as a dark terror’.
Shrek
Beautiful Thing
The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome,
Mon 30 March - Sat 11 April
Jonathan Harvey’s award-winning play tells
the story of teenager Jamie’s relationship
with his classmate and neighbour, Ste...
Numerous well-known actors have appeared
in Beautiful Thing during its twenty-year history - among them Jonny Lee Miller, Suranne
Jones, Hugh Bonneville, Philip Glennister,
Andrew Garfield and Rhys Ifans - while productions have been mounted in countries
including China, France, Canada, Australia
and Holland.
EastEnders actors Charlie Brooks and
Thomas Law star in this latest version of the
play, and are joined by Sam Thomas from
Channel Four’s hit teen drama, Skins.
Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 31 March - Sun 26 April
The popularity of this family-friendly West End winner of a show hardly comes as a surprise.
After all, Dreamworks’ animated Shrek movies, inspired by cartoonist William Steig's 1990
book, were absolutely huge. It was only ever going to be a matter of time before everybody’s
favourite swamp-residing ogre made a big splash away from the silver screen. After a tentative Broadway start, the production was revised for its subsequent US tour and West End residency - and is all the better for it. Pretty much retelling the story of the first movie, it peddles a
line in humour that calls to mind both the surrealist Pythons and an evening of festive-season
pantomime fare.
There are plenty of new songs to enjoy, too, presented alongside the cult Shrek anthem I’m A
Believer. All in all, then, a feelgood show that pretty much touches all the bases for its young
target audience, while at the same time offering plenty to keep the adults amused.
Half Baked
Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock, Fri 6
March; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Sat 7
March; The Place, Oakengates, Telford,
Shropshire, Tues 10 March
This is a new offering from the Birmingham
Repertory Theatre’s collaboration with the
New Wolsey Theatre, Liverpool Everyman
and Playhouse. The collaboration sees the
theatres working together to create new productions using young theatre makers.
This particular show - described by its producers as a play about ‘unemployment,
uncertain futures and unreliable ovens’ focuses on six teenagers as they prepare for
life beyond the local bakery in which they
work.
Dracula
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Fri 6 - Sat 28 March
Although Bram Stoker's gothic horror story is
best known via innumerable film versions, an
imaginative theatre staging can be just as
spinetingling as anything presented on the
big screen.
And that should certainly be the case with
this particular adaptation of the story,
helmed, as it is, by
Theresa Heskins, a
director renowned for
her theatrical invention.
Spectacular flying
sequences and specially commissioned
music further add to
the mix.
government minister’s dead body at the foot
of a North Lakes mountain all play their part
in this new adaptation of Michael Wood’s
debut novel.
Big Pants And Botox
The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford,
Shropshire, Fri 6 March
Louise Roche was enjoying a Shane Richie
musical in a Milton Keynes theatre when it
occurred to her that maybe she could write
the kind of show she was watching.
“All of my kids were under the age of four at
the time,” recalls Louise, “so I think I saw
writing a play as a way of escaping them!”
Seated evening after evening at her kitchen
table, Louise penned Girls Night, a musical
comedy about five friends enjoying a wild
get-together in a karaoke club. The rest, as
they say, is history.
Roche here brings her penchant for clever
writing to Big Pants And Botox, a onewoman show taking a comic look at what it
means to be female at
fifty. Cutting it
favourite Mary Jo
Randle is the one
woman.
The Fell Walker
Lichfield Garrick, Sat 14 March
Fired Up Theatre are the ensemble behind
this ‘dramatic, fast-paced chiller thriller‘.
Boasting physical theatre, an original music
score and film projection, The Fell Walker is
set in the evocative landscapes of the English Lake District and Scottish Highlands, as
well as the steamy mean streets of Manila.
A local journalist, the nuclear power industry,
top secret information and the discovery of a
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 27
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 5
15+
Fri 13th March
LLOYD LANGFORD
Time: 8.00pm
Sat 14th March
THE BLUES BROTHERS
EXPERIENCE
Time: 7.30pm
Sat 21st March
ABBA BY ARRIVAL UK
Time: 7.30pm
18+
Thurs 26th March
ROY CHUBBY BROWN
Time: 7.30pm
Fri 10th April
16+
SHAPPI KHORSANDI
Time: 8.00pm
Sat 11th April
SHOWADDYWADDY
Time: 7.30pm
Sat 18th April
NATHAN CARTER
Time: 7.30pm
Fri 24th April
DIRTY DUSTING
Time: 7.30pm
Fri 1st & Sat 2nd May
JASPER CARROTT’S
STAND UP AND ROCK
Time: 7.30pm
TWC GP 00943
28 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 6
Theatre PREVIEWS
Secret Diaries
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 20 March
“We work with a range of ages, from four to
one hundred-and-four, and are passionate
about diversity,” says Sarah Evans, Creative
Director of Art With Heart, the company
behind this show. “We love meeting new
people and taking on challenges, especially
when there’s a brew and maybe even some
cake involved.”
The Manchester-based company have certainly been making a name for themselves
since forming in 2010. And they look set to
garner even more plaudits with this touching
tale of teenage angst, set against a sure-tobe-pumping 1980s and ’90s soundtrack.
A View From The Bridge in rehearal
A View From The Bridge
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Tues 24 - Sun 28 March
Casting The Runes
Arthur Miller’s 1955 study of love, jealousy and betrayal is widely considered to be a modern
classic. New York during the 1950s is the setting in which the action unfolds, with longshoreman Eddie Carbone becoming increasingly obsessed with his orphaned niece, Catherine.
When Eddie and his wife welcome two cousins - Marco and Rodolpho, illegal immigrants
from Italy - into their home, Catherine falls for the somewhat effeminate Rodolpho.
The scene is then set for an act of betrayal on Eddie’s part that leads to tragic consequences
- not only for himself but also for his family and the whole community... Michael Brandon
stars. Read our interview with Michael on page 6.
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 7 March
The ghost stories of MR James here make a
welcome return courtesy of Nunkie Theatre
Company’s one-man show.
Robert Lloyd Parry is the fella charged with
the task of making spines tingle as he presents two more chilling tales from James’s
highly regarded canon of knee-trembling
chillers.
Casting The Runes is perhaps best known
for inspiring the classic 1950s horror movie
Night Of The Demon.
The Residence At Whitminster, meanwhile,
sees a dark shadow being cast over the
precinct of a peaceful English church, and is
widely considered to be one of the author’s
most neglected masterpieces.
Stayin’ Alive, Jive Talkin’, Night Fever, If I
Can’t Have You and Tragedy guarantee an
evening of flares-flapping fun for anyone
who’s ever enjoyed the pumping sounds of
the disco dancefloor.
In short, you can expect to find yourself well
and truly, er, Lost In Music...
Oklahoma!
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton,
Tues 3 - Sat 7 March
Set against the backdrop of America’s Western Frontier, Oklahoma! tells the story of farm
girl Laurey and the two rivals for her affections, happy go-lucky cowboy Curly and sinister farmhand Jud.
A classic Rodgers & Hammerstein offering,
the show features some of the twentieth century’s most famous musical theatre numbers,
including Oh What A Beautiful Morning, The
Surrey With The Fringe On Top, People Will
Say We're In Love, I Can’t Say No and, of
course, the title song itself. Gary Wilmot
stars. Read our interview with Gary online at
whatsonlive.co.uk
Back Down
Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton,
Tues 31 March - Wed 1 April
Saturday Night Fever
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham,
Tues 17 - Sat 21 March
Tony Manero knows there has to be more to
life than he’s got - an unremarkable existence
in New York City with family and friends
who’ve accepted their lot and expect him to
do the same.
But there’s fat chance of Tony doing that;
he’s way too busy living his very own American dream, hitting Manhattan’s nightspots
with dancing partner Stephanie Mangano
and strutting his funky stuff...
The mother of all disco shows, Saturday
Night Fever pulsates to the music of the Bee
Gees’ famous soundtrack. Classic hits like
The author of this brand new, coming-of-age
play is Steven Camden, otherwise known as
award-winning performance poet Polarbear.
It tells the story of three pals who decide to
enjoy one final adventure together before
one of them heads off to university.
The adventure in question involves conquering Snowdon, an endeavour that sees them
having to confront not only the challenges
posed by the mountain but also the real reason they needed to make the trip...
A Birmingham Repertory Theatre production
presented in association with Roundhouse.
Gary Wilmot in rehearsals
Robin Hood And His
Merry Men
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury,
Sun 29 March
Now here’s a pantomime with a difference,
taking place, as it is, at Easter! CITV's Chris
Edgerley is the Sherwood Forest-dwelling
handsome hero in this high-energy romp robbing from the rich, giving to the poor and
making life generally unpleasant for the everso-wicked Sheriff of Nottingham.
Expect ‘laugh-a-minute jokes, animated projections and a collection of toe-tapping, original singalong songs for the whole family’.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 29
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 7
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 8
Theatre LISTINGS
For full listing information on theatre
productions, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
From
SUN 1 MAR
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
Christopher Luscombe
directs a new production of Shakespeare's
sparkling comedy, until
Sat 14 Mar, Royal
Shakespeare Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon
LOVE'S LABOUR'S WON
Christopher Luscombe
directs the second of
Shakespeare's matching pair of comedies
that rejoice in man's
capacity to find love in
the most unlikely of
places, until Sat 14 Mar,
Royal Shakespeare
Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon
THE SHOEMAKER'S HOLIDAY Following his
acclaimed RSC debut
in The Merry Wives of
Windsor (2012), Phillip
Breen returns to direct
Dekker's glorious city
comedy of class, conflict and cobblers in
love, Sun 1 - Sat 7 Mar,
The Swan Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon
OPPENHEIMER Angus
Jackson directs Tom
Moreton's new play,
which explores the personal cost of making
history, until Sat 7 Mar,
The Swan Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon
Read the review online
at
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
THE KING'S SPEECH
Jason Donovan & Raymond Coulthard star in
a new staging of the
story of one man's
struggle to overcome
his personal affliction
and, in his country's
darkest hour, deliver a
radio broadcast
designed to inspire his
people across the
globe, until Sat 7 Mar,
The REP, Birmingham
JANE EYRE Blue Orange
Arts presents Charlotte
Bronte's classic tale of
a young woman's
courageous fight
through injustice and
hardship, until Sat 7
Mar, The Blue Orange
Theatre, Birmingham
BACK DOWN Highlyanticipated first play by
Birmingham-born
Steven Camden, more
commonly known as
award-winning performance poet Polarbear,
until Sat 7 Mar, The
REP, Birmingham
THE TEMPEST Crescent
Theatre present Shakespeare's magical tale,
until Sat 14 Mar, Crescent Theatre, B’ham
HALFWAY TO PARADISE THE BILLY FURY STORY
Musical which charts
the rise to fame of a
shy young boy from
Liverpool who became
one of Britain's bestloved rock stars. Timeless hits featured in the
show include I Will,
Jealousy, It's Only Make
Believe and, of course,
Halfway To Paradise,
Sun 1 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
NICOBOBINUS Red Ladder & DumbWise present Terry Jones' adventurous family musical a much-loved children's
tale about the boy 'who
could do anything', Sun
1 Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
CHUCKLES OF OZ New
version of the familiar
Wizard Of Oz story
from popular children's
entertainment duo, The
Chuckle Brothers, Sun
1 Mar, New Alexandra
Theatre, Birmingham
... AND THIS IS MY
FRIEND MR LAUREL Finishing Touch Company
present a one-man play
about the life of comedian Stan Laurel. This is
a humorous and touching look at one of the
great cinematic partnerships of the last century, Sun 1 Mar, Crescent
Theatre, Birmingham
THE SNAIL AND THE
WHALE Tall Stories present their latest collaboration with Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler,
Sun 1 - Mon 2 Mar, The
Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford
DIRTY WHITE BOYS VS
PLANET EARTH Sketch
duo Dirty White Boys
take to the stage to
present a preview performance of their debut
comedy show in which
they take on Planet
Earth, Mon 2 Mar, Crescent Theatre, B’ham
OKLAHOMA New touring
production of Rodgers
& Hammerstein's
Pulitzer Prize-winning
musical, starring Gary
Wilmot as Ali Hakim,
Belinda Lang as Aunt
Eller, Ashley Day as
Curly & Nic Greenshields as Jud Fry, Tue
3 - Sat 7 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre Read the interview
with Gary Wilmot online
at whatsonlive.co.uk
SEX IN SUBURBIA Clare
Sweeney stars in a new
comedy about dating,
men and finding Mr
Right, Tue 3 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
NURSING LIVES A fullmask theatre production alive with visual
inventiveness, evocative music and song,
physical theatre and
1940s dance
sequences, Tue 3 -
Wed 4 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
AN AUDIENCE WITH DES
O'CONNOR Tue 3 Mar,
Solihull Arts Complex
BEDLAM Birmingham
Ormiston Academy's
Year Twelve Actors
present four classic
texts: Marat/Beth and
Oedipus (Wed & Fri at
2.30pm), King Lear and
Coriolanus (Thurs & Fri
at 7.30pm), Wed 4 - Fri
6 Mar, The Old Rep
Theatre, Birmingham
WOMEN ON TOP World
premiere. From the creators of Doreen comes
a brand new satire...
Thurs 5 Mar, Lichfield
Garrick
DONNA DISCO Chicken
Pox Fox Productions
present a show for anyone who ever thought
that being fourteen was
easy, Thurs 5 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
TRICITY VOGUE’S
UKULELE CABARET
Charming, cheeky and
surprising entertainment from three of the
UK’s finest cabaret &
musical comedy stars,
Thurs 5 Mar, Leintwardine Community Centre, North Shropshire
AN EVENING WITH GERVASE PHINN Thurs 5
Mar, Brewhouse Arts
Centre, Burton-uponTrent, Staffs
MAKE IT HAPPEN Comedian Barbara Nice present an all-female variety
show for International
Women’s Week, Thurs
5 Mar, Newhampton
Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
THE MAGIC FLUTE Welsh
National Opera present
a warm and witty production which fuses
Mozart's sublime music
with Dominic Cooke's
surreal staging, Thurs 5
- Fri 6 March, Birmingham Hippodrome
BILLY YOUNG: A LIFE ON
DEATH ROW Set in Alabama, Texas, A Life On
Death Row tells the
story of a man who
made a mistake in
order to protect the son
he loves. Presented by
Lying Lips Theatre
Company, Thurs 5 - Sat
7 Mar, Old Joint Stock
Theatre, Birmingham
CIRQUE BERSERK Fusion
of circus skills and
stunt action in a danger-filled spectacle that
promises to amaze
audiences of all ages,
Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Mar,
Regent Theatre, Stokeon-Trent
ME AND MY GIRL Amateur production of Noel
Gay’s much-loved
musical, performed by
Kidderminster Operatic
& Dramatic Society,
Thurs 5 - Sat 14 Mar,
Roses Theatre, Kidderminster
TRICITY VOGUE’S
UKULELE CABARET
Charming, cheeky and
surprising entertainment from three of the
UK’s finest cabaret &
Nursing Lives - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
musical comedy stars,
Fri 6 Mar, Little Wenlock
Village Hall, Nr Telford,
Shropshire
BIG PANTS AND BOTOX
Mary Jo Randle - star of
TV’s The Bill and Cutting It - takes audiences
on a hilarious, intriguing, touching but ultimately uplifting journey
with the loveable Barbara, who’s weighing
up the benefits of big
pants & botox, Fri 6
Mar, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford
FOGHORN FUNNIES
Described as ‘an
evening of non-stop
laughter served up with
a generous helping of
improvised games &
jokes’, Fri 6 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
ELEPHANT MAN Presented by Fourth Monkey
Theatre, Fri 6 Mar,
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
HALF BAKED Alex
Joynes’ funny, moving
and bittersweet new
play about unemployment, uncertain futures
& unreliable ovens, Fri
6 Mar, Prince Of Wales
Centre, Cannock
RIGOLETTO The Russian
State Ballet & Opera
House present Verdi's
tragic tale of misunderstanding, revenge &
sacrifice. Sung in Italian
with English surtitles
and accompanied by a
large live orchestra. Fri
6 Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
FIFTY SHADES OF FIZZOG
New comedy sketch
show featuring some of
Fizzog's best loved
characters, including
internet sensations, The
Dancing Grannies. Fri 6
- Sat 7 Mar, Netherton
Arts Centre, Dudley
THE CRUCIBLE
Holdsworth Law Society present an amateur
production of Arthur
Miller's tale of hysteria,
superstition and malice,
Fri 6 - Sat 7 Mar, Crescent Theatre, B’ham
DRACULA Theresa Heskins’ new adaptation of
Bram Stoker’s enduring
classic, Fri 6 - Sat 28
Mar, New Vic Theatre,
Newcastle-under-Lyme
ANDREW DEE Evening of
spirit mediumship, Sat
7 Mar, Palace Theatre,
Redditch
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Welsh National Opera
present Richard Jones'
endlessly inventive production of
Humperdinck's gorgeous opera, revelling
in the story's more sinister moments..., Sat 7
Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
TRICITY VOGUE’S
UKULELE CABARET
Charming, cheeky and
surprising entertainment from three of the
UK’s finest cabaret &
musical comedy stars,
Sat 7 Mar, Pontesbury
Village Hall, Shropshire
HALF BAKED Alex
Joynes' funny, moving
and bittersweet new
play about unemployment, uncertain futures
& unreliable ovens, Sat
7 Mar, Arena Theatre,
Wolverhampton
MY DOG’S GOT NO NOSE
Bittersweet comedy
offering an insight into
the world of a stand-up
comedian, Sat 7 Mar,
Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
AN IMPROVISED MURDER
A night of laughter, stories, games... and
death, Sat 7 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
CASTING THE RUNES Two
stories by MR James,
performed by Robert
Lloyd Parry, Sat 7 Mar,
Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre
THREE KEEPERS Winter
Walker fuse physical
theatre, dance and
comedy to tell the tale
of life on a rock lighthouse. A play without
words for everyone
aged eight and over,
Sat 7 Mar, Brewhouse
Arts Centre, Burtonupon-Trent, Staffs
TRICITY VOGUE’S
UKULELE CABARET
Charming, cheeky and
surprising entertainment from three of the
UK’s finest cabaret &
musical comedy stars,
Sun 8 Mar, Chelmarsh
Village Hall, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Week Commencing
MON 9 MAR
PSYCHIC SALLY ON THE
ROAD Mon 9 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN
PERFECT NONSENSE Hit
West End comedy
adapted from the works
of PG Wodehouse,
directed by Sean Foley,
Mon 9 - Sat 14 Mar,
The REP, Birmingham
HALF-BAKED Alex
Joynes' 'funny, moving
and bittersweet new
play about unemployment, uncertain futures
& alternative ovens'.
Mon 9 Mar, The REP,
Birmingham
ANDREW DEE Evening of
spirit mediumship, Tues
10 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
THE LADYKILLERS The
Little Theatre Company
presents an amateur
production of Graham
Linehan's muchacclaimed staging of
the classic Ealing comedy of the same name,
Tues 10 Mar, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs
HALF BAKED Alex
Joynes’ funny, moving
and bittersweet new
play about unemployment, uncertain futures
& unreliable ovens,
Tues 10 Mar, The Place,
Oakengates, Telford,
Shropshire
WHO ON EARTH IS GOD?
Join author Neil
Richardson for a presentation about the differing portrayals of God
in the Bible, as
explored in his new
book, Who On Earth Is
God?, Tues 10 Mar,
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
KISS ME KATE Walsall
Operatic Society present an amateur production of Noel Coward’s
witty comedy, Tues 10 Sat 14 Mar, Lichfield
Garrick
CALAMITY JANE The
Watermill Theatre present a new production of
the classic musical.
Jodie Prenger stars,
Tue 10 - Sat 14 Mar,
Regent Theatre, Stoke-
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 31
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 9
Fri 6 March, 7.30pm
Full Monkey Theatre
Elephant Man
Inspired by the iconic David Lynch
film and following a critically
acclaimed launch at Edinburgh
Festival Fringe, the tale of the
elephant man returns in
a stunning new s
tage adaption.
Tue 17 February, 8pm
Fri 20 March, 1pm & 7.30pm
Rabbit Theatre
Dracula
Blood and bats. Garlic and gore.
Lunatics and flies. Sexy lady vampires.
Coffins, crypts and the Count himself.
They're all here in this brand-new
adaptation of Bram Stoker's gothic
pot-boiler...
Art With Heart
Secret Diaries
Inspired by a true story, Secret
Diaries charts the big stuff in life
from teenage years to present day.
Tickets: £10/£8 concs
32 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Tickets: £10/£8 concs
Tickets: £10/£8 concs/£5 Mat
Theatre - March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:22 Page 10
Theatre LISTINGS
For full listing information on theatre
productions, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
on-Trent Read the interview with Jodie Prenger
online at
whatsonlive.co.uk
LEGALLY BLONDE Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company present
an all singing, all dancing romantic comedy.
