Birmingham Cover Online.qxp Birmingham Cover …...The show will also boast a giant castle, ‘amazing’ special effects, 24ft-high fountains and impressive displays of aerial acrobatics

ISSUE 365 MAY 2016

Birmingham

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inside:

thelistYour 16-page week

by week listings guide

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands

What’sOn

Celebrating 30 years of Mincing!

EDDIE IZZARDIN THE MIDLANDS

Julian Clary

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What’sOn

performs The Dreaming Roomon home turfpage 15

Canadian funny lady at theTown Hall

page 28

Don Warrington takes the leadin The Bard’s searing tragedypage 31

Your 16-page week-by-week listings guide

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Laura Mvula Katherine Ryan King Lear the list

inside:

Political Mother - Hofesh Shechter’s acclaimed work at The Rep. Feature page 20

May 2016

4. First Word 14. Music 28. Comedy 31. Theatre 38. Film 42. Visual Arts 45. Events11. Food

Contents

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4 whatsonlive.co.uk

Matthew Bourne’sThe Red Shoes amongstHippodrome highlights A specially commissioned outdoor production commemo-rating the centenary of the Great War is one of the high-lights of Birmingham Hippodrome’s recently announced2016/17 programme of shows. Furious Folly, taking place as night falls in a no-man’sland on the battle front between the two lines, immersesits audience within an open-air collage of sound, light,pyrotechnics and performance. The production will bepresented in Sutton Park.The Hippodrome season also sees Sir Matthew Bournemaking a welcome return to Birmingham with brand newshow The Red Shoes, a dance piece based on the belovedfairytale and Academy Award-winning movie of the sametitle. Other highlights of the season include Shakespeare-inspired productions by Birmingham Royal Ballet andWelsh National Opera, Cuban choreographer NildaGuerra’s ‘sizzling’ new dance show Vamos Cuba, and BillyElliott The Musical, stopping off at the Hippodrome as partof its first ever UK tour. For more information about these shows and other ele-ments of the Hippodrome’s 2016/17 season, visit, birming-hamhippodrome.com.

Aldo Zilli announcedfor Foodies Festival

Award-winning celebrity chef and restauran-teur Aldo Zilli is set to be a star attraction atBirmingham’s forthcoming Foodies Festival. Aldo, who specialises in Italian, vegetarianand seafood cuisine, will take his place atthe Cannon Hill Park event next month,heading a line-up of celebrity chefs that alsofeatures Great British Bake Off 2015 winnerNadiya Jamir Hussain. Other attractions at the three-day festivalinclude an artisan producers market, craftbeer masterclasses, a kids cookery theatre, avintage cider tent and, for those with anadventurous nature and cast-iron stomach, ajungle bug eating challenge. The Birmingham Foodies Festival takes placein Cannon Hill Park from 3 to 5 June.

Will wannabesurgeons makethe cut?

Midlands-based wannabesurgeons are being giventhe chance to work in areal operating theatrethis summer. The anatomy dissectiontour Operating TheatreLive is heading toBirmingham in August,and is aimed at childrenand young peoplebetween the ages of 14and 17 who want to pur-sue careers in health andmedicine. The students will work ingroups to dissect a realGI tract (stomach & intes-tines), a heart, a set oflungs, a head and brainsample and a real leg andbone.Operating Theatre Liveruns from 10 to 12 Augustin Sutton Coldfield.

Birmingham City Council has revealed plans to transformone of the city’s largest public spaces. A full business casefor the redevelopment of Centenary Sqaure has been put tocabinet with councillors asked to accept a £10.55 millionEnterprise Zone grant from the Greater Birmingham andSolihull Local Enterprise Partnership (BGBSLEP) to fundthe cost of delivering the project.The square’s new design was chosen following a high pro-file competition which attracted nearly 200 entries fromarchitects and designers around the world. The new designincorporates lighting columns, a water feature with foun-tain jets and a glade of trees.Work on the scheme is scheduled to begin in early 2017,subject to subsequent planning permission, with the proj-ect due to be completed by summer 2018.

First Word

Plans revealed for city centreredevelopment

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Cabaret Festivalreturns for asecond year Birmingham’s Cabaret Festival isback for a second year, takingplace at the city’s Old Joint Stockvenue from 4 to 29 May. “Cabaret has undeniably under-gone a renaissance in the pastcouple of decades,” explain thefestival’s organisers. “Music, come-dy, circus, drag and burlesqueacts, to name but a few branches,frequently dominate the headlinesat festivals and venues across theworld. Cabaret is often the place todiscover the newest and most dar-ing cross-disciplinary theatre, andit’s something we're delighted tobe bringing to the second city.”

West Midlandsthe best foryoung visitorsTravel guidebook series RoughGuides has named the WestMidlands as the third best place inthe world to visit with children. Edinburgh, the Isle of Wight andWales were the only other UK des-tinations to feature in the top-30list. Kerala in India took first placeand Maribor in Slovenia second. Commenting on the success,Emma Gray, Director of Marketing& Communications at VisitBirmingham, said: “The WestMidlands is bursting at the seamswith vibrant cultural attractions,globally-recognised cuisine andinnovative independent festivals -all proving a hit with local and visit-ing families.“This latest recognition from RoughGuides follows a record 2015 forthe region’s visitor economy, withBirmingham alone welcoming anall-time high of more than 38 mil-lion tourists.“With an exciting 2016 calendarincluding Shakespeare’s 400thanniversary, there’s so much hereto inspire and enthral children fromacross the globe.” For Rough Guides’ full list, visit,roughguides.com/special-features/the-30-best-places-to-go-with-kids/

whatsonlive.co.uk 5

Entertainment news from around the region

Mel B promises to spiceup the festive seasonIt will definitely be a case of ‘mirror, mirroron the wall, who’s the Spiciest one of all?’ atBirmingham’s Barclaycard Arena thisChristmas, when Spice Girl Mel B stars as theScary Queen in Snow White.Melanie Brown - aka Scary Spice - will head-line the production, which is being promotedas ‘the world’s biggest panto’. Mel will be joined by Big Brother favouriteRylan Clarke-Neal as her henchman, PaddyMcGuinness as Muddles and Strictly ComeDancing's Vincent and Flavia as the mysteri-ous spirits in the mirror. The show will also boast a giant castle,‘amazing’ special effects, 24ft-high fountainsand impressive displays of aerial acrobatics. The production runs at the BarclaycardArena from 19 to 22 December. For moreinformation and to buy tickets,visit, barclaycardarena.co.uk/whats-on/worlds-biggest-pantomime