Tue 10 - Sat 14 Mar,
Wolverhampton Grand
Theatre
TOP HAT Olivier Awardwinning musical direct
from its West End run,
Tue 10 - Sat 21 Mar,
Birmingham Hippodrome
THREE MEN IN A BOAT
The Original Theatre
Company present a
staging of Jerome K
Jerome's classic tale of
boating misadventure,
Tue 10 - Sat 14 Mar,
The Old Rep Theatre,
Birmingham
THE BOY IN THE STRIPED
PYJAMAS The Children’s
Touring Partnership
present a staging of
John Boyne’s heartwrenching tale of an
unlikely Second World
War friendship between
two innocent boys,
Tues 10 - Sat 14 Mar,
Malvern Theatre
Read the interview with
John Boynes online at
whatsonlive.co.uk
LA TRAVIATA LIVE Live
screening of English
National Opera's performance of Verdi's
operatic masterpiece,
Wed 11 Mar, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
FOOTLOOSE Shrewsburybased Get Your Wigle
On present their version of the foot-tapping
musical, based on the
1984 film, Wed 11 - Sat
14 Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
MY COUSIN RACHEL Dudley Little Theatre present an amateur staging
of Daphne Du Maurier’s
classic tale of mystery
and romance, Wed 11 Sat 14 Mar, Netherton
Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
DRACULA One-man performance of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic tale,
Thurs 12 Mar, Arena
Theatre, Wolverhampton
BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Young Performers
Theatre Group tell the
story of the challenges
and unexpected bonds
formed through the
thrill of extreme competition, Wed 11 - Thurs
12 Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
BEHIND THE BEAUTIFUL
FOREVERS National Theatre Live screening of
David Hare's new play,
based on Katherine
Boo's book, Thurs 12
Mar, Stafford Gate-
house Theatre
SING-A-LONG-A SOUND
OF MUSIC A screening
of the classic Julie
Andrews film musical,
complete with lyric subtitles to help the audience sing along... Fri
13 Mar, New Alexandra
Theatre, Birmingham
DINOSAUR ZOO A unique
experience which
‘enables audiences to
interact with lifelike
dinosaurs in an engaging live show’, Fri 13 Sun 15 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
LA TRAVIATA Ellen Kent’s
production of Verdi's
story of a nineteenth
century Parisian courtesan who, hoping for a
better life, becomes
involved with a man
who may finally make
her dreams come true,
Sat 14 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
THE FELL WALKER Dramatic, fast-paced thriller
set in the evocative
landscapes of the English Lake District, the
Scottish Highlands and
the steamy streets of
Manila, Sat 14 Mar,
Lichfield Garrick
THE SOOTY SHOW WITH
RICHARD CADELL Join
‘the nation’s favourite
bear’ as he celebrates
his birthday in true
Sooty style with the
help of friends Sweep &
Soo, Sat 14 Mar, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
ONE FLEW OVER THE
CUCKOO'S NEST The
Crescent Theatre presents Dale Wasserman's
critically acclaimed
work, Sat 14 - Sat 21
Mar, Crescent Theatre,
Birmingham
NEAR GONE A two-hander about survival.
Delivered in English &
Bulgarian, the piece
also features gypsyinspired music, Sat 14
Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
THE GLENN MILLER
STORY Sun 15 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A
full screening of the
Disney sensation, complete with on-screen
lyrics to help you sing
along with Anna and
Elsa during the film,
Sun 15 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Week Commencing
MON 16 MAR
THE RETURN OF THE FORBIDDEN PLANET Twentyfifth anniversary tour of
the critically acclaimed
Olivier Award-winning
rock spectacular, Mon
16 - Sat 21 Mar, Regent
Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
AN EVENING WITH GERVASE PHINN Tues 17
Mar, Prince Of Wales
Centre, Cannock
OCTONAUTS AND THE
DEEP SEA VOLCANO
ADVENTURE A brand
new stage show based
on the popular CBeebies TV series, Tue 17 Wed 18 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
HAMLETS Birmingham
Repertory Theatre,
Library of Birmingham
& Hôtel Teatro Theatre
Company present a
Young REP 18-25 Company production which
sees Shakespeare’s
most famous play cut
up, rearranged and
spread all over the
Library of Birmingham,
Tues 17 - Sat 21 Mar,
Library of Birmingham
ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
Based on The Servant
Of Two Masters by
Carlo Goldoni, this
National Theatre production is directed by
Nicholas Hytner and
stops off in the Midlands as part of its
biggest-ever UK and
Ireland tour, Sean
Williams stars, Tues 17
- Sat 21 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
TEECHERS Blackeyed
Theatre Company present John Godber's classic classroom comedy,
Tue 17 - Wed 18 Mar,
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
MILKED Pentabus Theatre present a black
comedy about friendship, unemployment and a cow called
Sandy, Tues 17 - Wed
18 Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
THE MANIFESTO The
Young Rep Festival
2015 - a two-and-a-half
week festival packed
with punchy political
ideas, Tue 17 Mar Wed 1 Apr, The REP,
Birmingham
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
Brand new production
of one of the best-loved
dance stories of all
time, Tue 17 - Sat 21
Mar, New Alexandra
Theatre, Birmingham
TICK, TICK, BOOM! Rock
musical by Jonathan
Larson, the creator of
Rent, Wed 18 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS
The show that stormed
into the finals of
Britain's Got Talent and
became a West End
smash is back to mark
its twentieth anniversary
in spectacular style,
Wed 18 Mar, Stafford
Gatehouse Theatre
THE JEW OF MALTA
Justin Audibert makes
his RSC debut, directing Christopher Marlowe's subversive play,
Wed 18 Mar - Tue 8
Sept, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon
SEE HOW THEY RUN
Philip King’s comedy in
three acts is here performed by South
Staffordshire College
Students, Thurs 19 Mar,
Lichfield Garrick
TEECHERS Blackeyed
Theatre Company present John Godber's classic classroom comedy,
Thurs 19 - Fri 20 Mar,
Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre
ALAN AYCKBOURN'S BEDROOM FARCE Thurs 19 Sat 28 Mar, Sutton Arts
Theatre, Sutton Coldfield
CIRQUE BERSERK Fusion
of circus skills and
thrilling stunt action in a
danger-filled spectacle
that promises to amaze
audiences of all ages,
Thurs 19 - Sun 22 Mar,
The REP, Birmingham
20 STORIES HIGH: BLACK
A provocative and
engaging new show
from the award-winning
20 Stories High which
digs deep into the heart
of racial divisions
through the voice of a
teenage girl struggling
to do what's best. Contains strong language
and racist insults that
are addressed in the
play, Thurs 19 - Fri 20
Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
BETTY BLUE EYES BOA
Musical Theatre Pathway present Stile &
Drewe's musical, which
centres around a humble chiropodist struggling to bring home the
bacon, Thurs 19 - Sat
21 Mar, The Old Rep
Theatre, Birmingham
FISHING FOR CLUES
Geoff Bamber’s wryly
comic whodunnit,
Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Mar,
Roses Theatre, Kidderminster
SECRET DIARIES Art With
Heart present an honest look at the world
through teenage eyes,
Fri 20 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
NOMAD VARIETY Evening
of live entertainment,
including folk, jazz &
blues, comedy & spoken word, Fri 20 Mar,
Martineau Gardens,
Birmingham
ABOVE BORED Owdyado
Theatre present a black
comedy which uncovers the despair at the
heart of the hamsterwheel and imagines
how far people will go
to escape it, Fri 20 Mar,
Snailbeach Village Hall,
Shropshire
THE PAPER CINEMA'S
ODYSSEY Cut-out illustrations and live music
are brought together in
a new retelling of
Homer's island-hopping
adventures, Fri 20 - Sat
21 Mar, The REP, B’ham
VIRTUALLY HARMLESS
Riverside Performing
Arts fuse story, humour,
news, music & sketches to explore the lighter
and darker side of
social media, Fri 20 Sat 21 Mar, mac - Mid-
Teechers - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
& Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
lands Arts Centre, Birmingham
JANE EYRE Blue Orange
Arts presents Charlotte
Bronte's classic tale of
a young woman's
courageous fight
through injustice and
hardship, Sat 21 Mar,
Lichfield Garrick
WOMEN ON TOP World
premiere. From the creators of Doreen comes
a brand new satire. Sat
21 Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
ABOVE BORED Owdyado
Theatre present a black
comedy which uncovers the despair at the
heart of the hamsterwheel and imagines
how far people will go
to escape it, Sat 21
Mar, Cleobury Mortimer,
South Shropshire
EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!
Footlights Dance
School showcase a
programme of dance &
musical theatre routines
- including excerpts
from Mary Poppins and
Peter Pan. Lilli Breese &
Megan Davies star...
Sat 21 - Sun 22 Mar,
Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
CAPTAIN FLINN AND THE
PIRATE DINOSAURS Les
Petits Theatre Company present a live pirate
adventure fusing live
music, puppetry, physical performance and
dastardly dinosaurs,
Sun 22 Mar, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
Week Commencing
MON 23 MAR
OLIVER! A Lichfield
Cathedral School production... Mon 23 Tues 24 Mar, Lichfield
Garrick
ARCADIA Tom Stoppard's 1993 masterpiece explores two
groups of people (two
hundred years apart) in
the same room of one
of England's great
country houses, Mon
23 - Sat 28 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
A VIEW FROM THE
BRIDGE Arthur Miller's
modern classic, Tue 24
- Sat 28 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
ALL MY SONS Talawa
Theatre Company presents Arthur Miller's searing investigation of honesty, guilt and the corrupting power of greed,
Tue 24 - Sat 28 Mar,
The REP, Birmingham
HOW NOW MRS BROWN
COW Following the
release of D’Movie, the
award-winning Mrs
Brown’s Boys return
with their new show,
Tue 24 - Sat 28 Mar,
Genting Arena, B’ham
THE ACCRINGTON PALS
The Lichfield Players
present an amateur
production of Peter
Whelan’s intimate and
moving play, which
depicts the powerful
effects of war on a
close-knit community,
Tues 24 - Sat 28 Mar,
Lichfield Garrick
A PASSION FOR BIRMINGHAM An immersive,
promenade production
which reimagines one
of the world's most
important stories, the
life and death of Jesus
Christ, Tue 24 Mar - Fri
3 Apr, Old Joint Stock
Theatre, Birmingham
THE MIKADO Birmingham Savoyards' production of one of
Gilbert & Sullivan's
most popular operettas,
Tue 24 - Sat 28 Mar,
The Old Rep Theatre,
Birmingham
THAT'LL BE THE DAY
Rock'n'roll spectacular
combining music from
the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s
with wacky comedy
routines, Wed 25 Mar,
Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
ALICE Crescent Youth
Theatre present Laura
Wade's reinterpretation
of Lewis Carroll's classic book, Wed 25 - Sat
28 Mar, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
STAND BY FOR TAPE BACK
UP The true story of
one man's journey into
synchronicity and madness, Wed 25 Mar, mac
- Midlands Arts Centre,
Birmingham
DANGEROUS OBSESSION
St John’s Players present an amateur production of NJ Crisp’s psy-
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 33
Theatre - March 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:46 Page 11
Theatre - March 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:46 Page 12
Theatre LISTINGS
For full listing information on theatre
productions, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
chological thriller, Wed
25 - Sat 28 Mar, Swan
Theatre, Worcester
ALICE Crescent Youth
Theatre present Laura
Wade's reinterpretation
of Lewis Carroll's classic book, Wed 25 - Sat
28 Mar, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
JANE EYRE Blue Orange
Arts presents Charlotte
Bronte's classic tale of
a young woman's
courageous fight
through injustice and
hardship, Thurs 26 Mar,
Solihull Arts Complex
MY DEAREST GIRLS:
HELEN'S STORY
Researched in Shropshire Archives and
based on real letters
sent between six young
Shropshire women
between 1917 and
1920, Helen's Story is a
thirty-minute piece
telling the tale of one of
them - a farmer's
daughter in Much Wenlock, Thurs 26 Mar, mac
- Midlands Arts Centre,
Birmingham Read the
review online at
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
National Theatre Live
screening of Arthur
Miller's dark and passionate tale. Mark
Strong stars, Thurs 26
Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry; Malvern
Theatre; Artrix, Bromsgrove
THE VERY WORST OF THE
TIGER LILLIES Celebrating twenty-five years of
musical mayhem from
the Grammy-nominated
‘godfathers of alternative cabaret’, Thurs 26
Mar, Lichfield Garrick
THE PEARL Dumbshow
present their critically
acclaimed new adapta-
tion of John Steinbeck's
classic novella, bringing
it to life with their trademark visual inventiveness, original music
and playful theatricality,
Thurs 26 Mar, The Talbot Theatre,
Whitchurch, North
Shropshire
AN EVENING WITH COLIN
FRY Thurs 26 Mar,
Prince Of Wales Centre,
Cannock
OUR TOWN A play set at
the turn of the 20th century, about the ordinary
lives of the people of a
small town in New
Hampshire. Thurs 26 Fri 27 Mar, The Blue
Orange Theatre, B’ham
DEATH OF A SALESMAN
Sir Antony Sher, Alex
Hassell and Harriet Walter star in Arthur Miller's
great American tragedy,
Thurs 26 Mar - Sat 2
May, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
JANE EYRE Blue Orange
Arts presents Charlotte
Bronte's classic tale of
a young woman's
courageous fight
through injustice and
hardship, Fri 27 Mar,
Artrix, Bromsgrove
MEMORY LANE Timeless
Theatre present a rollercoaster ride of nostalgia, Fri 27 Mar, Palace
Theatre, Redditch
THE PEARL Dumbshow
present their critically
acclaimed new adaptation of John Steinbeck's
classic novella, bringing
it to life with their trademark visual inventiveness, original music &
playful theatricality, Fri
27 Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
WITHERING LOOKS presented by Lipservice
Theatre. Cult Brontë
spoof by classic comic
duo, Maggie Fox and
Sue Ryding, Fri 27 Mar,
The Market Theatre,
Ledbury
WOMEN ON TOP World
premiere. From the creators of Doreen comes
a brand new satire. Fri
27 - Sat 28 Mar, Roses
Theatre, Kidderminster
THE PLAYBOY OF THE
WESTERN WORLD SYT
present an amateur
production of John
Millington’s three-act
farce, set in Ireland in
1900, Fri 27 - Sat 28
Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
FIERY FEET: DISNEY VS
DREAMWORKS DANCE
Fiery Feet Dance Studio
presents its eleventh
annual show to celebrate some of the wonderful music from
favourite Disney and
Dreamworks films,
including both timeless
classics and modern
melodies, Fri 27 - Sat
28 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
THE PLAYBOY OF THE
WESTERN WORLD SYT
present an amateur
production of John
Millington’s three-act
farce, set in Ireland in
1900, Fri 27 - Sat 28
Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
BLOOD Emteaz Hussain's twenty-first century love story, Fri 27 Mar
- Sat 11 April, Belgrade
Theatre, Coventry
SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A
full screening of the
Disney sensation complete with on-screen
lyrics to help you sing
along with Anna and
Elsa during the film, Sat
28 Mar, Solihull Arts
Complex
BITA Palace Youth Theatre - Adventures In
Motion - presents its latest edible theatre production. Set within a
mythical world of folklore and witchcraft, the
Bíta, a group of strange
Oh What A Lovely War - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. 30 March - 4 April;
The REP, Birmingham, 5 - 9 May
forest-dwelling creatures, are on the hunt
for food, Sat 28 Mar,
Palace Theatre, Redditch
SING-A-LONG-A SOUND OF
MUSIC A screening of
the classic Julie
Andrews film musical,
complete with lyric subtitles to help the audience sing along, Sat 28
Mar, Solihull Arts Complex
THREE MEN IN A BOW TIE
Evening of silly songs &
manic monologues, Sat
28 Mar, Belmont Hall,
Wellington, Shropshire
THE WESTENDERS Gala
concert featuring show
tunes from some of the
world’s most popular
musicals, Sat 28 Mar,
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury
PENELOPE RETOLD Caroline Horton presents an
epic, heartbreaking and
fiercely playful tale of
love, loneliness and the
need to be free, Sat 28
Mar, The Market Theatre, Ledbury, Herefordshire
Sex In Suburbia - New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham; Malvern Theatre & Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
SEX IN SUBURBIA Claire
Sweeney stars in a new
comedy about dating,
men and finding Mr
Right, Sun 29 Mar,
Regent Theatre, Stokeon-Trent Read the interview with Claire
Sweeney online at whatsonlive.co.uk
ROBIN HOOD & HIS
MERRY MEN CITV’s HI-5
Chris Edgerley takes
the lead in a new
‘laugh-a-minute’ family
pantomime for Easter,
Sun 29 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
SEX IN SUBURBIA Claire
Sweeney stars in a new
comedy about dating,
men and finding Mr
Right, Sun 29 Mar,
Regent Theatre, Stokeon-Trent Read the interview with Claire
Sweeney at whatsonlive.co.uk
HUGLESS DOUGLAS Blunderbus Theatre fuse
music, puppetry and
high-energy storytelling
in a new show for children, Sun 29 Mar, mac Midlands Arts Centre,
Birmingham
SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A
full screening of the
Disney sensation, complete with on-screen
lyrics to help you sing
along with Anna and
Elsa during the film,
Sun 29 Mar, The Swan
Theatre, Worcester;
New Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham
MILKSHAKE PARTY PARTY
LIVE! Brand new musical spectacular for children featuring new
songs alongside old
favourites, funky dance
routines and plenty of
laughter, Sun 29 Mar,
The Old Rep Theatre,
Birmingham
ANDREW DEE: THE BLACK
OR WHITE TOUR Spirit
medium Andrew Dee
promises to guide audiences 'through some of
life's mysteries with
help from loved ones in
the spirit world', Sun 29
Mar, Crescent Theatre,
Birmingham
SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN A
full screening of the
Disney sensation, complete with on-screen
lyrics to help you sing
along with Anna and
Elsa during the film,
Sun 29 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Week Commencing
MON 30 MAR
COLLIDOSCOPE Bittersweet story of how fantasy and reality collide
in the effervescent mind
of an ordinary girl on an
extraordinary journey.
Written & performed by
Hannah Graham, Mon
30 Mar, The REP, B’ham
UP IN THE ATTIC Half
Moon present a story
about co-operation,
friendship and overcoming fears, Mon 30
Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre, B’ham
PSYCHIC SALLY ON THE
ROAD Mon 30 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
HOW THE KOALA LEARNT
TO HUG The People’s
Theatre Company present a tale for children
about the magic of family and the importance
of a nice, warm hug.
Based on the bestselling book by Steven
Lee, Mon 30 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
DR SEUSS’S THE CAT IN
THE HAT Lively and
engaging theatre experience for young children aged three-plus,
Mon 30 Mar - Tues 1
Apr, Malvern Theatre
OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR
Joan Littlewood’s legendary musical, revived
to commemorate the
one hundredth anniversary of World War One,
Mon 30 Mar - Sat 4 Apr,
Belgrade Theatre,
Coventry
JEEVES AND WOOSTER IN
PERFECT NONSENSE Hit
West End comedy
adapted from the works
of PG Wodehouse,
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 35
Theatre - March 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:46 Page 13
Theatre LISTINGS
For full listing information on theatre
productions, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
directed by Sean Foley,
Robert Webb, Jason
Thorpe & Christopher
Ryan star, Mon 30 Mar Sat 4 Apr, The REP,
Birmingham; Malvern
Theatres Read the
review on page 37
DERREN BROWN The
award-winning master
of psychological illusion
returns to the Midlands
with a brand new show
(title to be confirmed),
Mon 30 Mar - Sat 11
Apr, New Alexandra
Theatre, Birmingham
BEAUTIFUL THING Featuring Charlie Brooks,
Thomas Law, Sam
Jackson & Gerard
McCarthy, Mon 30 Mar
- Sat 11 Apr, Birmingham Hippodrome
PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS
Non-sexual show featuring full-frontal male
nudity. Suitable for
adults only! Tue 31
Mar, Palace Theatre,
Redditch
POP UP FLASHBACK Half
Moon present a heartwarming adventure
about complicated families and growing up,
Tue 31 Mar, mac - Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
SOMETHING ELSE Deafinitely Theatre present a
story about a small
creature who lives his
life always trying to fit
in, Tue 31 Mar, The Old
Rep Theatre, B’ham
POP! Mr Bean meets
Charlie Chaplin in
Christian Lee’s feast of
illusion, comedy and
massive balloons, Tues
31 Mar, Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury
BACK DOWN Highly
anticipated first play by
Birmingham-born
Steven Camden, more
commonly known as
award-winning performance poet Polarbear,
Tues 31 Mar - Wed 1
Apr, Newhampton Arts
Centre, Wolverhampton
THE ADDAMS FAMILY: THE
MUSICAL Worcester On
Stage provide a rare
chance to see a new
musical, fresh from
Broadway, Tue 31 Mar Sat 4 Apr, Crescent
Theatre, Birmingham
BOUNCERS John Godber’s award-winning
comedy, Tues 31 Mar Sat 4 Apr, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-underLyme
THE BUSINESS OF MURDER Middle Ground
Theatre Company present Richard Harris’
acclaimed psychological thriller, Tues 31 Mar
- Sat 4 Apr, Lichfield
Garrick
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Direct from the West
End, Tue 31 Mar - Sun
26 Apr, Birmingham
Hippodrome
Theatre Box Office
Birmingham
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
HALL GREEN LITTLE
THEATRE
0121 707 1874
MAC 0121 446 3232
OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE
0121 200 0946
OLD REP 0121 359 9444
SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX
0121 704 6962
SUTTON ARTS THEATRE,
SUTTON COLDFIELD
0121 355 5355
Black Country
Derren Brown - New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
36 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
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
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
Staffordshire
LICHFIELD GARRICK
01543 412121
NEW VIC, NEWCASTLEUNDER-LYME 01782 717962
PRINCE OF WALES
CENTRE, CANNOCK
01543 578762
REGENT THEATRE, STOKE
0870 060 6649
RUGELEY ROSE THEATRE
01889 584036
STAFFORD GATEHOUSE
01785 619080
STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE
01782 209784
Warwickshire
ALBANY THEATRE,
COVENTRY
024 7601 6222
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 - March 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:46 Page 14
Theatre REVIEWS CONT...