Be At One in BirminghamCocktail bar chain Be At One is opening its first Birminghamvenue this month. Founded in 1998 by bartenders Steve Locke, Rhys Oldfield andLeigh Miller, Be At One is located in the Piccadilly Arcade and hasone of the largest cocktail lists in the industry. Commenting on the Birmingham opening, co-founder Steve Lockesaid: “We’re very much focused on providing a world class guestexperience, which we deliver through our bartenders, in-housetraining and an extensive range of cocktails.“Be At One is a cocktail institution, providing great service, anunbeatable party atmosphere and, most importantly, a pretention-free attitude. Birmingham is a major step for us - the city has athriving cocktail scene and one that we’re very excited about join-ing.”The Birmingham Be At One Cocktail Bar opens for business on 12May.

Little Shop OfHorrors forRhydian

Welsh baritone RhydianRoberts is to star in LittleShop Of Horrors when ittours to Birmingham andCoventry in the autumn.Rhydian, who’s sold inexcess of one millionalbums worldwide sinceappearing on The XFactor in 2007, will takethe role of sadistic dentistOrin Scrivello, the charac-ter memorably played bySteve Martin in the 1986film version. The show runs at the NewAlexandra Theatre fromTuesday 27 September toSaturday 1 October andThe Belgrade, Coventryfrom Wed 26 to Sat 29October.

Birmingham Jazz Festival just got biggerThe Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival has teamed up withSolihull Business Improvement District (BID) to become theBirmingham and Solihull Jazz & Blues Festival.Commenting on the development, Melanie Palmer, ExecutiveDirector of Solihull BID, said: “From our experience in runningour own annual Solihull Jazz Festival, we realised that there’s ahuge appetite for jazz in and around Solihull. I believe that thetime is now right to engage with the long-established Birminghamevent to produce a festival that will have a far greater footprintthan would two separate festivals.”The Birmingham and Solihull Jazz & Blues Festival takes placefrom 15 to 24 July. The event includes around 150 performancespresented in 60 venues, almost all of which will be free to attend.

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6 whatsonlive.co.uk

What’sOn Readers’Awards 2016

You've been voting in your thousands - literally OVER25,000 VOTES CAST - in our first ever What's OnReaders' Awards! And, the WINNERS are:

THEATRE: Best Touring PlayWINNER: Curious Incident Of The DogIn The Night-Time 1st RUNNER-UP: East Is East

THEATRE: Best Touring MusicalWINNER: Hairspray1st RUNNER-UP: The Bodyguard

THEATRE: Best Home-ProducedShow In The Midlands WINNER: The Lion, The Witch& The Wardrobe - The REP 1st RUNNER-UP:Wendy & Peter Pan - RSC

THEATRE: Best Pantomime In TheMidlands 2015/16 WINNER: Aladdin - BirminghamHippodrome 1st RUNNER-UP: Peter Pan -Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

THEATRE: Best Midlands AmateurDramatic/Operatic Group WINNER: West Bromwich OperaticSociety (WBOS) 1st RUNNER-UP:Bournville Musical Theatre Company

DANCE: Best Production WINNER: BRB’s - The Nutcracker 1st RUNNER-UP: Matthew Bourne’sEdward Scissorhands

CLASSICAL (inc Opera): Best Production WINNER: CBSO at Symphony Hall1st RUNNER-UP:WNO - Sweeney Todd

Best Midlands Arts/CulturalFestival

WINNER: Birmingham Weekender1st RUNNER-UP:Birmingham Comedy Festival

Best Midlands Theatre/Arts Venue(Large: 1000+ capacity)

WINNER: Birmingham Hippodrome1st RUNNER-UP: Birmingham Rep

Best Midlands Theatre/Arts Venue(Medium: 500-1000 capacity)WINNER: mac - Birmingham1st RUNNER-UP: Lichfield Garrick

Best Independent Cinema

WINNER:Electric Cinema - Birmingham 1st RUNNER-UP:mac - Birmingham

Best Midlands Comedian

WINNER: Barbara Nice1st RUNNER-UP: Andy White

Best Midlands Music Venue(Large: 1000+ capacity) WINNER: Symphony Hall 1st RUNNER-UP: Barclaycard Arena

Best Midlands Music Venue(Medium: 500 - 1000 capacity) WINNER: The Robin - Bilston1st RUNNER-UP:Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry

Best Midlands Music FestivalWINNER: Moseley Folk Festival1st RUNNER-UP:Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Best Midlands Live BandWINNER: The Twang 1st RUNNER-UP: Rainbreakers

Best Midlands ExhibitionWINNER: Staffordshire Hoard - BMAG1st RUNNER-UP:Pop Art - Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Best Birmingham Art Gallery/Exhibition Venue

WINNER: Birmingham Museum andArt Gallery1st RUNNER-UP: IKON Gallery

Barbara Nice Graham CallisterThe organisers of Moseley Folk Festival Chris Sudworth

Rob Macpherson fromBirmingham Hippodrome

Whats On Readers Awards WINNERS MM.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 19:02 Page 1

whatsonlive.co.uk 7

Birmingham

1st RUNNER-UP:The Crescent TheatreWINNER: The Old Rep

Black Country

WINNER:Arena Theatre, W’ton1st RUNNER-UP:Stourbridge Town Hall

Shropshire

WINNER:The Hive, Shrewsbury1st RUNNER-UP:Theatre on the Steps l

Staffordshire

WINNER:Stafford Gatehouse 1st RUNNER-UP:Brewhouse Arts l l l

Warwickshire

WINNER:Albany Theatre, C’try1st RUNNER-UP:Criterion Theatre l l l

Worcestershire

WINNER:Artrix, Bromsgrove1st RUNNER-UP:Evesham Arts Centre

Birmingham

WINNER:Purnells1st RUNNER-UP:Sabai Sabai

Black Country

WINNER: TheSummerhouse, Dudley1st RUNNER-UP:Indigo Restaurant

Shropshire

WINNER: The King and Thai1st RUNNER-UP:The Hundred House

Staffordshire

WINNER: The Swanwith Two Necks1st RUNNER-UP:The Orange Tree

Warwickshire

WINNER: Tailors, Warwick1st RUNNER-UP:Greyhound Inn

Worcestershire

WINNER: The RoyalOak, Evesham1st RUNNER-UP:The Black Star

Birmingham

WINNER: BirminghamMuseum & Art Gallery1st RUNNER-UP:Cadbury World

Black Country

WINNER: BlackCountry Living Museum1st RUNNER-UP:Dudley Zoo

Shropshire

WINNER: IronbridgeGorge Museums1st RUNNER-UP:Attingham Park

Staffordshire

WINNER: Drayton Manor1st RUNNER-UP:National Memorial l l l

Arboretum

Warwickshire

WINNER: CoventryTransport Museum1st RUNNER-UP:Warwick Castle

Worcestershire

WINNER: Croome Park1st RUNNER-UP:Severn Valley Railway

Birmingham

WINNER:Hare & Hounds1st RUNNER-UP:The Glee Club

Black Country

WINNER:The Slade Rooms1st RUNNER-UP:Newhampton Arts l l l

Centre

Shropshire

WINNER: Henry TudorHouse, Shrewsbury1st RUNNER-UP:Walker Theatre atTheatre Severn

Staffordshire

WINNER:The Sugarmill, Stoke1st RUNNER-UP:Tamworth Assembly l l

Rooms

Warwickshire

WINNER: The TinMusic & Arts, C’try1st RUNNER-UP:Leamington Lamp, l l

Leamington Spa

Worcestershire

WINNER: HuntingdonHall, Worcester1st RUNNER-UP:Artrix, Bromsgrove

#artsmatters#culturematters

Best Midlands Art Gallery/Exhibition Venue (outsideBirmingham)WINNER: Wolverhampton Art Gallery1st RUNNER-UP: New Art Gallery -Walsall

Best Midlands' Visitor Attraction WINNER: Black Country LivingMuseum1st RUNNER-UP: Severn ValleyRailway

Best Midlands Outdoor Event WINNER: The Big Hoot - Birmingham1st RUNNER-UP: Frankfurt ChristmasMarket - B’ham

Best Midlands Indoor Event

WINNER: BBC Good Food Show1st RUNNER-UP: MCM Comic Con

Best Family-friendly/CommunityFestival WINNER: Birmingham Weekender

1st RUNNER-UP: Moseley FolkFestival

Best Midlands' Food Festival WINNER: Birmingham Ind Food Fair 1st RUNNER-UP:Ludlow Food Festival

Best Midlands Street Food Event WINNER: Digbeth Dining Club -Birmingham 1st RUNNER-UP: mac Food Market -Birmingham

Best Midlands Street Food Vendor

WINNER: Brum Yum Yum 1st RUNNER-UP:Bournville Waffle Company

Best Midlands Retail ShoppingCentre

WINNER: Bullring - Birmingham 1st RUNNER-UP:Grand Central - Birmingham

Best Sporting Event WINNER: The Rugby World Cup 1st RUNNER-UP:Aegon Classic Tennis

Best Midlands Nightclub

WINNER: Rainbow Venues in Digbeth1st RUNNER-UP: The Nightingale -Birmingham

Midlands EntertainmentPersonality of the Year Award

WINNER: Citizen Khan (Adil Ray)1st RUNNER-UP: Beverley Knight

Best Regional Visitor Attraction

Best Regional Live Music Venue (Small - under 500 capacity)

Best Regional Theatre/Arts Venue (Small - under 500 capacity)

Best Independent Regional Restaurant

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Citizen Khan withLauren Foster

Whats On Readers Awards WINNERS MM.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 19:02 Page 2

Spring 2002 - As the world reels in the after-math of the 9/11 attacks, former leading lightsof the US pop punk scene Green Day arefalling apart. Another tour and a greatest hitsalbum do little to assuage the effects of messypersonal lives, declining popularity and a lackof communication. The trio decide a change isneeded, opening up to each other and experi-menting with new sounds. By November 2003,they've recorded 20 songs for an album titledCigarettes And Valentines, but that month, themaster tapes are stolen. Producer Rob Cavalloasks them to consider whether the lost mate-rial was really their best work. Frontman BillieJoe Armstrong disappears to New York for analcohol-fuelled month alone. It might havebeen the end of Green Day. Remarkably, twoyears later, they would become perhaps thebiggest rock band in the world.

In September 2005, American Idiot took the in-dustry by storm. Unlike the unreleased Ciga-rettes And Valentines, this concept albummarked a true departure from their earlierwork, with sprawling, multi-part musicalsuites in Jesus Of Suburbia and Homecoming,and powerful political punch in anthems likeHoliday and, of course, the title track. Its suc-cess spawned sell-out tours, an avalanche ofbranded merchandise, a live tour CD and DVDand, in 2009/10, a Broadway musical, createdby Armstrong and Michael Mayer. Following aWest End run at the Arts Theatre last year, theshow is now embarking on a second UK tour,stopping off at Birmingham's New AlexandraTheatre this month.

“The show is about three boys trying to findmeaning in their lives post-9/11,” Lily explains.“One of the guys moves away to the city andbecomes a bit of a drug addict, one of themstays at home with his pregnant girlfriend andthe other one goes off to fight in the army. Sothey've all got these very different stories andjourneys and you see how they reunite at theend.”

Best known as an X Factor finalist, pop starletLily, now 21, was less than 10 years old whenGreen Day mania rocked the western world. As

FEATURE

8 whatsonlive.co.uk

The former X Factor finalist chats to What’s On about starring in explosive Broadway musical American Idiot when it visits

Birmingham this month

Amelia Lily

‘‘

‘‘

Theatre’s somethingthat I’ve wanted to dosince I was about nineyears old, so I feel likeI’m living my dreamnow.

Amelia Lily DPS.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:23 Page 1

such, for her, being a part of the show hasbeen a fascinating process of discovery.

“I was really young at the time, though ofcourse I knew their big hits - how could younot? But I've learned so much more aboutthe band by being in the show. It also helpsthat my boyfriend Steve is the biggest GreenDay fan ever!”