Below are reviews of theatre
productions we checked out last month.
For further theatre reviews, visit
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Edward Scissorhands
Birmingham Hippodrome
First adapted from Tim Burton’s 1990 movie back
in 2005, Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands
has certainly been through some cutting and slicing of its own. Bourne’s magical tale has been
changed and edited through various revivals over
the years - but this latest version is without doubt
the tightest and slickest of the lot.
As the house lights dim, a ‘storm’ descends over
the auditorium and the work takes flight. The
ensemble numbers show Bourne’s talent as a choreographer, and we’re soon swept into the life of a
suburban town. As Edward settles into Hope
Springs and, more particularly, life with the Boggs
family, his style of movement develops. At first rigid
and robotic, he becomes ever more fluid, even jiving at parties. Act One finishes with a romantic
encounter in the topiary garden, a scissorless
Edward dancing a duet with Kim, surrounded by
magical topiary figures.
Act Two sees Bourne coming into his own. The
‘corps de ballet’ moments are extremely impressive. The intricate yet powerful choreography really
shines at the annual Christmas Ball, where once
again the stage comes alive with activity. The partner work of the large ensembles is mesmerising
throughout. By contrast, creativity does sometimes
dip in the solos and duets, where movements are
repeated.
The show’s design is truly impressive. Costume,
set and lighting are all taken to a new level, creating an authentic and intriguing look.
Bourne’s adaptation is witty, funny, romantic and
heartbreaking. In short, an impressive triumph.
Jamie Ryan n n n n
The Curious Incident Of The Dog
In The Night-Time
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
For those of us who had no previous experience of
Mark Haddon’s award-winning novel, this National
Theatre production, adapted for the stage by
Simon Stephens, was offering an opportunity to
enter a truly intriguing world.
And that world became intriguing even before the
play had actually started. On entering the auditorium we could see that the stage was set, quite literally. It resembled a Star Trek holodeck with just one
object in the centre: a dead dog.
It looked like the crime had already been committed. All that was required was for someone to solve
the mystery.
Enter our main protagonist, Christopher, who is fifteen years, three months and two days old at the
time we meet him.
What unfolds is a coming-of-age story of sorts, in
which Christopher is challenged with understanding the nuances of an adult world while living on
the autistic spectrum. There’s so much humour and
warmth here too. Joshua Jenkins portrays Christopher with a fantastic energy that he maintains
throughout - he’s on stage for almost the entire performance. Great support comes from Geraldine A
as Christopher's tutor/mentor, with whom he has a
solid, trusting and positive relationship.
Curious Incident is a unique and thoroughly engaging production that’s a real must-see.
Ted Finlay n n n n
Jeeves And Wooster In Perfect Nonsense
Bertie Wooster has aspirations. He wants to perform. ‘This acting lark looks easy,’ he
says.
And so, with the help of dutiful valet Jeeves and fellow man servant Seppings, he hires
a theatre to satisfy his desire - and recounts the elaborate tale of his pursuit of a silver
antique cream jug...
While Wooster hogs the limelight and provides the narrative for the evening, it’s Jeeves
and Seppings who show what it means to multi-task in the world of showbiz. As well as
taking control of set design and props, the duo between them adopt the roles of the
show’s remaining ‘colourful’ characters.
Perfectly plummy and wonderfully animated, Peep Show star Robert Webb’s version of
the bumbling Bertie Wooster is certainly one to savour. From the moment the curtain
rises right through to its final fall, Webb has you grinning from ear to ear like a
Cheshire Cat. And in those moments of real Wooster buffoonery - of which there are
many - it’s hard to imagine anyone playing Bertie quite so sublimely.
Jason Thorpe’s characterisation of the exceedingly upright Jeeves is of similar quality.
He proves equally adept at playing the larger-than-life characters of Gussie Fink-Nottle,
Madeline Bassett and Sir Watkin Bassett.
Christopher Ryan (Mike in cult 1980s TV comedy The Young Ones) is a delight as
Seppings - think Julie Walters in Acorn Antiques. He also brings us Wooster’s bowlegged and very orange aunt, Dahlia Travers, the rotund Constable Oates and intimidatingly tall villain Roderick Spode.
Farce at its very best, Jeeves And Wooster is exactly what it says on the tin - Perfect
Nonsense. Ideal for lifting the spirits on a cold winter’s evening.
I, for one, look forward to seeing it again when it shows at Birmingham Rep this month.
Patsy Moss n n n n
Catch Jeeves And Wooster In Perfect Nonsense when it shows at The Rep, Birmingham, from Mon 9 to Sat 14 March
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Harvey The REP, Birmingham
If it wasn’t for cinematic evidence to the contrary, you might believe Mary Chase wrote
the part of Elwood P Dowd specifically for James Dreyfus. The role of the gently polite,
urbane and thoroughly charming chap fits him perfectly. He looks like a portly Stan
Laurel as he casually wanders around the stage, handing out his business cards and
making complete sense... but for his imaginary six foot, furry friend.
Harvey the large white rabbit has become the stuff of legend since Chase created him
as a cheery antidote to the tragedies of World War Two. He’s come to symbolise the
unalienable right of the individual to believe in what they wish to believe in - even big
bunnies.
Elwood is embarrassing. He takes his invisible friend with him everywhere, introducing
him to guests at society parties and buying him
drinks in bars.
The other piece of perfect casting in Lindsay Posner’s production is Maureen Lipman, thoroughly
engaging as the dippy American ma’am.
Her comic acting is effortless, her timing immaculate. The two combine sublimely when she finally
spots that Elwood has swapped a family painting for
one of himself and Harvey. She holds the double
take perfectly.
The RSC’s Desmond Barrit plays the weighty judge.
Calibre actors in cameos is always a good sign...
Harvey is a show that reels you in slowly and makes
for a lovely evening. And what’s more, at final curtain, there’s even a space left in the line-up of performers for our eponymous hero!
Chris Eldon Lee n n n n
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 37
Theatre - March 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:46 Page 15
VISIT OU
WEBSITE R
T
VIEW MO O
RE
SHOWS!
Box Office 01743 281 281
Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk
Frankwell Quay,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire,
SY3 8FT
THURSDAY 5 MARCH
The Manfreds, will be performing many of their biggest hits including
5-4-3-2-1, Pretty Flamingo and Do Wah Diddy Diddy, along with a mix of
solo hits and jazz and rhythm 'n' blues renditions.
SATURDAY 7 MARCH
this bittersweet
comedy is a
thought-provoking
insight into
the world of a
stand-up
comedian, brilliantly
portrayed by Damian Williams.
TUEDAY 17 & WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH
Get ready to
embark on
an exciting
new mission
FRIDAY 27 MARCH
YET ANOTHER EVENING WITH
RICK WAKEMAN
THE MUSIC AND ANECDOTAL WIT
OF AN OLD AGE PENSIONER
SUNDAY 29 MARCH
38 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Theatre - March 1.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:46 Page 16
Theatre WEST END
Casting announced for Elf The Musical
Ben Forster is to reprise the role of Buddy in Michael Rose’s Elf The
Musical when it transfers to the West End later this year.
Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh, Joe McGann and Jessica Martin
will also appear in the festive production, which is based on the hit
2003 film starring Will Ferrell.
Forster, who starred as Jesus in the 2012 arena tour of Jesus Christ
Superstar, previously played Buddy alongside Walsh, McGann and
Martin when Elf The Musical showed in Plymouth and Dublin in 2014.
More recently he trod the West End boards as Magaldi in the revival
of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita.
Elf The Musical is the story of a young,
orphaned child named Buddy who’s
accidentally transported to the North
Pole and raised among Santa’s elves.
Feeling he doesn’t belong, Buddy
decides to seek out his birth father in
New York City, where all sorts of
shenanigans take place.
Further casting is yet to be announced
for the production, which shows at the
Dominion Theatre from 5 November to
2 January 2016.
Kinky Boots in the West End
Tickets are now on sale for the West End premiere of Harvey Fierstein’s Tony Award-winning comedy, Kinky Boots.
Previewing at the Adelphi Theatre from 21 August, Kinky Boots features music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Cyndi Lauper. It’s
produced by Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig and features choreography
and direction by Jerry Mitchell.
Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax film of the same
name, Kinky Boots tells the tale of Charlie Price, who reluctantly
inherits his father’s Northampton shoe factory. Trying to live up to his
dad’s legacy and save the family business from bankruptcy, Charlie
finds inspiration in the form of Lola, an entertainer in need of some
sturdy stilettos...
The Broadway production of the show, which opened in 2013, was
the recipient of no fewer than six Tonys, including Best Musical and
Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical (Billy
Porter).
Beverley Knight holds on to Memphis...
Soul queen Beverley Knight has extended her run in Memphis The
Musical until July. The Wolverhampton-born singer/actress, who
plays the part of Felicia Farrell, opened with the production in October last year, since which time she’s
received huge critical acclaim for her
performance.
Inspired by the underground dance
clubs of 1950s Memphis and telling a
story of forbidden love, the musical follows the fortunes of a radio DJ who
wants to change the world and a club
singer ready for her big break.
Having just celebrated its one hundredth performance, Memphis The
Musical continues to show at Shaftesbury Avenue until October 2015.
Kate Fleetwood Lording it up in the West End
Harry Potter actress Kate Fleetwood is to star as socialite Tracy Lord
in the upcoming revival of Cole Porter’s
musical comedy High Society, which
opens at the Old Vic in April.
Will Young’s twin brother, Rupert, will star
opposite Fleetwood as Dexter Haven.
Jamie Parker stars as Mike Connor, Barbara Flynn as Margaret Lord, Anabel
Scholey as Liz Imbrie and Ellie Bamber as
Dinah Lord.
High Society opens on 30 April and is
currently taking bookings until 20 August.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 39
Dance March.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 15:25 Page 1
Dance
Vincent Dance Theatre: 21 Years / 21 Works
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 10 - Fri 13 March; DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Wed 18 March
Choreographer and director Charlotte Vincent’s dance ensemble is
this month presenting four shows across two Midlands venues to
reflect the journey they’ve taken as a company during their first twenty-one years.
Underworld (performed at DanceXchange) is loosely based on the
myth of Orpheus & Eurydice and takes inspiration from The Brothers
Quay. The company invites audience members to ‘come and go as
they please’ throughout the show’s two-hour duration...
Glasshouse (DanceXchange and Warwick Arts Centre) is a short film
starring Vincent herself. A strong and powerful duet between the choreographer and Richard Lowdon, the work is set in a small glass
house and explores how actions speak louder than words...
Shobana Jeyasingh
Dance
mac - Midlands Arts Centre,
Birmingham, Wed 18 March
Described by The Independent
On Sunday as ‘one of the country’s most brilliant creators’,
Shobana Jeyasingh this month
returns to the Midlands with her
dance company to present its
latest work La Bayadère - The
Ninth Life.
Taking its inspiration from
Marius Petipa’s original choreography and its relation to the
present day, La Bayadère fuses
modern fantasies of the east
and west. The work draws on
the stories of the first real ‘temple dancers’ to visit Europe, in
so doing highlighting the West’s
fascination with the myth of the
Orient.
La Bayadère has been commissioned by the Royal Ballet
School Studio Programme.
40 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Look At Me Now, Mummy (Warwick Arts Centre) is a one-woman
show about trial, error and a mother’s desire to ‘look the part’. The
piece was created with Aurora Lubos...
Archive And Engagement Space (DanceXchange and Warwick Arts
Centre) completes Vincent Dance Theatre’s Midlands line-up.
This final piece invites participants to enter a room featuring a
dressed table with twenty-one place settings. At each setting, visitors
can explore images, watch video footage of VDT and learn the story
of the company’s first twenty-one years. Participants are then invited
by company members to perform digital and physical tasks. In
engaging with the tasks, they become part of the show and make
their own contribution to the ensemble’s ongoing story.
Vienna Festival Ballet
Bedworth Civic Hall, Thus 26 March; Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury, Sat 28 March; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 29 March
Vienna Festival Ballet (VFB) here celebrates a hugely successful thirty-five years with a gala evening featuring excerpts from
three world-famous ballets. Under the direction of Artistic
Director Peter Mallek, the company performs a series of ‘magical moments’, including the scene in which Odette falls in love
with her prince from Swan Lake, the journey to the land of
snow from The
Nutcracker, and the
Rose Adagio from
Sleeping Beauty.
Training under Russian
ballet teacher Harry
Pluciss - a pupil of the
famous Alexander
Pushkin - Mallek
began his ballet career
touring the world with
various national companies. He formed the
VFB in 1980 with the
intention of sharing his
passion and love for
classical ballet.
Dance March.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 15:25 Page 2
Dance LISTINGS
For full listing information on dance,
including times and dates, visit
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
CIRCUS VOGUE
Join Circus Vogue's
aerial dancers on a
journey of reflection,
Tues 3 Mar, Royal Spa
Centre, Leamington
WHAT THE BODY DOES
NOT REMEMBER Dance
Touring Partnership
present Wim
Vandekeybus & Ultima
Vez's acclaimed production, where
moments of humour
thread through explosions of aggression,
fear and danger in an
adrenaline-fuelled and
distinctly physical performance, Tue 3 - Wed
4 Mar, Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry
TRANSITIONS DANCE
COMPANY A triple bill
presented by the postgraduate company of
Trinity Laban
Conservatoire of Music
& Dance, bringing
together the most exciting choreographers
and dancers of the
future, Wed 4 Mar,
Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
DREAMING IN CODE
2Faced Dance present
a double-bill of all-male
dance, featuring work
from Artistic Director
Tamsin Fitzgerald and
Eddie Kay of Frantic
Assembly, Wed 4 - Sat
7 Mar, DanceXchange,
Patrick Centre,
Birmingham
Hippodrome
RIGOLETTO The Russian
State Ballet & Opera
House present Verdi's
tragic tale of misunderstanding, revenge and
sacrifice. Sung in Italian
with English surtitles
and accompanied by a
live orchestra with over
thirty musicians, Fri 6
Mar, Theatre Severn,
Shrewsbury
ESSENCE OF IRELAND
Exploration of Irish
myths through narration, Irish music and
Irish dancing, Sun 8
Mar, The Roses
Theatre, Tewkesbury
ESSENCE OF IRELAND
Tue 10 Mar, New
Alexandra Theatre,
Birmingham; Belgrade
Theatre, Coventry
BROKEN Weaving athletic dance with digital
imagery and original
music, Broken examines man’s precarious
relationship with the
earth. Kevin Finnan’s
production takes audiences on a journey
which questions man’s
ambivalence to the
planet, Tue 10 - Wed 11
Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre,
Birmingham
GLASSHOUSE A short
dance theatre film conceived and performed
by Charlotte Vincent
and Forced
Entertainment's Richard
Lowdon, Tue 10 - Fri 13
Mar, Warwick Arts
Centre, Coventry
LOOK AT ME NOW,
MUMMY Vincent Dance
Theatre present a comitragic one-woman
show which offers a
moving portrait of a
mother's desire to look
the part, Wed 11 Thurs 12 Mar, Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry
BALLET THEATRE UK
PRESENTS - ALADDIN
Ballet Theatre UK re-tell
the exotic and classic
tale of the lonely
orphan whose life is
destined for greater
things, Fri 13 Mar,
Albany Theatre,
Coventry; Swan
Theatre, Worcester
SALAAM This latest work
from Sonia Sabri
Company crafts a
beautiful dialogue of
live music and Kathak
dance, Sat 14 Mar, mac
-Midlands Art Centre,
Birmingham
MARGAM: AN AFTERNOON
OF KATHAK Three highlytalented Kathak performers come together
to present a form of
dance which traces its
origins to the nomadic
bards of ancient northern India, Sun 15 Mar,
mac - Midlands Arts
Centre, Birmingham
21 YEARS/21 WORKS
Celebrating twenty-one
years of making and
touring, Vincent Dance
Theatre take a live and
digital journey through
Artistic Director
Charlotte Vincent’s
work from 1994 to
2015, Wed 18 Mar,
DanceXchange. Patrick
Centre, Birmingham
Hippodrome
SHOBANA JEYASINGH
DANCE: BAYADERE - THE
NINTH LIFE A radical reimagining of the celebrated ballet for the
twenty-first-century.
Moving between fact
and fantasy, the original
story is interwoven with
the first ever visit of
Indian dancers to
Europe in 1838, Wed
18 Mar, mac - Midlands
Arts Centre,
Birmingham
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Moscow Ballet La
Classique bring
Tchaikovsky’s delightful
score and magical
characters to life in this
magnificent ballet, Fri
Cirque Eloize - Birmingham Hippodrome
20 - Sat 21 Mar,
Belgrade Theatre,
Coventry
AN EVENING OF DIRTY
DANCING This fifth
anniversary show is a
fully choreographed,
highly interactive celebration of music from
the iconic movie, Fri 20
Mar, Bedworth Civic
Hall
DREAMING IN CODE
2Faced Dance present
a double-bill of all-male
dance, featuring work
from Artistic Director
Tamsin Fitzgerald and
Eddie Kay of Frantic
Assembly Tues 24 Mar,
Malvern Theatres,
Worcestershire
CIRQUE ELOIZE PRESENTS
CIRKOPOLIS A show
combining the worlds
of circus, dance and
theatre, Wed 25 - Sat
28 Mar, Birmingham
Hippodrome
IDIOT-SYNCRASY Igor
and Moreno explore
male identity and relationships in a very energetic duet, Thurs 26 -
Fri 27 Mar,
DanceXchange, Patrick
Centre, Birmingham
Hippodrome
VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET
35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
Thurs 26 Mar,
Bedworth Civic Hall
VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET
35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
Sat 28 Mar, Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
HOLI - A CELEBRATION OF
COLOUR Presented by
Jai Jashn Dance, Sat
28 - Sun 29 Mar, Arena
Theatre,
Wolverhampton
BRENDAN COLE - A NIGHT
TO REMEMBER A brand
new production from
the Strictly star which
brings together ballroom magic and Latin
excitement in what's
described as a 'must
see' show!', Sun 29
Mar, Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET
35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA
Sun 29 Mar, Artrix,
Bromsgrove
Tue 17 March, 7.30pm
Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
 01270 368242
Thurs 26 March, 7.30pm
Civic Hall, Bedworth
 02476 376707
Sat 28 March, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
 01743 281 281
Sun 29 March, 2pm & 5pm
Artrix, Bromsgrove
 01527 577330
Wed 1 April, 7.30pm
Roses Theatre, Tewksbury
 01684 295074
Mon 6 April, 7.30pm
Arts Centre, Evesham
 01386 446944
Sun 2 May, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
The Little Theatre, Leicester
 01527 577330
Thurs 21 - Sat 23 May, 7.30pm
Garrick Theatre, Lichfield
 01543 412121
Sat 30 May, 7.30pm
Old Rep, Birmingham
 0121 359 9444
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
DanceXchange
Birmingham Hippodrome
Hurst Street // Birmingham // B5 4TB
dx registered charity no. 1045364
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 41
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 1
Flatpack Film Festival taking place at various locations around Birmingham, Thurs 19 - Sun 29 March
Now in its ninth year, Flatpack Film Festival once again runs across two weekends and offers a plethora of events at various locations across
Birmingham. Audiences can take their pick from live silents, industry events, Paper Cinema and VHS seance. Highlights of this year’s event include a tribute to 1960s and ’70s documentary maker Philip Donnellan, an exploration of the ever-growing parameters of animation, and a
chance for foreign film fans to enjoy a selection of early-career movies from Swedish director Roy Andersson.
Also featured in the festival programme are prize-winning documentaries, experimental films, interactive installations, short film competition
programmes, and a special family strand entitled Colour Box. We’ve selected our favourite events below, but don’t just take our word for it,
check out full festival listings at www.flatpackfestival.org.uk
Here’s just a few of our favourite things...