Conveniently enough, that's Steve Rushton,also appearing in the show as the less-than-willing young father, Will. He stars along-side Emma Housley as his girlfriend,Heather, Alexis Gerred as military recruitTunny, Newton Faulkner as the hapless city-bound hero Johnny, and Lucas Rush asJohnny's anarchic alter-ego, St Jimmy.Jimmy's not the only character whose exis-tence is in question, however. There's also ahint that Johnny's mysterious love interest,Whatsername, might be little more than ahallucination, or perhaps even a symbolicfigure representing his ideals.

“Whatsername is a city girl who Johnnymeets when he leaves home, and it's a reallyfiery romance they have, so she has quite anemotional journey throughout the show,”says Lily. “I'm still not sure myself whethershe's actually real or just in his head, and Ithink it's kind of up to the audience to de-cide for themselves. I think it's great that theshow leaves people thinking and doesn'tgive them all the answers. It makes it quite achallenging role for me but also means Ihave a lot of freedom.”

Unsurprisingly, their relationship doesn'texactly end in a conventional happy everafter...

“Eventually, it gets to the point whereJohnny has to choose between her and thedrugs, and he chooses the drugs,” she con-tinues. “Letterbomb is such a good song toperform because that's when you really seeWhatsername come out of her shell and letout all the rage and frustration she's beenbottling up inside.”

It doesn't seem too much of a stretch to see

some reflection of the band's own formerstruggles in the disillusionment of theshow's three leads. Indeed, Armstrongjoined the cast as Jimmy for several perform-ances during the first Broadway run. Likethe album, the show pulses with genuineanger and shows how, all too often, a senseof powerlessness and disenfranchisementcan lead young people into self-destructiveapathy. Sadly, more than ten years later, it'sa story that's lost none of its power, with theexpansion of mass media and the War onTerror showing no signs of letting up yet. Ifthe rise of George W Bush provoked a back-lash, it's nothing on the fascinated horrorwith which the world now watches DonaldTrump. Meanwhile, in the UK, Tony Blair re-mains unforgiven by many for the Iraq War,and Russell Brand evoked both outrage andadmiration for arguing against the value ofvoting in a system so stacked against realchange.

“I don't think this story will ever get old,”says Lily. “Even though I was very young atthe time, I actually do remember 9/11 hap-pening quite vividly. My mum was ironing inthe kitchen and we were watching TV, andall of a sudden it was breaking news. Somany people were affected by it, not just inAmerica, but across the world, and peopleare still questioning why it happened now.What's great about American Idiot, though,is that it really gives a good message out topeople.”

Like the band, well known for their dynamiclive gigs, those behind the musical knowhow to put on a good show. Among thethings reviews of American Idiot have con-sistently praised is its capturing of the rawenergy of a rock concert - something towhich Lily is no stranger.

“When I first got the phone call from myagent about American Idiot, I was really ex-cited about it. Being a rock show and a mu-sical, it sounded right up my street. Thereare parts of the show where you definitelyfeel like you're at a rock gig, and you can see

by the audience's reactions that they're hav-ing the time of their lives, which is an amaz-ing feeling!”

Following a string of UK chart hits, includ-ing her Number Two debut single, You BringMe Joy, Lily's first professional experience inmusical theatre came as something of a sur-prise, and saw her rather thrust in at thedeep end.

“I got a call last year saying that Bill Ken-wright was looking for a Narrator for Josephand they needed somebody asap. I was in-vited to his offices to perform, and he of-fered me the job there and then, which wasamazing! Of course, then I only had fourdays to learn the entire show! It was one ofthe most challenging things I've ever done,but also one of the things I'm proudest ofhaving achieved. As my first musical, it washard, but I think I just about pulled it off!”

Ever driven and determined, Lily kick-started her own musical career while still atschool, writing her own songs and postingvideos of herself singing on YouTube. Butacting has also been a long-term passion ofhers, and she's thrilled to have been able toseize so many opportunities to develop herskills and show off her talents at such ayoung age.

“Theatre's something that I've wanted to dosince I was about nine years old, so I feellike I'm living my dream now. It does seemlike everything's happened very sponta-neously for me in the musical theatre world,but I really enjoy that and I think that's howI work best. I don't like to plan too far in ad-vance - I prefer to just see how things go. Ifeel very lucky that I've been able to have apop career and a musical theatre career atonly 21, and I hope I'll continue with both.”

whatsonlive.co.uk 9

American Idiot shows at New AlexandraTheatre, Birmingham fromTues 10 May to Sat 14 May

by Heather Kincaid

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10 whatsonlive.co.uk

Birmingham@WHATSONBRU

M

Wolverhampton@WHATSONWOL

VES

Shropshire@WHATSONSHR

OPS

staffordshire@WHATSONSTA

FFS

Worcestershire@WHATSONWOR

CS

warwickshire@WHATSONWAR

WICKS

FOOD May - Region Brum .qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:22 Page 1

whatsonlive.co.uk 11

Given that it’s named after acreature that can change colourto blend in with its surround-ings, it’s ironic that, regardlessof time or circumstance,Birmingham’s ChameleonRestaurant & Bar is a seriouslybright place - complete with daz-zling fluorescent lighting and agiant, glowing chandelier. Thenightclub venue is also loud andlively - especially at 7.30pm on aFriday night as the post-workrevellers kick off their weekend.Whether the above is a goodatmosphere for dining is a mat-ter of personal preference andlikely to be shaped by your age,group size and how much youwant to converse with your din-

ner date.Grabbing something from thelively bar menu (served from 12to 9pm) or the excellent-valuepre-theatre set menu (4 to 7pm)is one thing, but sitting down fora bona fide meal is likely to pres-ent something of a challenge toanyone whose clubbing days arein the past. Like me. Situated near the entrance to thevenue, the Green RoomRestaurant is designed to offer arelaxed dining experience, butthe lack of any separation fromthe noise and bustle of the clubmakes the notion somewhat spu-rious. Of course, there are peo-ple who like to be part of the

action and enjoy being able tosee and hear what’s going on,but whether that’s relaxing ornot is a moot point.One thing I did appreciate beingable to see was the open kitchen- always a good sign. The a lacarte menu (starters from £5 to£8, mains £15 to £28) gave offgood vibes too, with enoughvariety to make selecting dishesdifficult but not so much to sug-gest the chef was a ‘Jack of alltrades’.For starters, my partner and Ishared the Seafood Board, athoroughly agreeable combina-tion of truly succulent kingprawns. It’s a difficult dish to getwrong, but this was very right allthe same - tasty smoked macker-el pâté (with more than a hint ofhorseradish, apparently madefresh), smoked salmon and somewonderful Devonshire crabmeat.We were very happy with ourchoice, and continued the shar-ing theme for our main course,opting for the 16ozChateaubriand - a dish that haseluded me all my life. If any-thing, we were even moreimpressed. The salt-encrustedsteak was cooked a perfectshade of pink (perhaps the chef

used the hue of the chandelieras a guide), carved at our tableand accompanied by fries,asparagus and cherry tomatoeson the vine. The meat was flaw-less, the overall combinationglorious - and very filling. So fill-ing, in fact, that we were unableto attempt a dessert, leaving meto imagine the chocolate cheese-cake with peanut crumb andponder ‘what might have been’.That expression summed up ourevening in many respects. Onthe plus side, what might havebeen a disappointing nightbased on the incongruous night-club atmosphere was mercifullyredeemed by the high quality ofthe food and service, but it washard not to speculate how muchbetter the experience wouldhave been in a more refinedenvironment. Steve Adams

Food: nnnnn

Service: nnnnn

Ambience: nnnnn

Overall value nnnnn

OVERALL nnnnn

The Chameleon BirminghamRestaurant & Bar1 Victoria SquareHill StreetBirminghamB1 1BDTel: 0121 643 2233

REVIEW: The Chameleon Restaurant And BarA calmer Chameleon for a more rounded experience?...

Go Greek for charity at Simpsons!

Food

An exclusive charity meal willsee Birmingham restaurantSimpsons ‘go Greek’ this sum-mer.The Michelin-starred Edgbastoneatery will host the event - com-plete with Greek music, a raffleand an auction - at nearby ElBorracho de Oro on Saturday 9July.The special evening is beingheld in aid of the InternationalRescue Committee, which ishelping refugees who land desti-tute in Greece and the Greekislands.Tickets for the meal cost £60 per

person and can be booked bycalling El Borracho on 0121 4545368.

MPW unveils new diningconcept at The CubeMarco Pierre White will this month launch a new ‘ultra-casual’dining concept at The Cube in Birmingham.Bardolino Pizzeria Bellini & Espresso bar will feature an all-dayexpress menu of authentic Italian food, coffees and Bellinis.Commenting on his new venture, Marco said: “Bardolino repre-sents affordable, friendlyand casual dining withrecognisable familyfavourites and classicItalian dishes. “Bardolino is a restaurantconcept created for bothdiscerning diners and aspi-rational families alike.After all, pasta is a child’sfavourite food.”

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Graham Nash Single Page.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:21 Page 1

Released on Nash’s own Blue Castle label,This Path Tonight is a deeply personal proj-ect for the 74-year-old songwriter, borne outof a period of considerable change.

“There have been things going on in my per-sonal life, and as I always do, I’ve been re-acting to that,” he says of the inspiration forthe new material. “My wife of almost 40years and I decided to divorce, I fell in lovewith the very beautiful Amy Grantham, andI took all that and turned it into this record.”

Featuring a distinctive black-and-whiteimage, taken by Amy, of Nash wanderingthrough trees near Woodstock in the US,This Path Tonight's 10 core tracks were pro-duced with British guitarist ShaneFontayne, whose CV includes work for PaulSimon, Rod Stewart, Sting and BruceSpringsteen.

"Shane was lead guitarist for Marc Cohen,and Crosby and I sang on a couple of hisearly albums," says Graham, mentioningone of many guest appearances he andlong-standing partner-in-crime DavidCrosby have made over the decades. "I wentto see Marc at the El Rey Theatre in Los An-geles, and Shane was playing guitar. Me andCrosby were about to go to Europe, but ourown guitarist couldn’t make it, so we askedShane. He learnt 35 songs in a few days.”

Writing 20 songs together over a month,they recorded them in just a week. Thealbum’s key track is Myself At Last. “Wewere starting to record on the Monday, so allthe equipment goes in on the Sunday. Wesat down to make sure the bass was going tocome out of the right channel and all that,and that song just came out, which was fan-tastic. After that, we knew the record wouldbe great.”

The song features one of the album's stand-

out lines - 'I've found myself at last’ - whichNash explains simply: “I was cruising in lifefor 10 to 12 years.”

Despite the gap between solo releases, ThisPath Tonight continues a journey he beganwith his debut, way back in 1971.

“In a way, nothing has changed much at allin my songwriting. I have to feel something,and in that way, this record is no differentfrom any of them, right back to Songs ForBeginners.”

Raised in Salford, Lancashire, Nash formedThe Hollies with school pal Allan Clarke in1962, cracking the charts with a string of en-during hits including Here I Go Again, JustOne Look, Carrie Anne and Jennifer Eccles.But disillusioned, Nash quit the group in '68for America, where he formed supergroupCrosby Stills And Nash (CSN) with TheByrds' Crosby and Buffalo Springfield'sStills.

"We were reasonably well known,” Nash re-calls of his decision to quit the Brit hit-mak-ers for the US. “The Hollies had had somehits - I’m Alive and Bus Stop - and we weretreated well in America, they loved our en-ergy. In many ways it was an easy decision,as I’d heard our (CSN) voices together, andthat was very attractive to me.”

CSN's circle included Neil Young (who laterjoined the trio), Nash's girlfriend JoniMitchell, The Mamas And The Papas, andThe Grateful Dead. Nash’s vocals can beheard on many key recordings of the period.“We were wanted. They loved our vocalsounds, we were lucky boys,” he says.

The trio’s legacy has been well served in re-cent years, with Nash overseeing individualboxsets by each member and the CSNY 197440-track live collection. With a wealth of al-ternative versions and outtakes already

available, there is, surprisingly, still moreunheard stuff in the vaults. “Oh, lots ofstuff! Lots of stuff! The only plan I haveright now - although I’m a little bit CSNedout - is that I’d like to remix the Déjà Vurecord, from start to finish. Back then(1970), the time you had was limited to whatyou could fit onto a record - five or six tracksa side - but the jams that we had going onafter the fade-outs were fabulous! It’d bevery easy to do, as the master tapes are ingreat condition.”