THE AMUSEMENT PARK A
new exhibition which
explores the relationship between animation
and interactivity, From
Mon16 Mar, BCU Parkside, Birmingham
THE PAPER CINEMA’S
ODYSSEY Tales of gods
and monsters recreated
as you’ve never seen
them before, using
paper cut outs, live
music and onstage
cameras, the films are
created before your
eyes, Fri 20 Mar, Birmingham Rep
BETWEEN US: BIRMINGHAM PORTRAITS A 25minute film shot in
slow-motion exploring
what can be seen in the
faces of Birmingham’s
people as they move
through public spaces,
Fri 20 - Sat 21 Mar,
Great Western Arcade,
Birmingham
CARTOON ROCK Classic
cartoons shown on a
16mm projector with
breakfast cereal included, family-friendly
event with drop-in car-
toon illustration workshop afterwards, Sat 21
Mar, Birmingham &
West Midlands Institute
SHIZZLES & GIGGLES
Funny shorts featuring
a number of British
comedy luminaries, Sat
21 March, Old Joint
Stock Theatre
LANDMARKS 1-3 Recently commissioned
for BBC 2, this six-part
series mirrors the seven
ages of man, from birth
to death, Sat 21 Mar,
mac, Birmingham
CELLULOID CITY Embark
on a journey exploring
the unique history of
cinema in Birmingham,
an afternoon of free
screenings and activities, Sun 22 Mar, The
Barber Institute of Fine
Arts
WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE? A documentary
by Philip Donnelllan following the travelling
families across Kent
and Shropshire up to a
Yorkshire horse fair, Sun
22 Mar, mac, Birmingham
42 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
INK & PIXELS A taster of
Made You Look, a
soon-to-be-released
documentary about the
UK’s graphic art scene,
joined by cast and crew
for a screening and discussion, Mon 23 Mar,
BCU Parkside, Birmingham
BEETHOVEN’S 5TH Emily
Wright’s single-screen
exhibition sees her
playing all the parts of
the German composers
masterwork, Mon 23 Fri 27 Mar, Birmingham
Conservatoire
THE CLOUD IS MORE THAN
AIR AND WATER A video
installation investigating
the mechanical nature
of Data Centres and internet storage systems,
Mon 23 - Fri 27 Mar,
Birmingham Conservatoire
THE FINNISH LINE A selection of short animated films made by
artists featured in The
Amusement Park exhibition, Tues 24 Mar,
BCU Parkside, Birmingham
ISHORTS Short films created from entry-level
filmmakers outside of
London with a budget
of £5000, Weds 25 Mar,
BCU Parkside, B’ham
TIME + MOTION An
evening of live animation and performance,
featuring three attraction from worldwide
artists plus activities,
workshops and demonstrations, Weds 25 Mar,
Millenium Point, Birmingham
ANIMATION AND BEYOND
Featuring screenings,
demonstrations and
panel discussions all
exploring the evergrowing world of animation, Thurs 26 Mar,
BCU Parkside, Birmingham
THE DOGHOUSE Seated
at a dinner table with
four other guests, wearing goggles, experience
a fraught family situation, the food is virtual
but the tension is all too
real, Thurs 26 - Sun 29
Mar, Stryx @ MW, Birmingham
I’M A FILMMAKER, BUT I
WANT TO EAT A lighthearted but informative
look at the diverse
means filmmakers use
to sustain themselves,
Fri 27 Mar, The Mockingbird, Birmingham
CROSS CITY WALKS Attempting to walk across
Birmingham in a
straight line, taking photos every 5 seconds,
this interactive installation lets you literally retrace the steps of artists
Andy Howlett & Pete
Ashton, Fri 27 - Sun 29
Mar, Centrala @ MW,
Birmingham
TOMORROW IS ALWAYS
TOO LONG Artist Phil
Collins explores the
voices of the citizens of
Glasgow amplified by
the songs of Cate Le
Bon, Sun 29 Mar, The
Electric, Birmingham
The Doghouse - Stryx @ MW, Birmingham
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 2
Film
TO WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk
FROM
FRI 6
MAR
Still Alice CERT 12a (101 mins)
Starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, Hunter Parrish
Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (USA)
Julianne Moore is Alice Howland, a linguistics professor who is defined by her intellect, her language and her articulation. Then, during a routine
lecture at Columbia University, she forgets the word “lexicon.” For Alice, it is the beginning of the end… By the time you read this, Julianne
Moore will have won the Oscar for best actress, following the gongs she picked up at Bafta, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors’ Guild and
the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards. It is her year, Alice is a peach of a part and she gives it the intelligence and the emotion that is the raison
d’être of the film. Alice Howland is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland's drama - adapted
from Lisa Genova’s insightful and heart-rending novel - artfully supplies Ms Moore with a platform on which to delineate her character’s mental
deterioration. However, Ilan Eshkeri's’s treacly piano-driven score, the impeccable production design and starry supporting cast all abet in removing the viewer from any raw connection with Alice’s dilemma. These are privileged people going through the motions in a competent, bythe-numbers TV disease-of-the-month movie. It’s poignant and affecting in places - but how could it not be? Julianne Moore is terrific.
TOP 5
FILM BOX OFFICE
From
FRI 27
MAR
Cinderella CERT tbc
Starring Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, Stellan Skarsgård, Holliday Grainger, Derek Jacobi, Helena Bonham Carter, Hayley Atwell, Ben Chaplin Directed by Kenneth Branagh (USA)
Once upon a time... Oh, don’t let us spoil the plot for you. Let’s just say there are long work hours, really horrible step-sisters and a rather dashing prince. ’Nough said. This version actually adheres more to Disney’s
classic cartoon version of 1950 than Charles Perrault’s original folk story, as part of an on-going initiative to
turn the old ’toons into live-action adaptations. Last year Disney brought us a re-working of their animated
Sleeping Beauty and called it Maleficent. In October we’ll be treated to a live-action edition of The Jungle
Book (with Bill Murray as Baloo the Bear), while Beauty And The Beast - with Emma Watson as Belle - is in
pre-production. Here, under the directorial eye of Kenneth Branagh, Cinders is played by Lily James, probably best known for her role as Lady Rose McClare in Downton Abbey. P.S. Nice to see Branagh directing his
former girlfriend Ms Bonham Carter again (she plays the Fairy Godmother).
1 Big Hero 6 (PG)
The Secret
2 Kingsman:
Service (15)
The Sheep
3 Shaun
Movie (U)
4 Jupiter Ascending (12a)
5 American Sniper (15)
Big Hero 6
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 43
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 3
Film NEW RELEASES
Released from Fri 6 March
White Bird In A Blizzard
CERT 15 (91 mins)
Starring Shailene Woodley, Eva Green,
Christopher Meloni, Shiloh Fernandez,
Gabourey Sidibe, Thomas Jane, Angela Bassett Directed by Gregg Araki (USA/France)
Following her Golden Globe nomination for
The Descendants, the lead in The Fault In
Our Stars and her role as Tris Prior in the Divergent franchise, Shailene Woodley has
gone from strength to strength. Here she
plays Katrina ‘Kat’ Connors, whose life is
thrown into disarray when her mother (Eva
Green) disappears. From the 1999 novel by
Laura Kasischke.
Unfinished Business
Chappie CERT 15 (120 mins)
CERT 15 (91 mins)
Starring Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman,
Dev Patel, Sigourney Weaver
Directed by Neill Blomkamp (USA/Mexico)
Starring Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Dave
Franco, Sienna Miller, Nick Frost, James
Marsden Directed by Ken Scott (USA)
Three business associates from Boston travel
to Berlin to close
the biggest deal
of their careers.
However, things
get a little out of
hand… Think The
Hangover meets
Eurotrip.
It’s been quite a year for robots - think Ex
Machina, Big Hero 6 - and this one feels as
recycled as an old Henry Hoover. In the future our streets will be patrolled by a mechanised police force (think RoboCop, et al),
but then Chappie - a police droid - is stolen
and re-programmed. He then starts to get
all emotional... The director previously
brought us District 9 and Elysium, so it
might not be all bad.
For full film listings,
showings
and booking links
visit: whatsonlive.co.uk
View the latest trailers on line
44 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 4
Kill The Messenger
CERT 15 (112 mins)
Starring Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt,
Ray Liotta, Barry Pepper, Oliver Platt, Michael
Sheen, Andy García
Directed by Michael Cuesta (USA)
A true story: when, in the mid-1990s, a reporter exposes the CIA plot to arm the Contra
rebels in Nicaragua, he becomes the victim
of a vicious smear campaign. And we
thought the CIA could do no wrong.
From
Released from Fri 13 March
Elle L’Adore CERT 15 (102 mins)
Starring Sandrine Kiberlain, Laurent Lafitte,
Pascal Demolon
Directed by Jeanne Herry (France)
There are shades of Notting Hill here. Muriel
Bayen (Kiberlain) is a massive fan of the singer
Vincent Lacroix (Lafitte). Then, one day, he
knocks on her door asking for help… Mlle
Kiberlain has been nominated for a French
Oscar (the César) as best actress.
FRI 20
MAR
Suite Francaise CERT 15 (107 mins)
Home CERT U (94 mins)
Starring Michelle Williams, Kristin Scott
Thomas, Matthias Schoenaerts, Sam Riley,
Ruth Wilson, Margot Robbie, Harriet Walter
Directed by Saul Dibb (UK/France/Canada)
Featuring the voices of Rihanna, Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin, Matt
Jones Directed by Tim Johnson (USA)
Although Irène Némirovsky's story of wartime
romance was written in 1942, it wasn’t published until 2004, sixty-two years after her death.
For Némirovsky was a Ukrainian Jew and perished in Auschwitz and never got to complete
her planned quintet of stories. This tale focuses
on Lucille Angellier (Williams), a young wife in
Nazi-occupied France who comes under the
watchful gaze of a German commander (Schoenaerts) posted at the home she shares with her
domineering mother-in-law (Scott Thomas). The
director Saul Dibb previously brought us Bullet
Boy and The Duchess.
There’s no place li... Actually, the loveable
extraterrestrial Oh is very far from home
when he escapes to Earth to evade a nefarious alien race. He then teams up with a
teenage girl, Tip (voiced by Rihanna), and
they both find themselves on the run. The
latest computer-animated feature from
DreamWorks Animation (Shrek, Madagascar, How To Train Your Dragon), Home is
based on the 2007 children’s book The
True Meaning Of Smekday. In 3D.
Released from Fri 20 March
The Gunman CERT 15 (115 mins)
Starring Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone,
Mark Rylance, Javier Bardem, Peter Franzén
Directed by Pierre Morel (USA/France/Spain)
Martin Terrier (Sean Penn) is a former Special
Forces soldier suffering from post-traumatic
stress disorder and decides to throw in the
towel. However, his employers have different
plans - and so Terrier is forced to go on the run.
Based on the 1981 novel The Prone Gunman
by Jean-Patrick Manchette.
Run All Night CERT tbc
Starring Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman, Common, Ed Harris, Génesis Rodríguez, Vincent
D'Onofrio, Boyd Holbrook
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (USA)
Liam Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, an ageing
hitman who finds that his family is in danger
when his old boss turns nasty. Audiences taken
with Mr Neeson’s last few films may lap this up
with a ladle, but we feel the actor isn’t stretching
himself. It’s been twenty-two years since he was
nominated for an Oscar.
X + Y CERT tbc
Starring Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally
Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Jo Yang
Directed by Morgan Matthews (UK)
First Werner Herzog transformed his documentary Little Dieter Needs To Fly into Rescue
Dawn, now Morgan Matthews has dramatised
his own documentary Beautiful Young Minds
into the fictionalised X+Y. Asa Butterfield (The
Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, Hugo) plays
Nathan Ellis, a
teenage maths
prodigy who is chosen
to represent Britain at
the International Mathematical Olympiad.
But because Nathan is
autistic, he has more
than numerical equations to deal with.
The Voices
CERT 15 (104 mins)
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton,
Anna Kendrick, Jacki Weaver, Sam Spruell
Directed by Marjane Satrapi (USA/Germany)
Jerry (Reynolds) is a happy-go-lucky guy with a
serious problem. He can hear his cat and dog
speak. And his cat is urging him to be a serial
killer... It’s actually a comedy - but with very
sharp canine teeth.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 45
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 5
46 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 6
Wild Card
CERT 15 (92 mins)
Starring Jason Statham, Milo Ventimiglia,
Sofía Vergara, Stanley Tucci, Anne Heche
Directed by Simon West (USA)
Jason Statham is Nick Wild and he has a gambling problem. But when he gets on the wrong
side of the mob they wish they’d never gambled
on eliminating
him... A remake of
the 1986 Burt
Reynolds thriller
Heat, this has
turned out to be
Jason Statham’s
biggest flop to date
(amazingly, it only
grossed $3,200 in
the US).
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
CERT tbc
Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Octavia Spencer, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller,
Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet
Directed by Robert Schwentke (USA)
Divergent, the first in Veronica Roth’s literary trilogy, was released in April of last year - and
grossed over $288million worldwide. Now the
second instalment is upon us and maverick Tris
Prior (Woodley) continues her fight against the
totalitarian state that governs a dystopian
Chicago of the future. Hunger Games fans can
lap this up while they wait patiently for Mockingjay - Part 2. In 3D.
Seventh Son CERT 12a (102 mins)
Starring Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes, Julianne
Moore, Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Olivia
Williams, Djimon Hounsou
Directed by Sergei Bodrov
Another month, another franchise. This actionfantasy is based on the novel The Spook's Apprentice by Joseph Delaney, the first chapter in
his Wardstone Chronicles. The London-born
Ben Barnes plays Thomas Ward, a seventh son
of a seventh son, a happenstance that enables
him to see supernatural stuff. It’s a useful gift
and so he’s called on to help the legendary
knight Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) to track
down a powerful witch (Julianne Moore) with
malevolent intent. In 3D.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge
Out Of Water CERT U (92 mins)
Directed by Paul Tibbitt and Mike Mitchell
(USA)
You just can’t keep a good sponge down.
Here, the jolly yellow sea sponge joins forces
with his adversary Plankton to help retrieve
his precious ‘Krabby Patty’ formula. The villain
of the piece - a pirate named Burger-Beard is played by Antonio Banderas. As the film
made almost $100million in its first ten days of
release in the US, we can expect more of the
same in the not too-distant future.
Face Of An Angel CERT 15 (101 mins)
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Daniel Brühl, Cara
Delevingne, Genevieve Gaunt, Ava Acres
Directed by Michael Winterbottom
(UK/Italy/Spain)
Mommy CERT 15 (138 mins)
Starring Anne Dorval, Antoine-Olivier Pilon,
Suzanne Clément
Directed by Xavier Dolan (Canada)
When Diane Després (Dorval) is widowed, she
finds the prospect of bringing up her troublesome son more
than she can cope
with. Then a mysterious neighbour
(Clément) supplies
some unexpected
assistance… Winner of the Jury Prize
at last year’s
Cannes film festival.
Released from Fri 27 March
Get Hard CERT tbc
Starring Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie,
Edwina Findley, Craig T. Nelson
Directed by Etan Cohen (USA)
When millionaire businessman James King (Will
Ferrell) is sent down for ten years for tax evasion, he’s not sure he’s ready for prison. So he
hires Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) to help prepare
him for a life behind bars. If he’s gonna survive,
he’s gotta get hard…
The Signal CERT 15 (97 mins)
Michael Winterbottom is not a director to shy
away from controversy - or to give a fresh perspective on things. Here, he’s taken a real-life
murder case - the sexually motivated killing of
the British student Meredith Kercher - and
turned it into a fictionalised psychological
thriller. Genevieve Gaunt plays a thinly disguised version of the prime suspect, Amanda
Knox, renamed here Jessica Fuller.
Starring Brenton Thwaites, Olivia Cooke, Beau
Knapp, Lin Shaye, Laurence Fishburne
Directed by William Eubank (USA)
On a road trip to California, three MIT students
find themselves taunted by a hacker going by
the moniker of NOMAD. When they decide to
confront NOMAD - and locate ‘his’ lair - they are
transported into an entirely surreal situation...
The scriptwriters (and brothers) William and
Carlyle Eubank have said that they were drawn
to the material by a fascination with "the conflict
between logic and emotion." Be afraid. We
think.
Wild Tales CERT 15 (122 mins)
Starring Ricardo Darín, Óscar Martínez,
Leonardo Sbaraglia, Érica Rivas
Directed by Damián Szifrón (Argentina/Spain)
Nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film, Wild Tales is an anthology of six
tales, all united by themes of violence,
vengeance, love and deception. Incidentally, Ricardo Darín - who plays a luckless demolitions
expert - is the biggest star in Argentina, having
appeared in such films as Nine Queens and
The Secret In Their Eyes.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 47
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 7
Film A-Z LISTINGS
The Duke Of Burgundy
All films are currently on general release
unless otherwise stated. For full listing
information, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
12 Years A Slave 15
The true story of Solomon
Northup, a cultured and
educated family man
who’s kidnapped while
visiting Washington DC
and sold into slavery.
Stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and
Michael Fassbender.
Showing at Forest Arts
Centre, Walsall, Thurs 26
Mar
The Colony
American Sniper 15
The Navy SEAL sniper
Chris Kyle was not nicknamed ‘Legend’ for nothing. He was the most
deadly sniper in US military history. This is his
story. Stars Bradley
Cooper, Sienna Miller.
Showing at The Roses
Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri
13 Mar; Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, South Shropshire,
Wed 18 - Thurs 19 Mar
Dancing In Jaffa PG
Bad Hair 15
Junior is a nine-year-old
boy who has stubbornly
curly hair, or "bad hair". He
wants to have it straightened for his yearbook picture, like a fashionable
pop singer with long,
ironed hair. This puts him
at odds with his mother,
Marta, a young, unemployed widow who finds it
increasingly difficult to tolerate Junior's fixation
with his looks. Showing
at mac, Birmingham, Sun
1, Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Mar
Big Hero 6 U
The fourteen-year-old robotics prodigy Hiro
Hamada forms a team of
crime-fighting robots,
along with the eminently
outsize, huggable Baymax. With the voices of
Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit.
Showing at Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, Mon 30 - Tues 31
Mar; The Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury, Mon 30 Tues 31 Mar
Casablanca Calling
A documentary regarding
the four hundred women
who’ve started to work as
Muslim leaders or Morchidats for the first time in
Morocco. Their mission is
simple: to liberate women
by sharing the true teaching of Islam, freed from
misogynist interpretations.
Showing The Drum, Birmingham, Sun 8 Mar
Filmed at a variety of locations in Birmingham in
1963, The Colony is remarkable for its time in giving a voice to
working-class settlers from
the Caribbean. This
unique screening boasts a
live score performed by
Birmingham Jazz. Showing The Drum, Birmingham, Tues 24 Mar
Four-time ballroom dancing world champion Pierre
Dulaine returns to the
place of his birth, Jaffa - a
city in which two communities continue to grow
apart. Via his Dancing
Classrooms programme,
Pierre seeks to find some
common ground between
the Jewish and Palestinian Israeli children. Showing at Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, South Shropshire,
Mon 9 - Tues 10 Mar
WATCH
THE FILM
T
TRAILERS A k
.co.u
whatsonlive
Dawn Of The Planet Of
The Apes 12a
Here, Caesar and his
army of genetically modified simian soldiers face a
band of humans that survived the virus that all but
wiped out mankind. It’s
ten years on from the
events of the last film
(Rise Of The Planet Of
The Apes), but can the
apes and their subordinate humans reach a
truce? Stars Jason Clarke
and Gary Oldman. Showing at Forest Arts Centre,
Walsall, Fri 6 Mar
CINEMA Box Office
Birmingham
CINEWORLD Broad St, B’ham
0871 200 2000
CINEWORLD Solihull
0871 200 2000
ELECTRIC, B’ham
0121 643 7879
EMPIRE 0871 471 4714
MILLENNIUM POINT
0121 202 2222
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 W’HAMPTON
0871 200 2000
LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE, W’HAMPTON 01902
716055
ODEON MERRY HILL, DUDLEY 0871 22 44007
SHOWCASE, DUDLEY
0871 220 1000
48 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
18
Exploration of the deep
love of two women who
inhabit an almost exclusively female world, and
who’re united by their interest in sado-masochism
and moths and butterflies.
Expect a degree of sexual
fetishism. Stars Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara
D'Anna. Showing at Electric Cinema, Birmingham,
Sat 14 - Mon 16 Mar
Effie Gray 15
Back in the 1850s, ‘Effie,’
the wife of the eminent art
critic John Ruskin, met the
Pre-Raphaelite painter
John Everett Millais. The
resultant affaire de cœur
has been the subject of
much speculation. Stars
Dakota Fanning & Emma
Thompson. Showing at
Edge Arts Centre, Much
Wenlock, Mon 23 Mar;
Foxlowe Arts Centre,
Leek, Staffs, Tues 24 Mar
Fantastic Mr Fox PG
For twelve years, Mr and
Mrs Fox (voices of
George Clooney and
Meryl Streep) have lived a
peaceful life in the wilderness with their son, Ash.
Shortly after their young
nephew, Kristofferson, arrives for a visit, Mr. Fox's
long-suppressed animal
instincts begin to take
over and the faithful family
man resorts back to his
old ways as a cunning
chicken thief, endangering not only his family but
the entire animal community as well. Showing at
The Courtyard, Hereford,
Tues 31 Mar
Fifty Shades Of Grey
18
The first volume of EL
James’ ‘literary’ trilogy
was initially deemed
smutty, even pornographic. In August of
2012, Amazon announced that it had sold
more copies of the novel
than the entire Harry Potter series put together. So
a film version was inevitable, and here we
have it. Stars Dakota
Johnson and Jamie Dornan. Showing at Light
House Media Centre, until
Thurs 5 Mar; Electric Cinema, Birmingham, until
Thurs 5 Mar
Foxcatcher 15
one (a true story) Channing Tatum dons the
tights as Mark Schultz, as
does Mark Ruffalo as his
brother, Dave. But it’s
Steve Carell’s performance as Channing’s sponsor and coach that people
are talking about. Showing at Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, Sun 1 - Tues 3
Mar; Stoke Film Theatre,
Thurs 5 - Fri 6 Mar; The
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Fri 6 Mar; Old Market
Hall, Shrewsbury, Tues 24
- Thurs 26 Mar
Gone Girl 18
Nick Dunne, on his fifth
wedding anniversary, reports the disappearance of
his wife. Then, as a media
frenzy builds around the
gone girl, suspicion starts
to fall on Nick himself…
Stars Ben Affleck,
Rosamund Pike. Showing
at Stourbridge Townhall,
Mon 16 Mar
The Hundred-Foot Journey PG
When Hassan Kadam and
his family are displaced
from their native India,
they set up a new restaurant in the South of
France. However,
Madame Mallory, the proprietress of a traditional
French restaurant down
the street, is determined to
give the new upstarts hell.
Stars Helen Mirren and
Om Puri. Showing at
Stourbridge Town Hall,
Mon 2 Mar
A documentary telling the
story of Ras Seymour
Maclean, who was convicted and imprisoned for
reclaiming over two thousand books on Ethiopian
and African history from
British institutions. Showing
at The Drum, Birmingham,
Thurs 19 Mar
The Judge 15
Estranged from his family,
top city lawyer Hank
Palmer (Robert Downey
Jr) returns to the small
town of Carlinville, in Indiana, for his mother's funeral. He then discovers
that his father, the local
judge, has been accused
of murder. Also stars
Robert Duvall. Showing at
Edge Arts Centre, Mon 16
Mar
Kingsman: The Secret
Service 15
Poland 1962; orphaned
novice nun Sister Anna is
about to take her vows
when she finds out that
she was originally named
Ida and is Jewish. So she
goes on a search for the
truth about her parents.
Stars Agata Kulesza.
Showing at The Hive,
Shrewsbury, Mon 2 Mar
The Imitation Game 12a
Kon Tiki 15
Based on the biography,
Alan Turing: The Enigma,
by Andrew Hodges, the
film chronicles Turing’s
part in winning the Second World War (by helping to crack the Nazi’s
Enigma code) and then
his criminal prosecution
for being homosexual.
Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley.
Showing at mac, Birmingham, Mon 2- wed 4 Mar
In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl
crossed the Pacific Ocean
in a balsa wood raft to
prove that South Americans could have settled on
the Polynesian islands.
This is an old-fashioned
man-against-the-elements
adventure epic, propelled
by human-scaled heroics.
Part classic adventure tale,
part history lesson. Stars
Pal Sverre Hagen, Anders
Christiansen. Showing at
Old Market Hall, Shrews-
Ida 12a
Into The Woods PG
A complex weave of the
FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL 01922 645 555
ODEON TELFORD
0871 224 4007
OMH SHREWSBURY
01743 281281
WEM TOWN HALL
01939 232299
CINEWORLD, SHREWSBURY
0871 200 2000
THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE,
MUCH WENLOCK
01952 728 911
FESTIVAL DRAYTON CENTRE,
MARKET DRAYTON
01630 654 444
THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY
01743 234 970
LUDLOW ASSEMBLY ROOMS
01584 878 141
MAJESTIC, BRIDGNORTH
01746 761815
The Jamaican Book Liberator
This spy adventure unites
director Matthew Vaughn
with the scenarist Jane
Goldman for the fourth
time (cf. Stardust, Kick-Ass,
X-Men: First Class). Colin
Firth plays a veteran secret
agent who takes on a
young protégé. Showing at
The Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury, Sun 22 - Wed
25 Mar; Festival Drayton
Centre, Market Drayton, Fri
20 & Mon 23 Mar
There aren’t enough films
about wrestlers. In this
Shropshire
fairytales Cinderella, Little
Red Riding Hood, Jack
And The Beanstalk and
Rapunzel, dexterously
shuffling our notions of
these legends and coming
up with something altogether more elaborate and
darker. Stars Meryl Streep,
Emily Blunt. Showing at
Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 27 - Sun 29 Mar;
Ludlow Assembly Rooms,
South Shropshire, Tues 31
Mar; Wem Town Hall, North
Shropshire, Tues 31 Mar
Staffordshire
CINEWORLD, BURTON-UPONTRENT 0871 200 2000
THE STAFFORD CINEMA,
STAFFORD
0207 438 9580
FOXLOWE ARTS CENTRE,
LEEK 01538 386 112
STOKE FILM THEATRE, 01782
411188
ODEON TAMWORTH
0871 224 4007
Warwickshire
ODEON COVENTRY
0871 224 4007
ODEON NUNEATON
0871 224 4007
SHOWCASE, COVENTRY
0871 220 1000
VUE, LEAMINGTON SPA
08712 240 240
PICTURE HOUSE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 0871 902
5741
WARWICK ARTS CENTRE
COVENTRY 02476 524524
bury, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Mar
Laura Mvula & The
Metropole Orkest 12a
Laura Mvula Live At The
Paradiso With The Metropole Orkest in Amsterdam
was sold out months in
advance, but can now be
seen exclusively in cinemas for one night only.
With a Q&A introduction
by Laura Mvula - live from
London - plus a live finale
acoustic set especially for
cinema audiences. Showing at mac, Birmingham,
Thurs 5 Mar
Locke 15
While driving from Birmingham to London, a construction manager
receives a phone call. The
remainder of the film sees
Ivan Locke attempting to
salvage his life via mobile
phone as he continues to
race home. Stars Tom
Hardy, with the voices of
Tom Holland, Olivia Colman. Showing at The Hive,
Shrewsbury, Fri 20 Mar
Love, Honour And Disobey
A documentary investigating domestic violence in
Britain's black and ethnic
minority communities
through the eyes of
Southall Black Sisters.
Showing at mac, Birmingham, Sun 1 - Tues 3 &
Thurs 5 Mar; The Drum,
Birmingham, Fri 6 Mar
Love Is Strange 15
After nearly four decades
together, Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred
Molina) finally tie the knot
in an idyllic wedding ceremony in lower Manhattan.
But when George loses
his job soon after, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live
apart until they can find an
affordable new home.
Stars John Lithgow and
Alfred Molina. Showing at
mac, Birmingham, Sun 1 Tues 3 & Thurs 5 Mar;
Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek,
Staffs, Tues 10 Mar
Magdala Campaign
An account from Ras Seymour regarding the desecration, destruction and
theft by British forces in
1868 of thousands of
priceless religious icons,
books, manuscripts, vestments and vessels with
sacred significance, when
they stormed the fortress
city of Magdala in
Ethiopia. Showing at The
Worcestershire
ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE
01527 577330
MALVERN THEATRE
0845 287 2146
THE NORBURY THEATRE,
DROITWICH SPA
08444 777 1000
WAREHOUSE,
KIDDERMINSTER
01562 747773
VUE, WORCESTER
0871 224 0240
THE ROSE’S THEATRE,
TEWKESBURY
01684 295 074
Film March Davina.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 21:49 Page 8
Drum, Birmingham, Thurs
19 Mar
A Most Violent Year 15
In 1981 it was a most dangerous year in New York
City, and immigrant businessman Abel Morales
struggles to keep his head
above water. Stars Oscar
Isaac and Jessica Chastain. Showing at Stoke
Film Theatre, Stoke-onTrent, Thurs 12 - Fri 13
Mar; Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, South Shropshire,
Fri 13, Mon 16 - Tues 17
Mar; The Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury, Wed 18 Mar
A Most Wanted Man 15
Set in the world of the war
on terror and featuring a
half-Chechen, half-Russian Muslim who turns up
in Hamburg with a claim
to a huge fortune. Stars
Philip Seymour Hoffman
and Rachel McAdams.
Showing at Foxlowe Arts
Centre, Leek, Staffs, Tues
17 Mar
My Old Lady 12a
This is all a bit of a reunion
for Kristin Scott Thomas,
as she’s previously starred
alongside both Kevin Kline
and Maggie Smith. Here,
she plays the old lady’s
daughter, her mother
being the sole occupant of
a Parisian apartment inherited by a New Yorker.
Showing at Foxlowe Arts
Centre, Leek, Staffs, Tues
31 Mar
The National Gallery 12a
The National Gallery in
London is one of the great
museums of the world. Almost every human experience is represented in one
or the other of the paintings. The sequences of the
film show the public in various galleries and the
scholars, scientists and curators studying, restoring
and planning the exhibitions. Showing at Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Sun
22 Mar; Ludlow Assembly
Rooms, South Shropshire,
Fri 27 & Tues 31 Mar; The
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun 29 Mar
Northern Soul 15
An authentic, uplifting
drama about two friends
whose horizons are expanded forever by their
discovery of black American soul music. With supporting turns from Steve
Coogan, Lisa Stansfield
and Ricky Tomlinson,
amongst others. Showing
at Edge Arts Centre, Much
Wenlock, Mon 9 Mar
The Past 12a
A study of modern family
life in emotional flux, set in
a Paris suburb where
Ahmad arrives from
Tehran to divorce his tempestuous, estranged wife
Marie. Stars Ali Mosaffa
and Bérénice Bejo. Showing at The Hive, Shrewsbury, Wed 11 Mar
The Riot Club 15
For Riot Club read the
Bullingdon Club, the Ox-
ford University establishment known for its rambunctious rituals and
elaborate banquets.
Adapted by Laura Wade
from her own play, Posh.
Stars Max Irons and Sam
Claflin. Showing at Edge
Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Mon 2 Mar
Selma 12a
The story of Martin Luther
King’s legendary march
from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in
1965, to secure equal voting rights for black Americans. Stars David
Oyelowo and Tom Wilkinson. Showing at Light
House Media Centre,
Wolverhampton, until
Thurs 5 Mar; The Roses
Theatre, Tewkesbury, Sun
29 - Tues 31 Mar
The Second Best Exotic
Marigold Hotel 12a
The Best Exotic Marigold
Hotel (2012), adapted
from Deborah Moggach's
novel, These Foolish
Things, was a huge and
unexpected hit. The good
news is that John Madden
(Shakespeare In Love,
Mrs Brown) returns for the
sequel, in which the hapless Sonny Kapoor (Dev
Patel) has opened the
new Second Best Exotic
Marigold Hotel. Showing
at Electric Cinema, Birmingham, until Thurs 5 Mar;
Malvern Theatres, until
Thurs 12 Mar; Old Market
Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 6 -
Thurs 26 Mar; Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South
Shropshire, Fri 20 - Mon
30 Mar
Set Fire To the Stars 15
Taking its title from the last
line of Dylan Thomas’s
Love In The Asylum, this
is the story of the Welsh
poet’s first visit to America.
Elijah Wood plays the literary critic and aspiring poet
John Malcolm Brinnin,
who brings Thomas along
and has to suffer the consequences. Stars Elijah
Wood, Celyn Jones.
Showing at Old Market
Hall, Shrewsbury, until
Thurs 5 Mar
Stations Of The Cross
15
Divided into fourteen
chapters to mirror the
number of stages of
Christ’s judgement up to
his burial, this is probably
one of the year’s most unusual films. Winner of the
best script award at Berlin,
it focuses on the fourteen year-old Maria who follows
the aforementioned fourteen stages through which
to reach her nirvana per
the dictates of the fundamentalist Catholic community in which she’s
raised. Stars Lea van
Acken, Hanns Zischler.
Showing at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South
Shropshire, Wed 4 - Thurs
5 Mar; The Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury, Thurs 26 Mar
Testament Of Youth 12a
During World War One, a
young English woman
named Vera Brittain postpones her studies at Oxford
University to serve as a Voluntary Aid Detachment
nurse in London and
abroad. Stars Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington. Showing
at Stoke Film Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 3
Mar; The Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury, Tues 3 Thurs 12 Mar; Festival
Drayton Centre, Market
Drayton, Fri 13 - Sat 14
Mar; Wem Town Hall,
North Shropshire, Tues 17
- Thurs 19 Mar; mac,
Birmingham, Mon 23,
Wed 25 & Thurs 26 Mar
The Theory Of Everything 12a
The story of Stephen
Hawking is one of the most
remarkable and stirring of
the twentieth century.
That’s why it was turned
into a TV movie. This edition is told from the viewpoint of Hawking’s first wife,
Jane Wilde. Stars Eddie
Redmayne, Felicity Jones.
Showing at Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 1 - Tues 3 Mar;
Festival Drayton Centre,
Market Drayton, Mon 2 &
Mon 16 Mar
drumming, a distinctive,
unusual and completely
engrossing experience.
Stars Miles Teller and JK
Simmons. Showing at
Wem Town Hall, North
Shropshire, Wed 4 Thurs 5
Mar; Stoke Film Theatre,
Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 7 Mar;
Ludlow Assembly Rooms,
South Shropshire, Tues 10
- Thurs 12 Mar; The Roses
Theatre, Tewkesbury, Tues
17 Mar; Festival Drayton
Centre, Market Drayton
Centre, Fri 27 - Sat 28 Mar
Wild 15
Adapted (by Nick Hornby)
from her own memoir, this
is the story of Cheryl
Strayed, who hiked one
thousand, one hundred
miles of the Pacific Crest
Trail. Stars Reese Witherspoon. Showing at Ludlow Assembly Rooms,
South Shropshire, Fri 6 Sun 8 Mar; The Roses
Theatre, Tewkesbury,
Thurs 12 Mar
The Woman In Black:
Angel Of Death 12a
Whiplash 15
A thoroughly gripping
drama about passion,
ambition, perfectionism
and the obstacles that impede our path to success.
A suspenseful film about
When a group of schoolchildren are evacuated
from London during the
Blitz, they are moved to
the remote Eel Marsh
House. But what happens
there is far worse than
anything the Luftwaffe
could mete out.... Stars
Helen McCrory, Jeremy
Irvine. Showing at The
Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Mon 16 - Tues 17
Mar
Winter Sleep 15
Interstellar
DVD NEW RELEASES
Mr. Turner 12a
The Imitation Game 12a
Mr Turner is arguably
Britain’s greatest artist of
all time. Here director
Mike Leigh captures the
feel of the period and
people in Turner’s life
with a colourful catalogue of caricatures.
Starring Timothy Spall,
Dorothy Atkinson and
Paul Jesson.
Released 2 March
Based on the biography
by Andrew Hodges, the
film chronicles Alan Turing’s part in winning the
Second World War and
then his criminal prosecution for being homosexual. Stars Benedict
Cumberbatch.
Released 9 March
Paddington PG
A live-action rendering of
the loveable bear, with
Paddington himself created via CGI and animatronics. Stars Hugh
Bonneville and Sally
Hawkins.
Released 23 March
Leviathan 15
In a small coastal town
by the Barents Sea, an
ordinary family is harassed by a corrupt local
mayor, who has his sites
on both their land and
business. To save themselves, the father calls on
an old army friend from
Moscow. Stars Vladimir
Vdovichenkov.
Released 9 March
Pride 15
The Homesman 15
An unlikely Western, this,
in which a man and
woman team up to escort three mentally impaired women from
Nebraska to Iowa. From
the 1988 novel by Glendon Swarthout. Stars
Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary
Swank and Hailee Steinfeld. Released 23 March
Based on actual
events, this is the
story of how a group
of LGBT activists attempted to raise
money to help families affected by the
1984 miners' strike.
Starring Bill Nighy,
Imelda Staunton and
Dominic West.
Released 2 March
Penguins Of
Madagascar
U
Like the Nickelodeon TV
series The Penguins Of
Madagascar, this fulllength feature is an off-
shoot from DreamWorks’
Madagascar trilogy. This
one features a lot of penguins and is a spy thriller
(seriously) - with a lot of
laughs. Featuring the
voices of Tom McGrath,
Chris Miller and John
DiMaggio.
Released 23 March
In 2014 Palme d'Or winner
Winter Sleep, Aydin, a former actor, runs a small
hotel in central Anatolia
with his young wife, Nihal
- with whom he has a
stormy relationship - and
his sister, Necla, who’s
suffering from her recent
divorce. In winter, as the
snow begins to fall, the
hotel turns into a shelter but also an inescapable
place that fuels their animosities… Stars Haluk
Bilginer, Melisa Sözen and
Demet Akbag.
Released 23 March
12a
The tale of the journey undertaken by a group of
astronauts through a
wormhole. Think Gravity
with more star names.
Starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne
Hathaway.
Released 30 March
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 49
Visual Arts March.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 15:34 Page 1
Visual Arts March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:08 Page 1
Visual Arts
Ahead Of The Curve:
New China From China
The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent,
Sat 14 March - Sun 31 May
Contemporary ceramics and glass produced by
twenty emerging and established Chinese artists
is showcased in this international touring exhibition, which demonstrates current practices from
Jingdezhen and Shanghai.
The show also features exquisite objects from the
museum’s own collection of historic Chinese
ceramics, providing visitors with the opportunity to
compare and contrast the ancient and modern.
Shao Changzong, Dreamer, 2011 © the artist
New Art West Midlands
Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Saturday 25
April; Birmingham Museum & Gallery, until Sun 17
May; The Barber Institute, Birmingham, until Sun
17 May; Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry,
until Sun 31 May
Thirty of the region’s best emerging artists are this
month being given the opportunity to showcase
their work, as the third edition of the New Art West
Midlands exhibition takes its place at four local art
galleries.
A Turning Point West Midlands initiative, New Art
West Midlands features an eclectic mix of artistic
disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, performance, installation and video work.
All the participating artists have graduated from
one of the region’s undergraduate or postgraduate fine art degree courses during the past three
years.
“It’s exciting to see how New Art West Midlands
has grown since 2013,” says Wendy Law, Director
of Turning Point West Midlands. “There’s an interesting and diverse range of talent and work coming out of our art schools and universities today.
New Art West Midlands provides an important
opportunity at a crucial point in the careers of
these artists, enabling them to have their work displayed in highly respected galleries and to be
seen and enjoyed by a large public.”
Copyright Andrew Rinkhy/ Kogelnik Foundation Vienna/New York
Pop In Space: We Choose To Go To The Moon
Wolverhampton Art Gallery, until Sat 18 July
Artists’ responses to the Cold War-era Space Race are presented and explored in this
fascinating exhibition, which highlights the impact of creatives such as Eduardo Paolozzi,
Gerald Laing, David Lamelas and Kiki Kogelnik. By employing space imagery to reflect
the glamour and power of infinite exploration, these and other artists created striking
space-age imagery during the 1950s and ’60s.
The exhibition also explores the tensions which arose from the technological and ideological rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union, both of whom were focused on outmanoeuvring the other in the field of space exploration.
RPS International
Print 157
Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford,
Sat 14 March - Sun 10 May
In 2014, the Royal
Photographic Society’s
Annual International Print
Exhibition - now in its one
hundred-and-fifty-seventh
year - received over six thousand entries from professional, student and amateur photographers across the world.
A panel of professionals has
selected one hundred
images to be exhibited in this
year’s show, with documentary, portrait, landscape and
fine art photography all
being represented.
A fully illustrated catalogue
of all the images is available
from the gallery during the
exhibition.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 51
Visual Arts March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:08 Page 2
VisualArts PREVIEWS VisualArts LISTINGS
Further exhibitions
Bilston’s Happy Housing:
Otto Neurath’s Vision
Bilston Craft Gallery, Sat 7 March - Sat 2 May
‘Most people of Bilston don’t realise the significance of the town’s housing designs,”
says Carol Thompson, Bilston Craft Gallery’s
Exhibitions Officer, “so this is a fantastic
opportunity to tell the story of Stowlawn
estate and its curious links to Vienna.”
Bilston’s Happy Housing draws together
archival material, recordings and recollections to tell the story of how Austrian sociologist Dr Otto Neurath brought his radical,
community-focused approach to living from
Vienna to the Black Country.
Invited in 1946 to be Bilston’s Consultant for
Happiness, he inspired its town planners to
create Stowlawn
Otto Neurath c.1940.
Estate, which
Österreichisches Gesellschaftswas built
und Wirtschaftsmuseum
around a number of green
fields.
“The post-war
period was a
remarkable time
for bold new
approaches to
design,” continues Carol, “and
this exhibition
will capture the
optimistic mood
of that era.”
Sikander Pervez
New Art Gallery, Walsall, until Sun 19 April
Sikander Pervez’s fast-growing reputation is
sure to be further enhanced by this new exhibition, the artist’s first solo show since graduating from Staffordshire University in 2013.
Nodding reverentially in the direction of
Cubism practitioners Pablo Picasso and
Georges Braque, Sikander takes mundane
objects and materials such as chairs, wood,
castors and wheels and transforms them by
challenging or exaggerating their original
function.
For this new installation, the artist has
worked with modern flat-pack furniture - a
pine dining table and chairs - in order to contemplate the relationship of the body to the
space it occupies.
Sikander was chosen as one of New Art
West Midlands’ 2014 artists. The initiative celebrates the work of some of the best graduates from West Midlands universities.