However, despite their on/off career, it nowseems unlikely CSN/CSNY will ever performagain. Responding to recent reports that heand Crosby are no longer on speakingterms, Nash says simply: “It is over. I saidwhat I said. We had a good run... we had agood innings.”

But many of those classic CSN/ CSNY songs,including Marrakesh Express, Our Houseand Teach Your Children, still form part ofNash's solo set-lists.

"I’ve done too much music, too much, so Ihave to do some of everything (live),” hesays of his stripped-down shows accompa-nied by Shane. “We start with Bus Stop,from my Hollies days - a song written byGraham Gouldman.”

Alongside the album and UK tour, Nash alsohas a photography exhibition at Salford Mu-seum & Art Gallery (until 3 July) and is en-thusiastic about his future plans: “A lotmore creating, a lot more painting, a lotmore photography.”

Fourteen years on from Songs For Survivors, Graham Nash is back with his sixth solo album, This Path Tonight.What’s On recently caught up with Nash to talk about the inspiration behind his latest offering.

FEATURE

Graham Nash playsBirmingham Town Hall on Sunday 22 May


Graham Nash

by David Vincent

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Cate Le BonThe Glee Club, Birmingham, Sun 22 May

Welsh singer-songwriter Cate Le Bonappears at Birmingham’s Glee Club thismonth in support of her fourth album,Crab Day, which was released lastmonth. “Crab Day was lovingly formed in themouth of the Pacific Ocean, as it quietlymocked us with its magnitude,” saysCate. “It’s the sound of the ‘accidentallyon purpose’ coming together of the rightpeople at precisely the right time in anenvironment that furnished and fuelledthe abandonment we felt effortlessly. It’sa coalition of inescapable feelings andfabricated nonsense, each propping theother up. Crab Day is an old holiday.Crab Day is a new holiday. Crab Day isn’ta holiday at all.”

TravisO2 Academy, Birmingham, Thurs 12 May

Rock four-piece Travis have accumulated two

number one LPs, five top ten singles, two

Brit Awards and more than eight million

record sales across their illustrious career.

They’ve released eight studio albums since

their inception in 1990, including Good

Feeling (1997), 12 Memories (2003) and Where

You Stand (2013).

After a quiet few years, the band behind hit

singles Why Does It Always Rain On Me and

Flowers In The Window are back on the road

in support of their highly anticipated new

album, Everything At Once, released at the

end of April on their own label, Red

Telephone Box.


Manic Street PreachersGenting Arena, Birmingham, Sat 14 May

Nearly 30 years of producing high-qualitymaterial has seen the Manics claim theirplace in the upper echelons of British rock.After hitting the big time with a cover ofSuicide Is Painless in the early ’90s, they sur-vived the disappearance of band memberRichey James to go on and enjoy mega suc-cess with A Design For Life, from the albumEverything Must Go. The record was certifiedtriple platinum in the UK and went on to sellover a million copies and bag multiple Britawards.They here return to Birmingham to celebratethe 20th anniversary of Everything Must Go,playing two sets on the night - the album infull followed by rarities and curios, greatesthits and a few brand new songs.Rock band The Editors provide support.

AnastaciaSymphony Hall, Birmingham, Tues 3 May

Best known for her singles Left OutsideAlone and I’m Outta Love, Anastacia hasreleased five albums and sold over 30 millioncopies worldwide. The Ultimate Collection sees the Americansinger return to Sony Music, the label thatwas instrumental in catapulting her to globalsuperstardom.“I feel so blessed and humbled to be experi-encing this exciting next chapter of my life,”she says. “The idea for my UltimateCollection is to include something for every-one. I’m eternally grateful to be reunitedwith Sony, the record label that made all ofthis possible from day one. Fifteen yearslater, I’m back, I’m home and I couldn’t behappier.”

Gigs

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Benjamin FrancisLeftwichThe Rainbow Venues, Birmingham,Thurs 5 May

Five years after the release of hisdebut album, singer-songwriterBenjamin Francis Leftwich’s eagerlyanticipated new album, After TheRain, is to be released this summer,with the first single - Tilikum -already available to stream onSpotify. “If one person emails me and says‘This is the most moving song I’veever heard and it really helped me’ -if it gets one person like that, I’ll bereally happy.”

YolanDa BrownWarwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 7 May

Regarded as the premier female sax-ophonist in the UK, YolanDa’s debutalbum - April Showers, May Flowers -reached number one on the iTunesand Amazon jazz charts. As well asperforming across the world in herown right, she’s also toured in sup-port of The Temptations and ErrolBrown, and collaborated with artistsincluding Julian Marley, SowetoKinch and as part of Jools Holland’sRhythm & Blues Orchestra. She visitsWarwick Arts Centre on her ReggaeLove Songs Tour, accompanied byMica Paris.

For the complete gig guide visit whatsonlive.co.uk 15

Gig previews from around the region

Laura MvulaO2 Institute, Birmingham, Sat 21 May

Birmingham-born soul singer-songwriterLaura Mvula captivated audiences back in2013 with debut album Sing To The Moon.

Influenced by the likes of Nina Simone, JillScott and Erykah Badu, Mvula’s latest sin-gle, Overcome, features the legendary NileRodgers. It’s taken from her new album, TheDreaming Room, which is set for release on17 June.

JamesBarclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Fri 20 May

English rock band James originally signed tothe iconic Factory Records in 1982. Theyhave since gone on to produce a string ofmassive hit singles, including Sit Down,Come Home, She’s A Star and Born OfFrustration. Now, 34 years on, they’re tour-ing in support of their 14th album, Girl AtThe End Of The World, which they claim tobe their best yet.Italian-English solo acoustic singer JackSavoretti supports.

UB40 ft. Ali Campbell,Astro and MickeyBarclaycard Arena, Birmingham, Sun 1 May

Since reforming in 2013, the trio of AliCampbell, Astro and Mickey have been atthe top of their game. Recent highlightsinclude their 2014 world tour, a huge showin Las Vegas, and critical acclaim for theirnew material in 2014’s Silhouette.