For full listing information on Visual Art
exhibitions, including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
DOUBLE TAKE: THE
KOESTLER EXHIBITION
FOR THE WEST MIDLANDS Artwork, audio
and creative writing
from prisons, secure
hospitals and young
offenders institutes in
the West Midlands, until
Sun 1 March, mac,
Birmingham
MODERN WOMEN A twohanded exhibition by
Binita Walia & Emilia
Telese, until 7 Mar,
AirSpace Gallery,
Stoke-on-Trent
STEPHEN I COOPER: PORTRAITS IN THE FLESH
Portraits painted in a
loose yet figurative
style, until Sat 7 Mar,
Wolverhampton Art
Gallery
ROBERT HAND ARBSA
Solo show featuring a
combination of handbuilt raku & pit-fired
ceramics, until Sat 7
Mar, RBSA Gallery,
Birmingham
RED TO RUST Featuring
eight paintings of
industrial landscapes
by Stourbridge artist
Cedric Smith, until Sat
7 Mar, Dudley Museum
& Art Gallery
‘SCAPES A broad-ranging look at the outside
world through the eyes
of selected contemporary artists, including
John Thirlwall, David
Brammeld, Lisa
Henderson, Noel
Bennett, Michael Leigh
& Angela Maloney, until
Sun 8 Mar, Shire Hall
Gallery, Stafford
PAUL KIDBY: DISCWORLD
AND BEYOND EXHIBITION
Touring exhibition from
St Barbe Museum & Art
Gallery, showcasing a
collection of drawings,
watercolours & oils
most famously associated with the book jackets of Terry Pratchett’s
Discworld novels, until
Wed 11 Mar, Newcastle
Borough Museum & Art
Gallery
WORLD WAR ONE: IN THE
WORDS OF WORCESTERSHIRE PEOPLE Part of a
series of events in
Worcestershire commemorating the
anniversary of the First
World War, until Sat 14
Mar, Worcester City
Museum & Art Gallery
NATURAL BY GRACE
MAYNE Featuring works
in acrylics, oils,
gouache, pencil, oil
pastels & charcoal,
until Sat 14 Mar, Bilston
Craft Gallery
RASTAFARI: THE MAJESTY
Exhibition which details
the history of Haile
Selassie I, Emperor of
Ethiopia, and the Black
52 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
liberation 'movement'
that takes the
Emperor's crown prince
title, Ras Tafari, until
Mon 23 Mar, The Drum,
Birmingham
FORWARD 100: BIRMINGHAM AT WAR This exhibition draws on reproductions of material in
the Cadbury Research
Library collections relating to the history of the
First Southern General
Hospital (depicted in a
1917 painting by Cecil
Price). Curated by postgraduate students from
the University of
Birmingham, until Fri 27
Mar, Library Foyer,
University of
Birmingham
OPEN ALL MEDIA EXHIBITION Showcasing artists
from across the UK
working in a variety of
media. Work from
guest artist, Peter
Monaghan, also features, until Sat 28
March, RBSA,
Birmingham
MAT JENNER: DREAMS
TIME FREE until Fri 3
Apr, Grand Union,
Birmingham
ELIZABETH ROWE
Disparate images carefully selected from
women’s magazines,
National Geographic
volumes & old books
feature at the heart of
Elizabeth Rowe’s work,
until Sun 5 Apr, New Art
Gallery, Walsall
BIRMINGHAM SHOW
Large-scale group exhibition, until Sat 11 Apr,
Eastside Projects,
Birmingham
JERWOOD ENCOUNTERS
3-PHASE SHOW 1 First of
two exhibitions by
emerging artists - in
this case, Kelly Best
and Georgie Grace,
until Sat 11 Apr,
Eastside Projects,
Birmingham
WILL SHANNON: THE
CLOSET CRAFTSMAN In
this new exhibition for
Birmingham, Shannon
produces Market
Factory. Resonating
with Birmingham’s heritage as a place for
trade and making
things, the new workspace will manufacture
limited-edition chairs for
sale, until Sun 19 Apr,
mac, Birmingham
AK DOLVEN Anne Katrine
Dolven shows paintings, film, video, photography & sound
installation alongside
the extraordinary landscapes of fellow
Norwegian artist, nineteenth century painter
Peder Balke, until Sun
19 April, Ikon Gallery,
Birmingham
Found - New Art Gallery, Walsall
Julie Cockburn, The Telepath, 2014, Hand embroidery
on found photograph. © Julie Cockburn, courtesy
Flowers London.
NASTIO MOSQUITO: DAILY
LOVEMAKING Exhibition
fusing music, photography, film & performance
poetry to reflect on the
nature of the globalised
world, and how lovemaking can act as an
antidote to corruption
and hypocrisy, until
Sun 19 Apr, Ikon
Gallery, Birmingham
STEVE EVANS ARBSA
Display of abstract perspex works & ink drawings, until Sat 25 April,
RBSA Gallery,
Birmingham
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND WELCOMES An
exhibition showcasing
collected welcomes
from Birmingham &
beyond, until Sun 26
Apr, mac, Birmingham
SECRET EGYPT EXHIBITION Showcase of over
one hundred-and-fifty
objects which contest
modern misconceptions about Ancient
Egypt, until Sun 26 Apr,
Shrewsbury Museum &
Art Gallery
REVOLUTIONISING FASHION Display of elegant
eighteenth & early-nineteenth century British
miniatures by the likes
of Richard Cosway,
George Engleheart &
John Smart, until Sun
26 April, The Barber
Institute, Birmingham
DARREN BANKS: THE
RAVEN A body of work
inspired by the legacy
of Churton Fairman better known by his
alias, Mark Raven, until
Sun 26 April, New Art
Gallery, Walsall
THE POETIC IMPOSSIBILITY TO MANAGE THE INFINITE Exhibition which
documents our quest
to penetrate the astrophysical reality of the
universe in order to better understand time,
space & matter, until
Sat 2 May,
Wolverhampton Art
Gallery
MADE AT MAC: TEXTILES
Featuring work from
mac’s From Paper To
Fabric course, until Sun
3 May, mac,
Birmingham
FOUND Bringing together seven contemporary
artists who work with
found images, until Sun
3 May, New Art Gallery,
Walsall
ROBERT GROVES: GOLDEN
YEARS Constellation of
small golden paintings
(c.1965) which reflect
the artist’s strong interest in Middle Eastern &
South Asian culture,
until Mon 4 May, Ikon
Gallery, Birmingham
HIDDEN TREASURES
CRAFT EXHIBITION
Exhibition featuring new
techniques such as 3Dprinting to examine current trends in ceramics
& jewellery, until Sat 9
May, RBSA Gallery,
Birmingham
ON THE RIGHT TRACKS
Exhibition exploring
Wolverhampton’s
involvement in the
growth of the railways,
until Sun 10 May,
Bantock House
Museum,
Wolverhampton
STONES & BONES EXHIBITION Discover more
about the early history
of the Midlands and
how that history was
uncovered, recorded
and told by prominent
local geologists and
scientists, until Sun 17
May, Library of
Birmingham
GODS AND HEROES
Seeking to uncover the
methods and motives
behind the representation of the superhuman
and supernatural in art.
Subjects drawn from
both ancient mythology
and the Judo-Christian
tradition feature, until
Mon 25 May, The
Barber Institute,
Birmingham
ART FROM ELSEWHERE:
INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART FROM UK
GALLERIES Touring exhibition which considers
themes of global
change, postcolonial
experiences and failed
utopias, until Sun 31
May, Waterhall Gallery,
Birmingham Museum &
Art Gallery
FAITH & ACTION: QUAKERS & THE FIRST WORLD
WAR Exhibition which
uses original photographs, film interviews
Visual Arts March Region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:08 Page 3
& artefacts to tell the
compelling stories of
Quaker men and
women during the
1914-1918 conflict and
its aftermath, until Sun
7 June, Birmingham
Museum & Art Gallery
THE JEWELLERY QUARTER DURING THE FIRST
WORLD WAR Exhibition
of artefacts, images
and oral histories relating to the recruitment of
soldiers from the
Jewellery Quarter, until
Sat 27 June, The
Jewellery Quarter,
Birmingham
POP IN SPACE: WE
CHOOSE TO GO TO THE
MOON Exploring artists’
responses to the Space
Race during the Cold
War, until Sat 18 July,
Wolverhampton Art
Gallery
SOLDIERS’ STORIES:
BIRMINGHAM AND THE
ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE
REGIMENT 1914 - 1918
Exhibition which commemorates the centenary of the First World
War and recounts the
experiences of
Birmingham men who
served in the regiment
between 1914 and
1918, using personal
objects, medals &
memorabilia, until Sun
26 July, Birmingham
Museum & Art Gallery
INHERITING ROME
Exhibition which uses
money to explore and
question our deep-seated familiarity with the
Roman Empire’s
imagery, until Sun 24
Jan 2016, The Barber
Institute, Birmingham
LUCIE GREEN EXHIBITION
Featuring a range of
linocuts, woodcuts, collagraphs & etchings,
depicting various subjects from still life to
interiors and scenes
from other countries,
Wed 4 - Sun 29 Mar,
The Granary, Weston
Park, Staffordshire
FACE TO FACE Come
face to face with artists,
academics, everyday
folk - and even a countess - in this portrait
exhibition from the
Dudley collections, Sat
7 Mar - Sat 27 June,
Dudley Museum & Art
Gallery
SIGN, SYMBOL & SCRIPT
David Walton’s large
abstract paintings,
based on the symbolic
marks on ancient
stones, Sat 14 Mar Sat 11 Apr,
Wolverhampton Art
Gallery
DISRUPTED Curated by
Noemi Lakmaier, this
exhibition invites visitors to encounter the
‘other’ - that which is
different and unfamiliar,
Sat 14 Mar - Sun 3
May, mac, Birmingham
CAROLINE DEVINE: POET-
ICS OF (OUTER SPACE)
Installation exploring
the natural acoustic
resonances of stars
and the orbits of newly
discovered exoplanets here sonified data from
the NASA Kepler
Mission is presented as
an evolving composition, Wed 18 - Sun 22
Mar, Perrott’s Folly,
Waterworks Rd,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham
FRACTURES: WWI TO
21ST CENTURY HEALING
A new digital installation celebrating the
remarkable story of Sir
Robert Jones and
Dame Agnes Hunt, pioneering partners who
revolutionised modern
orthopaedics and nursing rehabilitation, Wed
18 Mar - Sun 3 May,
Qube Gallery,
Oswestry, North
Shropshire
YOU ARE HERE A series
of newly commissioned
audio & video portraits
by Chris Paul Daniels of
residents and workers
from Digbeth and
Bordesley Village,
Thurs 9 Mar - Fri 3 Apr,
A3 Project Space,
Digbeth, Birmingham
INTERLACE BY RUTH
SINGER & BETHANY
WALKER New collaboration between textile
artists Ruth Singer &
Bethany Walker which
features a combination
of delicate, manipulated
textiles set into concrete, Sat 21 Mar - Sat
18 Apr, Bilston Craft
Gallery
multimedia work investigates cognition and
habit, Thurs 26 Mar Mon 6 Apr, The Drum,
Birmingham
FACING THE SUN
Exhibition of new oil
paintings by Edward
Bell, Mon 23 Mar - Sat
18 Apr, Silk Top Hat
Gallery, Ludlow, South
Shropshire
OPEN ART AND CRAFT
EXHIBITION Open to all
artists, makers & photographers who live,
work or study in
Staffordshire, Sat 28
Mar - Sun 31 May,
Newcastle Borough
Museum, Staffordshire
SARANJIT BIRDI - COGN, I
Using drawing, dance
and digital media, this
& PLAY EXHIBITION A
show by Colin
Wilkinson & John
Shakespeare RBSA
which celebrates everyday life and objects,
Mon 30 Mar - Sat 11
Apr, RBSA, Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM WATERCOLOUR SOCIETY EXHIBITION Tues 31 Mar - Wed
29 Apr, The Granary,
Weston Park,
Staffordshire
EAT, DRINK, WORK, REST
Museums & Art Galleries
Birmingham
Black Country
ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield
0121 323 3776
BARBER INSTITUTE
0121 414 7333
BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM &
ART GALLERY
0121 303 2834
CASTLE GALLERIES
0121 248 8484
BANTOCK HOUSE
WOLVERHAMPTON
01902 552195
BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY
01902 552507
BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS
MUSEUM, DUDLEY
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
GRAND UNION
0121 643 9079
IKON GALLERY
0121 248 0708
NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY
0121 643 9099
RBSA GALLERY
0121 2364353
STRYX GALLERY, DIGBETH
stryxarts@gmail.com
THREE WHITE WALLS
GALLERY
0121 200 3328
SHREWSBURY MUSEUM &
ART GALLERY
01743 258885
TWENTY TWENTY GALLERY,
MUCH WENLOCK
01952 727952
THE WILLOW GALLERY,
OSWESTRY
01691 657575
QUBE GALLERY, OSWESTRY
01691 656882
Staffordshire
Shropshire
NEWCASTLE BOROUGH
MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
01782 232323
THE POTTERIES MUSEUM &
ART GALLERY, STOKE-ONTRENT 01782 232323
SHIRE HALL GALLERY
STAFFORD 01785 278345
STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM,
SHUGBOROUGH
01889 881388
BEAR STEPS GALLERY,
SHREWSBURY
01743 344994
Visit whatsonlive.co.uk
for venue website details
For more visual arts listings, visit, www.whatsonlive.co.uk 53
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 1
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 2
Events
Drayton Manor Theme Park Tamworth, Staffordshire, open daily from 9.45am (From Wed 25 March)
Drayton Manor Theme Park reopens for the new season this month complete with a newly expanded Thomas Land. The Staffordshire
venue’s popular Thomas The Tank Engine attraction has been
increased in size by a staggering forty percent and features three
brand new rides.
Drayton Manor is celebrating its sixty-fifth birthday this year and will
be offering its visitors the chance to enjoy plenty of thrills and spills in
the months ahead.
The park boasts some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides
around, including white-knuckle thrillers such as adrenaline-inducing
drop-tower Apocalypse, Europe’s only stand-up coaster, Shockwave,
stomach-churning gyro-swing Maelstrom, and the acrobatic aeroplane flight, Air Race. There’s also the Ben 10: Ultimate Mission
rollercoaster, a fifteen-acre zoo and a 4D cinema - featuring special
simulations - to enjoy.
“We’re proud of our heritage here at Drayton Manor Theme Park,”
says the visitor attraction’s CEO, Colin Bryan. “We’re still family
owned and understand what our visitors want in order to ensure that
they have a fun-filled day out that everyone can enjoy.”
Shen Yun
Hobbycrafts
International Convention Centre, Birmingham,
Sat 28 - Sun 29 March
NEC, Birmingham,
Thurs 19 - Sun 22 March
Shen Yun Performing Arts’ stated mission is to
revive five millennia of civilisation. That’s no
small order, but they nonetheless make a
decent fist of it with this high-energy show,
taking their audience on ‘an extraordinary
journey to the lost land of the ancient Middle
Kingdom’. ‘Magical legends and heavenly
realms’ abound in a production that brings
together classical Chinese dance with ethnic
and folk dances. ‘Stunning’ animated backdrops, ‘exquisite’ costumes and an orchestra
blending East and West also feature.
A dream for craft enthusiasts, this award-winning
event is the UK’s largest creative crafts show - providing
talks and demonstrations, an
unrivalled array of hands-on
experiences and plenty of
inspiration for the thousands
of visitors who pass through
its doors.
A ticket to the show also
allows entry into
Hobbycraft’s companion
events...
Sewing For Pleasure features
some of the very best in the
industry helping visitors
brush up on their talents.
Fashion Embroidery & Stitch,
meanwhile, is the ultimate
showcase for those with a
love of stitch and textiles.
The event features costumes
from the retail-inspired TV
drama Mr Selfridge, daily
catwalk shows and live
demonstrations.
WIN
TICK
whatso ETS
nlive.c
o.u
to ente
r
k
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 55
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 3
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 4
Events PREVIEWS
Spring Lambing Day
Walford Campus, Walford, North Shropshire,
Sun 22 March
A popular event on the Walford Campus calendar, Spring Lambing Day enables visitors
to get up close and personal with the latest
newborns. The venue is also home to numerous other species of animal, including
alpacas, meerkats and chinchillas - ensuring
the lambs don’t get all the attention!
Other attractions featured during the day
include clay pigeon shooting, dog agility, a
vintage machinery display, a hog roast,
superzorbs and face painting.
One of Walford’s most recent additions, the
Fullwood Merlin milking machine, is on display in the site’s Herringbone milking parlour.
This year’s event also includes a display by
the British Horseball Association. A combination of polo, rugby and basketball, horseball
is one of ten disciplines officially recognised
by the International Federation for Equestrian
Sports.
Coalport China Museum
Coalport China Museum, Nr Ironbridge,
Shropshire, Mon 30 March - Fri 3 April
Ironbridge Gorge Museum’s range of attractions this Easter holiday includes Coalport
China Museum’s family workshops, offering
youngsters and their guardians the chance
to make their very own tea light holder.
Inspired by the beautiful and intricate china
cottage models known as the Coalport
pastille burners, the holders are made by
sculpting a cottage, castle or lighthouse from
clay. Once the sculpture’s been fired, a small
candle is put inside to transform it into a
beautiful tea light holder.
Easter visitors to Coalport can also paint a
delicate china flower, join in numerous
paper-based activities, or sculpt a clay creation of their own choice and take it home
unfired.
Blists Hill Victorian Town
Blists Hill Victorian Town, Nr Ironbridge, Shropshire, Sat 28 March - Sun 12 April
Join the residents of Blists Hill Victorian Town this month for a whole host of Easter-themed
activities. Kicking off the fun is egg dancing at the Print Shop. Watch the residents, blindfolded, dance across the streets, attempting to avoid the eggs placed along their route.
Everyone can have a go, and there’s even a prize for completing the course! The self-led
‘bunny hunt’, meanwhile, is a great way to explore the town. Follow the trail correctly and
find all the bunnies to collect a prize.
And if you’ve still got the energy and enthusiasm to enjoy even more fun, then drop into the
‘goods shed’ and make a unique shadow lamp, lighting it up using a not-so-Victorian battery-operated tea light!
Dudley Canal Trust are offering funny face
mask crafts on Sat 14 March with all proceeds donated to Comic Relief.
Sessions run between 11.30am and 1.30pm
and are in addition to the site’s regular fortyfive-minute guided boat trips through the
tunnels (10.30am to 3pm) which are accompanied by videos, lifelike reconstructions,
music and light shows. Bookings for craft
activities can be booked in advance by calling 0121 557 6265
Oswestry Litfest 2015
Red Nose Crafts
Funny face making craft activites provide an
added attraction for visitors to Dudley Canal
Tunnel and Limestone Mines this month.
In support of Red Nose Day on 13 March,
The Big Bang Fair
NEC, Birmingham, Wed 11 - Sat 14 March
Various locations throughout Oswestry,
North Shropshire, Fri 13 - Fri 27 March
Dudley Canal Tunnel, Sat 14 March
Commenting on this year’s event, Festival
Director Carrie Morris said: “Once again
we’ve created a festival programme that
offers light and shade, froth and depth and a
range of events designed to have broad
appeal to all ages and interests. We’re
thrilled to bits to bring genuinely awe-inspiring authors, writers and performers to
Oswestry again this month.”
A wealth of illustrious writers, novelists, journalists and broadcasters take part in this
month’s sixth Oswestry LitFest. Big names
making a contribution include: TVs most
popular husband-and-wife team, Richard
Madeley and Judy Finnigan; former Director
of Communications & Strategy for Tony Blair,
Alistair Campbell: international bestselling
psychological crime writer Sophie Hannah;
and Oswestry-educated Dame Stephanie
Shirley, who built a multi-million pound business before becoming Britain’s first ambassador for philanthropy. LitFest Patron Frank
Cottrell Boyce makes a welcome return too,
giving readings from his new children’s
book, The Astounding Broccoli Boy.
Recognised as the UK’s largest celebration
of science, technology, engineering and
maths for young people, The Big Bang Fair
brings together leading business and industry experts for four action-packed days of
theatre shows, interactive workshops and
exhibits. Highlights of the 2015 event include
Supertasters, which not only features live
eyeball dissection and cutting-edge food
chemistry but also TV presenter Stefan
Gates firing smell cannons! There’s also
#Error404 - which explores the science
behind computer coding using pyrotechnics
and fireballs - and CSI workshops, offering
visitors the chance to try their hand at being
real-life forensic scientists. The Big Bang Fair
Family Fun Day, meanwhile (Saturday and
Sunday only), features plenty of engaging
activities to keep children of all ages entertained
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 57
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 5
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 6
Events PREVIEWS
Homebuilding & Renovating
And Show
NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 26 - Sun 29 March
Whether you’re looking to build a new home
from scratch or considering a home renovation project (regardless of size), a visit to the
National Homebuilding And Renovating
Show is sure to prove a good starting point.
Aimed at the self-builder, the 2015 event features a host of new attractions, such as the
Innovation Trail and Ask The Architects.
There are plenty of familiar features in evidence too, including the Advice Centre, Ask
The Experts, numerous specialist exhibitors
and the chance to peruse hundreds of niche
products.
Yonex
Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Tues 3 - Sun 8 March
Create A Kaleidoscope!
Enginuity, Nr Ironbridge, Shropshire,
Sat 28 March - Sun 12 April
Ironbridge Gorge’s Enginuity visitor attraction
is inviting families to ‘illuminate their understanding of light’ during the Easter holidays
by taking part in special drop-in workshops
to celebrate the 2015 Year of Light & Lightbased Technologies. Visitors can also use
craft materials in different colours and
shapes to make their very own kaleidoscopes, enjoy watching the silhouettes of
shadow puppets performing in the theatre,
pull a ten ton steam locomotive by hand and
learn more about generating electricity using
water and dams.
This month sees a host of world-class badminton players visit the Midlands to compete for
the Yonex title. The popular event, the one hundred-and-fifth of its kind, is taking place in
Birmingham for the twenty-second year. The 2015 contest not only offers fans the chance to
see players from the Commonwealth Games medal-winning England team but also the legendary Chinese Olympic Champion Lin Dan, who’ll be attempting to win his sixth Yonex title.
England’s mixed doubles stars Chris and Gabby Adcock are also in attendance. The popular
pair will be going all out to land England’s first title since Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms in
2005. Let battle commence...
MCM Comic Con And
Memorabilia
NEC, Birmingham, Sat 21 - Sun 22 March
Birmingham’s best comic con returns to the
NEC with Britain’s biggest collectors’ event,
Memorabilia. Featuring Comic Village - for
budding creators, artists and writers - the
MCM Main Stage, dealer stalls and Robots
Live (from the BBC TV series Robot Wars),
the show is the ideal place to pick up those
much sought-after collectables.
And with a fantastic line-up of TV and movie
stars in attendance, it’s a great day out for
autograph-hunters too.
exhibitors selling a wide range of popular
products.
Other attractions include the Spring’s largest
indoor autojumble, a ‘cars for sale’ area,
Silverstone auctions, the Practical Classics
Live Stage and the UK’s biggest collection of
barn find displays.
Festival of the Dragon Moon
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery,
Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 14 March
Spring Steam Gala
Severn Valley Railway, Bridgnorth,
Shropshire, Fri 20 - Sun 22 March
The Severn Valley Railway’s Steam Gala this
month includes the official opening of a
brand new exhibition at the Engine House
Visitors’ Centre in Highley. The exhibition celebrates the first fifty years of the popular railway. The gala
also features a
collection of locomotives from
around the country, visiting the
line for one weekend only.
Practical Classics
Restoration Show
NEC, Birmingham, Sat 28 - Sun 29 March
Midlands Classic Car enthusiasts can really
immerse themselves in their passion at this
specialist event.
Showcasing in excess of five hundred magnificent motors, the show also boasts live
demos, expert tutorials, workshops, celebrity
seminars and three hundred-and-fifty
One of a series of events scheduled to complement the Potteries Museum’s new Ahead
Of The Curve exhibition, Festival Of The
Dragon Moon is a family-friendly celebration
of Chinese arts. Featured attractions include
a Chinese puppet show, Peking Opera marionette
demonstrations and an
interactive
musical storytelling of
the iconic
Willow
Pattern tale.
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 59
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 7
60 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 8
Events LISTINGS
For full listing information on Events,
including times and dates, visit
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
from
SUN 1 MAR
ELIZABETHAN LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND The Reenactment group fill the
hall with costumes and
artifacts, bringing the
period to life, Sun 1
Mar, Harvington Hall,
Kidderminster
WINTER TREE INDENTIFICATION WALK Take a
stroll around the site’s
Mile Walk & learn to
identify winter trees
from buds & bark, Sun
1 Mar, Attingham Park,
Nr Shrewsbury
CRAFT FAYRE Browse
stalls selling a range of
handmade crafts, Sun
1 Mar, Staffordshire
Wildlife Trust, Cannock
Chase, Staffs
ANTIQUES &
COLLECTIONS FAIR A fun
day out and the perfect
opportunity to find
something to complement your home, collection or wardrobe,
Sun 1 Mar,
Wolverhampton
Racecourse,
Wolverhampton
MUSIC DAY A day of
musical activities, performances and fun,
Sun 1 Mar, Library of
Birmingham
FRIENDS BOOK SALE
Including Children’s
Book Corner storytelling, Sun 1 Mar,
Birmingham Botanical
Gardens
SEVERN HOSPICE CHARITY DAY Abseil for a
good cause, Sun 1 Mar,
Hawkstone Park Follies,
Weston-underRedcastle, North
Shropshire
THE NATIONAL WEDDING
SHOW Described as ‘the
ultimate wedding experience’, the National
Wedding Show features
over three hundred
wedding specialists
showcasing their wares
and providing endless
inspiration for your big
day, until Sun 1 Mar,
NEC, Birmingham
THOMAS LAND WEEKEND
Take a ride on Thomas
or fly with Jeremy, plus
visit the zoo to see animals from around the
world, Sun 1 Mar,
Drayton Manor Park,
Tamworth, Staffs
CADBURY CHARACTER
WEEKEND Featuring
Caramel Bunny, Freddo
& more..., until Sun 1
Mar, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Use the tube lining technique to produce a 6x6inch tile featuring your own design
and choice of colours.
Fired tiles can later be
sent home for a small
extra charge to cover
postage and packing,
Tues 3 Mar, Jackfield
Tile Museum,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
BELIEF & SUPERSTITION
Delve deeper into the
mysterious history of
folklore and customs,
Tues 3 Mar, Blakesley
Hall, Birmingham
THE YONEX ALL ENGLAND
OPEN BADMINTON
CHAMPIONSHIPS One of
the oldest and most
prestigious open badminton tournaments in
the world, bringing
together the top ten
players from each discipline to compete for the
coveted title, Tue 3 Sun 8 Mar, The
Barclaycard Arena,
Birmingham
EASTER TRAIL Find the
clues around the site
and be in with a
chance to win a prize,
Tues 3 Mar - Thurs 30
Apr (Tues to Sat),
Gladstone Potteries
Museum, Stoke-onTrent
WINTER GUIDED TOUR A
chance to see Aston
Hall during the closed
season, Wed 4 Mar,
Aston Hall, Birmingham
WINTER TOURS An
informative winter tour
to find out more about
the incredible story of
Soho House and the
world-changing meetings that took place
there, Thurs 5 Mar,
Soho House,
Birmingham
CANDLELIGHT TOURS
Warm yourself by the
open fires of the Back
To Backs and sample
the delights of fresh
brown bread toasted
on the range, with
either jam or dripping,
Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Mar,
Birmingham Back to
Backs
LAMBING NIGHTS Join
the farmyard for an
evening of live lambing
(hopefully). Help out
with the bottle feeds as
well as chick handling,
talks, and new mum
meet-and-greet, Thurs
5 - Sat 7 Mar,
Shugborough Estate,
Staffordshire
CRUFTS The world's
largest dog show
returns with activities
for the whole family,
Thurs 5 - Sun 8 Mar,
NEC, Birmingham
FABRIC FAFFERS Fri 6
Mar, Broadfield House
Glass Museum, Dudley
CARIBBEAN BEACH PARTY
WEEKEND Sit back and
enjoy the Caribbean
sounds & splish-splash
your way around the
resort’s tropical waterpark, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Mar,
Alton Towers Resort,
Staffs
Character Weekend - Cadbury World, Birmingham
BOWMAN ANTIQUES FAIR
Quality three-day giant
antique fair featuring up
to four hundred stands
including antiques,
curios, vintage, retro
and collectables, Fri 6 Sun 8 Mar, Stafford
Bingley Hall
LINCOLN TRIAL FAMILY
RACE DAY Enjoy an
afternoon of competitive family-friendly racing, Sat 7 Mar,
Wolverhampton
Racecourse,
Wolverhampton
VINTAGE RETOR &
ARTISAN EXTRAVAGANZA
A vintage fair with live
music, artisan stalls,
coconut shy and popup vintage tea room,
Sat 7 Mar, Whitchurch
Civic Centre, North
Shropshire
WELLINGTON CHARTER
DAY Featuring morris
dancing and street theatre, Sat 7 Mar, Market
Square, Wellington,
Shropshire
SCIENCE CLUB - OPTICAL
ILLUSIONS Sat 7 Mar,
Red House Glass
Cone, Dudley
AN INTRODUCTION TO
WICKER BASKETRY
Expert Jonathan
Ridgeon teaches how
to weave small, medium and multi-purpose
baskets, Sat 7 Mar,
Selly Manor,
Birmingham
IRISH MUSIC DAY A day
of Irish music with fiddle & mixed instrument
workshops all day, and
a guitar workshop in
the afternoon, Sat 7
Mar, Shropshire Hills
Discovery Centre,
Craven Arms, South
Shropshire
STORYTELLING AND THE
OUTDOORS Workshop
with local storyteller Sal
Tongue, exploring the
art of storytelling, Sat 7
Mar, SGCT,
Coalbrookdale, Telford,
Shropshire
SPRING CRAFTS FAIR The
Spring and gifts fair,
just in time for Mother’s
Day, Sat 7 Mar, Ruskin
Glass Centre,
Stourbridge
BIRMINGHAM GREENFEST
Sat 7 Mar, Birmingham
Botanical Gardens
DISCOVER YOUR IRISH
FAMILY HISTORY Join
Maggie Loughran, an
expert in British and
Irish genealogy, for a
fascinating lecture with
advice on how to discover your Irish family
history, Sat 7 Mar,
Birmingham Back to
Backs
HERITAGE WEEKEND Take
a guided stroll around
the beautiful Bournville
Village and learn about
its history, Sat 7 - Sun 8
Mar, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
FABULOUS FROGGIES
Join in the froggy activities, including activity
books and badge making, Sat 7 - Sun 15 Mar,
National Sealife Centre,
Birmingham
HAND-CASTING Cast
your hand or foot in
glass as a keepsake for
yourself or relatives,
Sun 8 Mar, Broadfield
House Glass Museum,
Dudley
BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY A
panel discussion and
collection of monologues, all sharing
experiences of women,
Sun 8 Mar, mac Midlands Art Centre,
Birmingham
Week Commencing
MON 9 MAR
INTRODUCTION TO
BRITISH FILM An interactive presentation about
the British Film Industry
today and what makes
a film British. Booking
required, Mon 9 Mar,
The Hive, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire
TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Use the tube lining technique to produce a 6x6inch tile featuring your own design
and choice of colours.
Fired tiles can later be
sent home for a small
extra charge to cover
postage and packing,
Tues 10 Mar, Jackfield
Tile Museum,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
AN AUDIENCE WITH GORDON BANKS & ASMIR
BEGOVIC Hear about life
as a goalkeeper from
both past and present,
Wed 11 Mar, Britannia
Stadium, Stoke-onTrent
WINTER GUIDED TOUR A
chance to see Aston
Hall during the closed
season, Wed 11 Mar,
Aston Hall, Birmingham
THE BIG BANG: UK YOUNG
SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS
FAIR Celebration of science and engineering
for young people, aiming to inspire through
engaging and interactive activities, workshops and shows, Wed
11 - Sat 14 Mar, NEC,
Birmingham
MY AMERICAN ODYSSEY:
FROM THE WINDRUSH TO
THE WHITEHOUSE Book
launch of Roger
Griffiths' story, which
charts the life of a
Black British boy growing up in 1980s
England. Roger's travels around America,
and the influence of
Black-British and
African-American culture in education, religion, music, sport &
politics are also
explored, Thurs 12 Mar,
The Drum, Birmingham
WINTER TOURS
Informative winter tour
to find out more about
the incredible story of
Soho House and the
world-changing meetings that took place
there, Thurs 12 Mar,
Soho House,
Birmingham
ALL HANDS ON DECK A
night of vinyl delight
and musical surprises.
Take your own music,
Fri 13 Mar, Light House
Gallery, Wolverhampton
PIRATE WEEKEND
Featuring pirate activities throughout the
weekend, including
entertainment from
Pirate Bill, Fri 13 - Sat
14 Mar, Alton Towers
Resort, Staffs
OSWESTRY LIT FEST A
host of top authors,
writers and journalists
feature in a series of
events celebrating
words - written, spoken
and sung, Fri 13 - Fri
27 Mar, various locations in & around
Oswestry, North
Shropshire
NIGHT RUN Fun family
run through the parklands after dark. The
short 2km Explorer
route is an after-dark
adventure with glowing
lights guiding the way,
Sat 14 Mar, Attingham
Park, Nr Shrewsbury
FESTIVAL OF THE DRAGON MOON Family-friendly
event which ties in with
the museum’s contemporary Chinese ceramics exhibition, Sat 14
Mar, Potteries Museum
& Art Gallery, Stoke-onTrent
MIDLANDS GRAND
NATIONAL The biggest
race day in the
Midlands, Sat 14 Mar,
Uttoxeter Racing &
Events, Shropshire
LADIES DAY Sat 14 Mar,
Red House Glass
Cone, Dudley
CRADLEY HEATH CREATIVE: LOCKED IN A local
arts festival at a local
pub, featuring film, photography, crafts, drawings & paintings, Sat 14
Mar, The Holly Bush
Pub, Cradley Heath
BLACKSMITH EXPERIENCE
DAY A ‘hands on’ experience of blacksmithing
under the guidance of
an experienced locksmith demonstrator, Sat
14 Mar, Black Country
Living Museum, Dudley
LEATHER TRAVEL CASE A
fun leather workshop
for adults, with Sarah
Benson, Sat 14 Mar,
Leather Museum,
Walsall
WENLOCK OLYMPIAN LIVE
ARTS FESTIVAL Featuring
competitive classes in
dance, music and
speech & drama for
children & young people aged eighteen &
under, Sat 14 - Sun 15
Mar, William Brookes
School, Much Wenlock,
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 61
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 9
62 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 10
Events LISTINGS
For full listing information on Events,
including times and dates, visit
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
South Shropshire
SOOTY’S FUN HOUSE
Sooty and co return
with a new show to
entertain the whole
family, Sat 14 - Sun 15
Mar, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
MUMS GO FREE Free
entry to all mums visiting with a paying adult,
Sun 15 Mar,
Shugborough Estate,
Staffordshire
MUMS GO FREE IN THE
GARDENS & BONSAI BOOT
SALE Sun 15 Mar,
Birmingham Botanical
Gardens
Week Commencing
MON 16 MAR
IMAGINING MUSHROOMS
A chance to create your
very own mushroominspired cyanotype,
Mon 16 Mar,
Winterbourne House &
Gardens, Birmingham
SONNETS IN THE WOODS
Part of Shakespeare
week. Listen to
excerpts around the
property, Mon 16 - Wed
18 Mar, Moseley Old
Hall, Wolverhampton
EQUINOX MIXED MEDIA
FESTIVAL Founded by
Beatfreaks, this community-based festival
pioneers young talent
in film, photography
and design, Mon 16 Fri 20 Mar, Various
locations across
Birmingham
TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Use the tube lining technique to produce a 6x6inch tile featuring your own design
and choice of colours.
Fired tiles can later be
sent home for a small
extra charge to cover
postage and packing,
Tues 17 Mar, Jackfield
Tile Museum,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
ROMAN COOKERY
WORKSHOP Find out
more about authentic
cooking techniques,
ingredients and recipes
of the times. Help create your own Roman
dishes, Wed 18 Mar,
Wroxeter Roman City,
Shropshire
WINTER GUIDED TOUR A
chance to see Aston
Hall during the closed
season, Wed 18 Mar,
Aston Hall, Birmingham
MAKE A MOSAIC An
exclusive workshop
exploring mosaic techniques, Thurs 19 Mar,
Wroxeter Roman City,
Shropshire
LUDLOW RACES Thurs 19
Mar, Ludlow
Racecourse, Bromfield,
Ludlow, South
Shropshire
WINTER TOURS An
informative winter tour
to find out more about
the incredible story of
Soho House and the
world-changing meetings that took place
there, Thurs 19 Mar,
Soho House,
Birmingham
OFFICIAL
SQUEAMISHNESS’: THE
AIR MINISTRY AND THE
BOMBER OFFENSIVE OF
THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Lecture by Air
Commodore (ret'd) Dr
Peter Gray. This event
forms part of The
Trenchard Lectures in
Air Power Studies that
are held in conjunction
with the Royal
Aeronautical Society
and the University of
Wolverhampton, Thurs
19 Mar, University of
Wolverhampton
SEWING FOR PLEASURE
AND FASHION EMBROIDERY & STICH Fans of
knitting, sewing, patchwork and cross stich
should be sure to visit,
Thurs 19 - Sun 22 Mar,
NEC, Birmingham
HOBBYCRAFTS For all the
latest creative craft sup-
Caribbean Beach Party Weekend - Alton Towers Resort, Staffs
plies, Thurs 19 - Sun 22
Mar, NEC, Birmingham
FLATPACK FILM FESTIVAL
A mixture of films, performances, contraptions and surprises,
Thurs 19 - Sun 29 Mar,
Across Birmingham
THE CRAFTY COCKNEY An
exhibition match
evening with darts legend Eric Bristow MBE.
Fifteen guests will be
given the opportunity to
take on the champion,
Fri 20 Mar, The Raven
Hotel, Prees Heath, Nr
Whitchurch, North
Shropshire
ADULT CRAFTS Fri 20
Mar, Broad House
Glass Museum, Dudley
SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY
SPRING STEAM GALA:
50TH ANNIVERSARY
YEAR! Featuring three
days of intensive steam
action along the whole
length of the line, Fri 20
- Sun 22 Mar, Severn
Valley Railway,
Bewdley, Nr
Kidderminster
CHILDREN’S BOOK
FESTIVAL Join time-travelling Professor
McGinty for a historical
tour of Tudor times, Sat
21 Mar, Selly Manor,
Birmingham
APPLE GRAFTING WORKSHOP Learn how to graft
your own apple tree
from other rootstock to
create healthy apple
trees and new varieties.
Tom the Appleman will
also be on hand to
teach knife-sharpening
skills, Sat 21 Mar,
Fordhall Farm, Market
Drayton, North
Shropshire
WENLOCK OLYMPIAN LIVE
ARTS FESTIVAL Featuring
competitive classes in
dance, music and
speech & drama for
children & young people aged eighteen &
under, Sat 21 Mar,
William Brookes
School, Much Wenlock,
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 63
Events March region 2.qxp_Layout 1 24/02/2015 12:09 Page 11
Events LISTINGS
For full listing information on Events,
including times and dates, visit
www.whatsonlive.co.uk
South Shropshire
EASTER RAG RUG Learn
about the craft and
techniques which will
help you create a
wreath for all occasions. All tools, materials and Easter refreshments are provided, Sat
21 Mar, Birmingham
Back to Backs
SUPERHERO SATURDAY
All children dressed as
superheroes get free
entry to the museum,
Sat 21 Mar, Gladstone
Pottery Museum, Stokeon-Trent
SUPERHERO STORIES
Superhero stories with
the site’s storyteller, Sat
21 Mar, Gladstone
Pottery Museum, Stokeon-Trent
HAUNTED BLACK COUNTY
Local historian Ian Bott
tells spinetingling tales
of the Black Country,
Sat 21 Mar, The Leather
Museum, Walsall
MCM COMIC CON &
MEMORABILIA
Birmingham’s best
comic con and Britain’s
biggest collectors’
event, Sat 21 - Sun 22
Mar, NEC, Birmingham
DISCOVER NATURE WEEKEND Get back to nature
and explore the sights,
sounds & habitats of
the wildlife in Onny
Meadows, Sat 21 - Sun
22 Mar, Shropshire Hills
Discovery Centre,
Craven Arms, South
Shropshire
IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE
WOODS TODAY Venture
into the Moseley
Woodlands, Sat 21 Sun 22 Mar, Moseley
Old Hall,
Wolverhampton
CADBURY CHARACTER
WEEKEND Featuring
Caramel Bunny, Freddo
& more..., Sat 21 - Sun
22 Mar, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
LEEK FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Sat 21 - Sun 22
Mar, various locations
in & around Leek, Staffs
STORYTELLING SESSION
Listen to tales of
knights, dragons &
princesses in the sur-
roundings of a
medieval castle. Meet
Ruby, the Tamworth
Castle dragon, dress
up or get hands-on with
craft activities, Sat 21 Sun 22 Mar, Tamworth
Castle
THE PHOTOGRAPHY
SHOW An event dedicated to the world of photography, Sat 21 - Tue
24 Mar, NEC,
Birmingham
LAMBING TIME AT HOO
FARM Spring has
arrived at Hoo Farm
Animal Kingdom. With
lambs being born every
day, you can watch
them play and then bottle feed them, Sun 22
Mar, Hoo Farm Animal
Kingdom, Telford,
Shropshire
WOMEN AND THE GREAT
WAR History Wardrobe
bear witness to the lives
of women during the
war by showcasing
their stories and their
clothes. Advance booking essential. Sun 22
Mar, Potteries Museum
& Art Gallery, Stoke-onTrent
MAD MATHS & MARBLES
Sun 22 Mar, Broad
House Glass Museum,
Dudley
STAFFORD HALF
MARATHON Sun 22 Mar,
Stafford Town Centre
Week Commencing
MON 23 MAR
NATIONAL BADMINTON
LEAGUE Birmingham
Lions vs Loughborough
Sport, Mon 23 Mar,
Barclaycard Arena,
Birmingham
TILE DECORATING WORKSHOP Use the tube lining technique to produce a 6x6inch tile featuring your own design
and choice of colours.