Ian Siegal & JimboMathus TourThe Robin, Bilston, Tues 31 May

Eight-time British Blues Awards winner IanSiegal here teams up with multi-instrumen-talist Jimbo Mathus for a night of roots,blues, folk and Americana. The duo are alsoreleasing a 21-track album recorded duringtheir debut tour.

UB40 Ian Siegal & Jimbo Mathus

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Il DivoGenting Arena, Birmingham, Sat 7 May

Crossover favourites Il Divo were X Factorguru Simon Cowell's attempt to take opera tothe masses, albeit pop-opera. They present aromantic and timeless repertoire which hasseen them garner a worldwide fanbase sincebursting onto the scene more than a decadeago. The fellas return to Birmingham thismonth in support of their seventh studioalbum, Amor & Pasion.

Sir András SchiffSymphony Hall, Birmingham,Mon 23 May

Sir András Schiff is one of the world’smost prolific classical performers.Although held in high regard for hiskeyboard interpretations of Mozart,Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann,it’s perhaps his performances ofJohann Sebastian Bach’s music forwhich he’s most admired. On thisoccasion, though, the Hungarian-bornpianist is turning his attention toMendelssohn. In the company of theChamber Orchestra of Europe, hepresents the following programme:Piano Concerto No 2 in D minor;Hebrides Overture; Piano Concerto No1 in G minor; Symphony No 3,Scottish.

Karl Jenkins: RequiemSymphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 7 May

“Karl Jenkins,” says opera and concertstar Bryn Terfel, “produces always impec-cable writing for a multitude of voicesand instruments. I wish I had his talent tocompose tunes but am proud to considermyself as one who adores to sing them.”Terfel is far from alone in his admirationof the 72-year-old Welshman. A recentexhaustive survey revealed that Sir Karl isthe most-performed living composer inthe world. Indeed, his best-known work,The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace, hasbeen performed over 1,500 times in 20 dif-ferent countries. He returns to Birmingham this month toconduct another of his most admiredpieces, his Requiem, alongside his 1995composition Palladio and his 2014Cantata for St Luke, The Healer.

The Academy OfAncient Music:Vivaldi In DresdenThe Barber Institute, Birmingham,Wed 18 May

Since being founded in 1973 byChristopher Hogwood, the Academy ofAncient Music have gathered quite a fol-lowing. The ensemble’s stated aim is ‘toenergise baroque and classical music’,performing the work of Bach, Handel,Haydn and Mozart in the way they per-ceive it was intended. Their concerts havebeen described as ‘transmitting the kickof an energy drink’ - an assessment withwhich the ensemble are entirely happy. This Barber Institute concert sees themperforming the following programme: JSBach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.1;Vivaldi’s Concerto in G minor RV577;Telemann’s Concerto for 3 oboes and 3violins; Vivaldi’s Concerto in D majorRV562; and JS Bach’s BrandenburgConcerto No.4.

Classical Music


City Of Sounds FestivalAdrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire,Sun 1 May - Sun 26 June

This two-month long event is a fondfarewell to the Adrian Boult Hall, the mainperformance space of BirminghamConservatoire. The venue closes at the endof June as part of the redevelopment planfor the Paradise area of the city centre. Birmingham Conservatoire will next yearmove into a brand new £56million home inthe Eastside region of the city.The festival is launched on 1 May with aconcert by Sir James and Lady JeanneGalway (pictured), who will afterwards holda series of workshops and masterclasses forflute players of all levels. Among the festival contributors during theweeks that follow are the City ofBirmingham Symphony Orchestra, local folk band The Destroyers and saxophonist and10cc member Mike Stevens. Other West Midlands music groups and ensembles taking part include BirminghamFestival Choral Society, Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra, Ex Cathedra, BirminghamContemporary Music Group and Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir.Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra then brings down the curtain on AdrianBoult Hall’s 30 years of service to the city when it performs Verdi’s Requiem at the venueon 26 June. The concert will be conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong and broadcast live onBBC Radio Three.Commenting on the festival, Birmingham Conservatoire’s Principal Professor, Julian LloydWebber, said: “I wonder if Birmingham will ever have seen so many of its extraordinarymusical organisations gathered together under the same roof?! The Adrian Boult Hall hasbeen at the forefront of Birmingham’s cultural mix for the past 30 years, so it’s fitting thatwe’re marking its closure with a magnificent festival. “Although we’re saying goodbye to the venue, City Of Sounds is also the perfect signpostfor what’s to come. The new Birmingham Conservatoire will be the first of its kind - pur-pose-built for the digital age - and, along with our new auditorium, audiences will be ableto enjoy Birmingham’s only dedicated jazz venue.”

Karl Jenkins

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From ballet to Bollywood, hip-hop to lindy-hop and kathak to acrobatics, since 2008,International Dance Festival Birmingham hasbeen rapidly gaining a reputation as one ofthe UK's most important dance events, firmlycementing its place in the city's cultural cal-endar.

Characterised by a multitude of street per-formances, solo shows, genre-crossing col-laborations, interactive workshops and com-munity projects, the fifth IDFB has attractedsome of the dance world's biggest stars, aswell as showcasing home-grown talent andexpanding its reach across Birmingham andinto the wider West Midlands region.

“I think there's been a desire to seeBirmingham start to challenge London as aplace for dance, where artists want to liveand make work,” said David Massingham,IDFB Co-Artistic Director and Chief Executiveof DanceXchange. “There's an enormousamount of great space for dance here, and abig appetite for showing diverse work fromaround the world, so over the last few years,we've started getting messages from peopleall the time asking to be part of it.”

One big change for 2016 is the introductionof a “Festival Hub” at the old Municipal Bankon Broad Street. Conveniently located next toCentenary Square, where much of the out-door action takes place, the disused bankprovides plenty of room for a café, perform-ances, socialising and even an art exhibitioncalled Cosmic Birds.

Visual art might seem an odd inclusion, butit fits in with IDFB's wider blurring of theline between dance and other creative pur-suits. A former dancer who switched careersfollowing an injury, Shun Ito creates metaland light sculptures which move, according

to Massingham, “in a verychoreographic way”. His workwill also serve as the basis for alive event featuring a dance per-formance by Kei Miyata and experi-mental music by Ex Easter Island Head.“I've always seen dance as a very collabora-tive art form, and I like breaking down barri-ers to dance, especially through our workwith circus,” said Massingham.