Fired tiles can later be
sent home for a small
extra charge to cover
postage and packing,
Tues 24 Mar, Jackfield
Tile Museum,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
LITTLE POTTERS A pot-
Birmingham Back to Backs - National Trust
64 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
tery workshop aimed at
children under five,
Wed 25 Mar, The Hive,
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
JUNIOR POTTERS A pottery workshop aimed at
juniors aged four to
seven, Wed 25 Mar,
The Hive, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire
FAMILY LEARNING AFTERNOON Event for families
with children under five
featuring a range of
activities provided by
students from
Wolverhampton City
College - including
activities with chocolate-scented playdough!, Wed 25 Mar,
RAF Museum Cosford,
Nr Wolverhampton
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Join Graeme Clarke for
a backstage tour of
Erddig, and venture
behind the scenes to
discover hidden spaces
not usually open to the
public, Wed 25 - Thurs
26 Mar, Erddig, Nr
Wrexham
SPRING HIGHLIGHTS
GARDEN TOUR Enjoy a
guided tour of the gardens, Thurs 26 Mar,
Winterbourne House &
Gardens, Birmingham
VIDEO GAMES LIVE BONUS ROUND Picture
the energy and excitement of a rock concert
mixed with the power
and emotion of a live
symphony orchestra,
combined together by
the technology, interactivity, stunning visuals
and fun that only video
games can provide,
Thurs 26 Mar,
Symphony Hall,
Birmingham
THE HOMEBUILDING &
RENOVATING SHOW Find
everything you’ll need
for your next home
improvement project,
Thurs 26 - Sun 29 Mar,
NEC, Birmingham
FRIDAY TWILIGHT: A CHINESE ADVENTURE Travel
to the mystical world of
the Orient in an interactive film evening to celebrate Chinese New
Year, Fri 27 Mar,
Potteries Museum,
Stoke-on-Trent
SPRING INTO THE PARK
Brand new free family
event celebrating the
great outdoors, Sat 28
Mar, Telford Town Park,
Shropshire
Equinox Mixed Media Festival - Various Locations Around Birmingham
EASTER-THEMED TILE
DECORATING WORKSHOPS Sat 28 Mar,
Jackfield Tile Museum,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
A NIGHT AT THE TRENCH
A unique opportunity to
view the museum’s
trench after dark with
some WWI re-enactment soldiers, Sat 28
Mar, The Potteries
Museum & Art Gallery,
Stoke-on-Trent
SOOTY’S FUN HOUSE
Sooty and co return
with a new show to
entertain the whole
family, Sat 28 - Sun 29
Mar, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
LIGHT WORKSHOPS
Celebrate the 2015 Year
Of Light And Lightbased Technologies,
Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12
April, Enginuity,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
MINIATURA - THE
INTERNATIONAL DOLLS'
HOUSE MODELLING SHOW
Specialised event dedicated to domestic modelling in 1/12th and
related scales, Sat 28 Sun 29 Mar, NEC,
Birmingham
LIVING HISTORY WEEKEND WITH NAPOLEONIC
RIFLEMEN Sat 28 - Sun
29 Mar, Whittington
Castle, Nr Oswestry,
North Shropshire
PRACTICAL CLASSICS
RESTORATION SHOW With
inspirational advice, live
demos, workshops and
celebrity seminars, Sat
28 - Sun 29 Mar, NEC,
Birmingham
EGG-CITING EASTER
ACTIVITIES Take part in
an Easter egg hunt,
bonnet parade, egg
painting and quizzes,
Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12
Apr, Black Country
Living Museum, Dudley
DINOSAUR EGG HUNT
Test your dinosaur
knowledge and follow
the trail, Sat 28 Mar Sat 11 April, Library of
Birmingham
FAMILY TRAIL Sat 28 Mar
- Sat 11 Apr, Dudley
Museum & Art Gallery
FAMILY TRAIL Sat 28 Mar
- Sun 12 Apr, Broad
House Glass Museum,
Dudley
FAMILY TRIAL Sat 28 Mar
- Sun 12 Apr, Red
House Glass Cone,
Dudley
THE GREAT EASTER
BUNNY HUNT Featuring a
new themed trail where
visitors can hunt for the
Easter Bunnies hiding
in the Blists Hill woods,
Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12
Apr, Blists Hill Victorian
Town, Ironbridge
HELP OLAF FIND THE
SNOW QUEEN Follow the
clues on the trail map
and help Olaf find the
Snow Queen and her
friends. Trail involves a
one-mile walk through
woodland paths &
slopes, Sat 28 Mar Sun 12 Apr, Severn
Valley Country Park, Nr
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
EASTER-THEMED SHADOW
LAMP MAKING Design
and make your own
shadow lamp using
card & battery-powered
tea light, Sat 28 Mar Sun 12 Apr, Blists Hill
Victorian Town,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
EGG DANCING & EASTER
FUN Join the residents
of Blists Hill as they celebrate Easter over the
school holidays, Sat 28
Mar - Sun 12 Apr, Blists
Hill Victorian Town,
Ironbridge, Shropshire
EXCELLENT EGGS TRAIL
Follow the trail to learn
about the wonderful
types of eggs in the
natural world and win a
prize, Sat 28 Mar - Sun
12 Apr, Staffordshire
Wildlife Trust, Cannock
Chase, Staffs
LIGHT WORKSHOPS
Drop-in family workshops to illuminate your
understanding of light,
Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12
Apr, Blists Hill Victorian
Town, Ironbridge
EASTER
EGGSTRAVAGANZA Join
in all the extra activities
this Easter, including
trails, password solving
and chocolate prizes,
Sat 28 - Sun 12 Apr,
West Midlands Safari
Park, Bewdley
EASTER CRAFT FAIR
Bespoke gifts and
treats from talented
businesses in the West
Midlands, Sat 28 Mar Sun 12 Apr, Becketts
Farm, Wythall,
Birmingham
EASTER TRAIL Follow the
Easter-themed trail to
solve the clues and win
a prize, Sat 28 Mar Wed 15 Apr, Beacon
Park, Lichfield, Staffs
EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITY DAY Featuring
Cadbury Easter Egg
trails. Hunt the
grounds, find the clues
and crack the Easter
Bunnies puzzles to
win... Mon 30 Mar,
Dudmaston Estate,
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
HOLIDAY SCHOOL Mon
30 Mar, Red House
Glass Cone, Dudley
EASTER ACTIVITIES Make
your own bird glider. All
materials supplied, Mon
30 Mar - Thurs 2 Apr,
RAF Cosford Museum,
Nr Wolverhampton
HOME SWEET HOME FAMILY WORKSHOPS Make
your own tea light holders, inspired by the
intricate china cottage
models known as the
Coalport pastille burners, Mon 30 Mar - Fri 3
Apr, Coalport China
Museum, Ironbridge,
Shropshire
EASTER AROUND THE
WORLD Themed family
fun for the Easter holidays, Mon 30 Mar - Fri
3 Apr, Shropshire Hills
Discovery Centre,
Craven Arms, South
Shropshire
EASTER-THEMED TILE
DECORATING WORKSHOPS Mon 30 Mar Sat 4 Apr, Jackfield Tile
Museum, Ironbridge,
Shropshire
EASTER FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT Easter
holiday family entertainment, Mon 30 Mar - 19
April, Cadbury World,
Birmingham
FAMILY CRAFTS Tues 31
Mar, Dudley Museum &
Art Gallery, Dudley
ATTINGHAM ADVENTURES: BIG BIRD DAY
Half-term activity where
younger visitors are
invited to get messy,
explore the outdoors
and tick off lots of their
Fifty Things To Do
Before You’re 11 3/4,
Tues 31 Mar, Attingham
Park, Nr Shrewsbury
GROSS GAZUNDAS &
PUTRID PRIVIES Explore
the interesting world of
gross gazundas and
putrid privies by following the trail while taking
a tour of the Back To
Backs, Tue 31 Mar Sun 12 April,
Birmingham Back to
Backs
Eating Out March Region Two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:54 Page 1
Eating Out
Restaurant receives a
two AA Rosette Award
After a recent visit from AA Hotel Services, Old
Downton Lodge in Ludlow not only retained its
five gold stars for its accommodation but also
gained a two AA Rosette Award.
The award recognises ‘high standards, consistency and precision, serving food prepared with care
and with evident selection of fresh, seasonal,
quality ingredients’.
Commenting on the award, Willem and Pippa
Vlok, the owners of Old Downton Lodge, said:
“We are so proud of Karl [Karl Martin, Head Chef]
and the whole team.”
The restaurant is open to non-residents Tuesday
to Saturday between 6pm and 9pm.
Foodie hidden gem in Telford
REVIEW
Refuel, revitalised...
Royal Air Force Museum Cosford’s existing
Refuel restaurant has been given a fresh lease of
life, courtesy of brand new locally sourced and
homemade seasonal menus.
The change comes as a result of catering company Kudos being awarded an exclusive £3.3million
retail and event contract at the museum.
Along with the improvements to the menu, Kudos
is introducing a brand new grab-and-go hot food
option, served from its mobile Citroen H Van.
The van will be situated in the National Cold War
Exhibition but will also provide flexible event
catering in the main auditorium, conference centre and aeroplane hangers.
The award-winning museum houses over seventy
aircraft of international importance.
Telford always gets a bit of
a ribbing when it comes to
the choice of restaurants
in the area. In terms of fine
dining, the general consensus would be, there
isn’t any.
Well, the general consensus couldn’t be more inaccurate!
Dorrells at the Park House
Hotel in Hadley has quickly become a strong contender for one of my
favourite foodie hang-outs.
The old building definitely
gives you the impression
of a characterful, quality
hotel.
We settled down in the
Morning Room, next to the
fireplace, with a fantastic
glass of Chilean Merlot in
hand.
The menu was a great
read, as it made clear its
intention to serve fine
foods without the air of
pretentiousness you often
find in this type of establishment. The pricing was
highly competitive, with
starters from £4.95 and
main courses from £9.95.
The vegetarian options
also sounded incredibly
appetising, with not a
goat’s cheese tart or
mushroom risotto in sight.
My favourite aspect of the
menu was the availability
of ‘classic’ dishes with all
the British favourites, and
then a ‘seasonal’ column.
Within each of these is
one ‘people’s choice’
selection. I opted for all
the ‘people’s choice’
options: Seared scallops
and pork belly with pork
scratching and apple
emulsion, followed by
pan-fried sea bream,
crushed citrus, new potatoes, caramelised cauliflower and parmesan
puree with charred baby
leeks.
My husband, meanwhile,
had the black pudding,
crispy boiled egg, cherry
vine tomatoes, crisp
pancetta and mushroom
ketchup, followed by a
6oz fillet steak, potato and
horseradish croquettes,
roast parsnips and shallot
puree.
The portions were generous and the presentation
of the dishes fantastic. I
thought the combination
of flavours in each dish
was absolutely bang on.
The beautiful emulsions
and purees negate any
need for rich, heavy
sauces. We both enjoyed
every mouthful.
All the members of staff
were very polite and attentive - they’re clearly very
well rehearsed and have
one eye on customer service at all times.
To finish, we had the ‘people’s choice’ sticky toffee
bread & butter pudding
with toffee sauce and
vanilla ice cream, and the
banana parfait, caramel
sorbet and chocolate
ganache shortbread.
Again, the presentation
was marvellous. The highlight had to be the
caramel sorbet. It was
absolutely divine.
My one criticism of the
restaurant would be the
dining area itself. You
could tell that it’s a popular wedding venue, as it
had a very airy, marquee
feel to it. It feels very corporate in the week, with
staff telling me that most
of their weekend business
is wedding-related, which
makes it hard to get a
table if you’re a couple or
a family. But those who
fancy a weekday treat
would be pleasantly surprised by a visit to
Dorrells. It’s certainly a trip
that I’ll be repeating sooner rather than later.
Jessica Matthews
Food:
nnnnn
Service:
nnnnn
Ambience: n n n n n
Overall value n n n n n
OVERALL n n n n n
Hadley Park House Hotel
Hadley Park East
Telford
Shropshire
TF1 6QJ
Tel: 01952 677269
www.whatsonlive.co.uk 65
Eating Out March Region Two.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 20:54 Page 2
Restaurant LISTINGS
For full listing information on restaurants, including opening times and
type of cuisine, visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Black Country
ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128
Lichfield Street, Walsall
WS1 1SY 01922 613361
BANKS BISTRO Chapel
Ash, Wolverhampton
WV1 4EP 01902 238433
BELLA 82 Chapel Ash,
Wolverhampton. 01902
427555
BENGAL FUSION 174 High
St, Lye, Stourbridge DY9
8LN. 01384 891111
BILASH 2 Cheapside,
Wolverhampton, WV1
1TU 01902 427762
THE BLUE BRICK
Broad Gauge Way,
Wolverhampton WV1
1AA 01902 875301
BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper
Green, Wolverhampton
WV6 8QQ 01902
756052
CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253255 Bilston Road,
Wolverhampton WV2
2JN 01902 458024
CASA CASITA Upper
Gornal, Dudley. DY3
1UP 01902 676754
CATELLANI’S 6 School St,
Wolverhampton, WV1
4LR 01902 428928
CINNAMON COURT Bentley
Mill Way, Walsall WS2
0BP 0121 568 6664
THE COWSHED Clive
Farm Clive Rd,
Pattingham, WV6 7EN
01902 701888
THE CROOKED HOUSE
Coppice Hill, Himley DY3
4DA 01384 238583
THE DITCH 1 Town Hill,
Walsall, WS1 2EU
01922 643215
DON SALVO 25 Darlington
Street, Wolverhampton
WV1 4HW 01902 712819
DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley
Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU
01384 877077
FARADAYS The
Waterfront, Brierley Hill,
Dudley, DY5 1UR
01384 482 882
FIVE RIVERS Vicarage
Place, Walsall WS1 3NA
01922 646164
FOUR STONES Adam’s
Hill,Clint, Stourbridge,
DY9 9PS 01562 883260
FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd,
Smethwick, B67 5BN
0121 429 7920
FRENCH CONNECTION
3 Coventry St,
Stourbridge DY8 1EP
01384 390940
FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove
Rd, Clent, Stourbridge
DY9 9PY 01562 883040
GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3
Ablewell St, Walsall WS1
2EQ 01922 640363
THE HUNGRY BISTRO 81
Lichfield Street,
Wolverhampton, WV1
1EQ 01902 546336
LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower
Mill Street,
Kidderminster. DY11
6UU 01562 744976
MADE IN THAI Darlington
St, Wolverhampton WV1
4HW 01902 312512
PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower
Mill Street, Kidderminster
DY11 6UU 01562 60479
THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst
Lane, Tipton DY4 9AB
0121 557 1402
RED FORT Fold St,
Wolverhampton, WV1
4LP 01902 424440
RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4
Upper Green, Tettenhall,
Wolverhampton WV6
8QQ 01902 756052
SAFFRON Wolverhampton
Road, Oldbury B69 4RR
0121 552 1752
SIMON’S 520 Chester Rd,
Aldridge, Walsall, WS9
0PU 0121 580 9293
SPICES Hollywell Rd,
Wednesbury. WS10 7PA
0121 502 0720
THE SPRINGHILL
Warstones Rd, Penn,
Wolverhampton WV4
4LB 01902 342530
THE SUMMERHOUSE 92
Gospel End Rd, Dudley
DY3 4AN 01902 676
102
THORNESCROFT
Bridgnorth Rd,
Wolverhampton, WV6
7EQ 01902 700 253
THE WOODMAN Claverley,
Wolverhampton WV5
7DG 01746 710 553
THE DINNER CLUB
Shropshire
AFTAB 25 High St,
Ironbridge TF8 7AD
01952 432055
ALBRIGHT HUSSEY
Ellesmere Rd,
Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF
01939 290 523
BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a
Mardol, Shrewsbury SY1
1PZ 01743 272586
BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal,
TF11 9BA 01952
460128
CASA NARANJO Barracks
Passage, Wyle Cop,
Shrewsbury SY1 01743
588165
CASA RUIZ 45 High
Street, Bridgnorth, WV16
4DX 01746 218 084
CHEZ MAW Best Western
Valley Hotel, Buildwas
Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW
01952 432247
THE COTTAGE Tern Hill,
Market Drayton TF9 3PX
01630 638984
CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole,
Shrewsbury SY1 1EN
01743 361440
DA VINCI’S 26 High St,
Ironbridge, TF8 7AD
01952 432250
DORRINGTON OLD HALL
PERSIAN CUISINE Main
Road, Dorrington,
Shropshire SY5 7JD
01743 719100
DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St
Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ
01743 344679
THE FEATHERS Brockton,
Much Wenlock TF13
6JR 01746 785202
FENNELS 8 Market Place,
Shifnall TF11 9AZ
01952 463020
THE FOX INN 46 High St,
Much Wenlock TF13
6AD 01952 727292
FRANK CAFE BAR 129
Frankwell, Shrewsbury
SY3 8JX 01743 354422
THE GOLDEN CROSS 14
Princess St, Shrewsbury,
SY1 1LP 01743 362507
GRANARY BAR & GRILL
Weston Park, Westonunder-Lizard, Nr Shifnal,
TF11 8LE 01952
852107
THE GLUTTON CLUB 165167 Frankwell,
Shrewsbury SY3 8LG
01743 361672
HADLEY PARK HOUSE
Hadley Park, Telford TF1
6QJ 01952 677269
HAVANA REPUBLIC
18 Abbey Foregate,
(EST 86)
A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY
SINGLE?
For the more discerning
unattached person, age 40+
Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie
balls,theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad.
NOT A DATING AGENCY
01244 677030 (Day) / 01244 548816 (Eve/W-end)
www.thedinnerclubuk.com
66 www.whatsonlive.co.uk
The Shrewsbury Arms, Albrighton
Shrewsbury SY2 6AE
01743 281744
THE HAYWARDS at The
Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop,
Shrewsbury SY1 1UY
01743 353107
HENRY TUDOR HOUSE
Barracks Passage
Shrewsbury SY1 1XA
01743 361666
HILL VALLEY HOTEL
Tarporley Road,
Whitchurch SY13 4HA
0844 879 9049
THE INN AT GRINSHILL
The High Street,
Grinshill, Shrewsbury,
SY4 3BL 01939 220410
KING & THAI Avenue Rd,
Broseley, Telford TF12
5DL 01952 882004
THE KNIGHTON HOTEL
Broad Street, Knighton,
Powys LD7 1BL 01547
520530
LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills
Lane, Shrewsbury SY1
1QU 01743 249126
LA LANTERNA The Old
Vestry, St Julian's
Church, Shrewsbury
SY1 1UH 01743 233552
LION & PHEASANT 50
Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury
SY1 1XJ 01743 770345
THE LION QUAYS Moreton,
Oswestry SY11 3EN
01691 684300
LOCH FYNE Talbot House,
Market Street,
Shrewsbury SY1 1LG
01743 277140
LUDLOW KITCHEN
Bromfield, Ludlow, SY2
2JR 01584 856020
THE MALTHOUSE The
Wharfage, Ironbridge
TF8 7NH 01902 433712
MOMO·NO·KI T19 Abbey
Foregate,Shrewsbury,
SY2 6AE 01743 281770
MORGANS 1 Bellstone,
Shrewsbury SY1 1HU
01743 231199
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
PORTER HOUSE 15 St
Mary’s St, Shrewsbury,
SY1 1EQ 01743 358870
THE POUND AT LEEBOTWOOD Leebotwood, Nr
Church Stretton SY6 6ND
01694 751477
RENAISSANCE, 29a
Princess St, Shrewsbury,
SY11LW 01743 354289
ROMOLO Victoria Avenue,
shrewsbury SY1 1HH
01743 233244
SARACENS Shrewsbury
Rd, SY4 4AG 01939
210877
SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St,
Oswestry SY11 1AQ
01691 655444
SHALIMAR 23 Abbey
Foregate, Shrewsbury
SY2 6AE 01743 366658
SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop,
Shrewsbury SY1 1UT
01743 242321
THE SILVERTON the Old
Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell,
Shrewsbury SY3 8JY
01743 248000
TIN TINS Wellington Road,
Telford TF2 8AJ
01952 608688
THE WALLS Welsh Walls,
Oswestry SY11 1AW
01691 670970
ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40
High Street, Shrewsbury
SY1 1SF 01743 353232
Staffordshire
NO 5 Gaol Mews, Stafford
ST16 3AN 01785 22 9900
95 HIGH GREEN Cannock.
WS11 1BH 01543
573905
1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5
Lombard St, Lichfield.
WS13 6DP 01543
257986
BELLA ITALIA 20 Greengate
St, Stafford, ST16 2HS
01785 211968
CHANDLERS Corn
Exchange, Conduit St,
Lichfield, WS13 6JU
01543 416688
THE CORNER HOUSE
Second Avenue, BurtonOn-Trent DE14 2WF
01283 542321
CURRY KUTEER 31
Greengate Street, Stafford
ST16 2HY
01785 253279
ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT
27 Broad Eye, Stafford
ST16 2QB 01785
229988
FOUR SEASONS Swinfen
Hall Lichfield, WS14
9RE 01543 481494
THE GREEN ROOM Castle
Dyke, Lichfield WS13
6HR 01543 412121
INDIAN VILLAGE
8 Lombard St, Lichfield.
WS13 6DR 01543
253415
INDICA Virage Park,
Cannock. WS11 0HN
08712 070417
LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford
St, Stone ST15 8QW
01785 817 985
THE LODGE 24
Birmingham Road,
Shenstone. WS14 0LQ
01543 483334
MALABAR 1-2 Water
Street, Stafford, ST16
2AG 01785 227 500/600
MARLOES 13 London
Road, Newcastle under
Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782
661983
THE MILL 1 Mill St, Stone,
ST15 8BA 01785
818456
THE NAVIGATION INN
Newport Road, Gnosall,
Stafford ST20 0BN
01785 822327
OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St,
Branston, Burton, DE14
3EX 01283 533222
PASCAL AT THE OLD VICARAGE 2 Main Street,
Branston, Burton-uponTren 01283 533222
PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 Mill
Street, Stafford, ST16
2AJ 01782 263 737
THE PEAR TREE Swinfen,
Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR
01543 481807
PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh
St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1
1JD 01782 209444
THE RED ROOM 7
Newcastle Road,
Congleton CW12 4HN
01260 297871
THORNBURY HALL, RASOI
Lockwood Rd, Kingsley
Holt, Stafford ST10 2DH
01538 750831
WOLSELEY ARMS
Wolseley Bridge, Stafford
ST17 0XS
01889 883179
p67 (IBC) R2.qxp_Layout 1 23/02/2015 18:17 Page 1
Mother’s Day
Sunday 15th March
1 Course £12.95
2 Course £16.95
3 Course £19.95
The
Peach
Tree
Served from 12noon - throughout the day.
Reservations strongly advised 01743 355055
18-21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE.
grand_whatson FP March:Layout 1 20/02/2015 14:08 Page 1
Great Theatre at the Grand!
TUES 10 - SAT 14 MARCH
TUES 17 - SAT 21 MARCH
TUES 24 - SAT 28 MARCH
SAT 4 APRIL
TUES 7 - SAT 11 APRIL
SUN 12 APRIL
JEFFREY
HOLLAND
JUDY
BUXTON
MON 13 - TUES 14 APRIL
WED 15 - THURS 16 APRIL
TUES 21 APRIL - SAT 2 MAY
LA BOHÈME
(PUCCINI)
THE SIEGE OF CALAIS
(DONIZETTI)
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND EARLY BIRD AVAILABLE
Follow us on
@WolvesGrand
Like us on Facebook: Wolverhampton Grand
Box Office 01902
42 92 12
BOOK ONLINE AT www.grandtheatre.co.uk