Cosmic Birds ties in nicely with a subtle,underlying theme for the festival - the inter-play between man and machine - whichcomes to the fore during “Live Nights”, four

evening extravaganzas bringing multiple actstogether in Centenary Square. Ideal for thosewith limited free time, Live Nights promise“the complete festival experience in oneplace”, with Massingham's The MachineShow serving as the spectacular centrepiece.

“The outdoor works like RIDE and PhoneBox that we're sending out on tours of thecity will all come into the centre during LiveNights so people can see a lot of them in onego. We wanted to create an exciting night-time atmosphere and make this somethingpeople want to come and join in with, sowe've done things like bringing in DigbethDining Club to provide food and drink.”

Like DanceXchange, IDFB is guided by a pas-sion for accessibility and inclusiveness aswell as excellence. By developing such awide-ranging programme, Massingham andthe festival team hope to reach diverse audi-ences and encourage as many people as pos-sible to get involved.

“When we set out in 2008 with the first festi-val, I wanted to try to provide something foreveryone instead of having the same fewpeople come to everything. We've got all the

outdoor workwhich is free,and we've gotthings like PutYour Foot Down inthe Bullring whichis a day of youth andcommunity dance andpeople in training showing off their skillsand entertaining shoppers, which I think is areally good thing for the shopping experi-ence too. Even if people just dip their toes inonce, I think that's great.”

Whatever your interests, there's certainlyplenty to look forward to, but for those whoaren't sure what to check out first, here aresome of our top picks to give a flavour ofwhat's on offer.

Find out what else David Massingham has tosay about this year’s festival atwhatsonlive.co.uk


Let's Dance:IDFB 2016 At A Glance

International Dance FestivalBirmingham takes place at various citycentre locations from Sun 1 t0 Sun 22 May.Check out our highlights on page 22.For further information and full festivallistings, visit idfb.co.uk

Dance May Brum/Warwickshire.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:15 Page 2


Part rock concert, part brutal satire and partcinematic spectacle, Hofesh Shechter's firstfull-length dance production premiered at the2010 Brighton Festival to extraordinary acclaim.A year later, the show was reworked as PoliticalMother: The Choreographer's Cut for an inter-national tour, with sell-out shows held in rockvenues around the world - an achievement vir-tually unprecedented in contemporary dance.

This May, thanks to the International DanceFestival team, lucky Birmingham audiences willhave the chance to experience the groundbreak-ing style and raw, youthful energy of PoliticalMother on two separate dates at BirminghamREP.

“Hofesh and I have worked together on and offfor a long time,” says David Massingham,IDFB's Co-Artistic Director. “When weapproached the company about putting onPolitical Mother for IDFB, they said that theyweren't going to be touring it any more, but Iconvinced them to put it on one last time, andnow Hofesh is actually going to be performingin it.”

“It feels exciting and absolutely right to bringPolitical Mother home to Birmingham,” saysShechter. “I spent part of the rehearsal periodfor this show working in the studios atDanceXchange, and although we have sincetoured it throughout the world, this is our firsttime to perform it to audiences inBirmingham.”

Long recognised as one of the most importantand original artists currently working in con-temporary dance, Shechter has been seen bycritics as blazing a trail to open up the mediumto a wider audience, stripping it of any per-ceived pretension and propelling it into themainstream. Nowhere is this more true than inthe brazenly anti-authoritarian and musicallyintense Political Mother, whose innovative cho-reography is inspired as much by news footageand everyday life as it is by established formsand structures.

Political MotherHeather Kincaid explores Hofesh Shechter’s critically acclaimed work

which returns to the Midlands as part ofInternational Dance Festival Birmingham 2016

‘‘Hofesh is one ofthe most excitingartists to emergein recent years

‘‘

David Massingham



Born in the notoriously fraught city ofJerusalem before moving to the UK, whereconflict with the Middle East seems almostperpetual, it's perhaps no surprise thatShechter's work would have a strongly politi-cal bent.

“Everything I've experienced has left a markon my work, and a lot of that experience hasbeen about conflict, about struggling tomake sense of things,” he said in a 2009Guardian interview.

Growing up in Israel, Shechter developed anearly interest in folk dance, joining a localgroup before going on to train at theJerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.This early passion remains a key influenceon his work, both formally and philosophi-cally. A statement displayed in lights duringPolitical Mother reads, “Where there is pres-sure there is folk dance”. It might be under-stood as a kind of ethos for his work: like itsmusical equivalent, folk dance can be seenas in some way inherently political, a kind ofcounter-culture to more elitist or industry-controlled art forms.

Nevertheless, it's the contrasts and juxtaposi-tions that make Shechter's work truly radi-cal, bringing together these traditional folkelements with visceral images inspired byfilms and by real conflict, along with thekinds of furious, thrashing sounds andmovements you'd be more likely to encounterat a rock concert than in a dance production.Piercing lighting creates stark shadows asone scene cuts to another in quickfire succes-sion. Among the things you'll witness in thisshow is a ritual samurai suicide, a dictator'sincoherent ranting, and the weary move-ments of what appear to be a group of pris-oners.“When I come to do a piece, I don't comewith an answer,” says Shechter. “I hope toawaken interesting connections for myself. Iwant to try to create all these differentworlds, then edit between them and see

what happens.” His experimental style isn't limited to chore-ography. Following a period working withleading Israeli dance company Batsheva,Shechter moved to Paris to study music andplay drums for a rock band called TheHuman Beings. Today, he frequently acts asboth composer and choreographer for hisshows, relying on a few trusted collaboratorsto help him realise his visions. He describesthe development of Political Mother as “avery complex and to some extent randomprocess”, where composition and choreogra-phy are inextricably intertwined, though hedoes remember what began the creative jour-ney for the show.

“I have an idea - a drum loop that drives usforward, that keeps a train of rhythm thatcarries us down the rabbit hole. My firstinstinct is to steal a groove from a PeterGabriel song - so I do. Yaron (Engler, musicalcollaborator) and I are sitting in the workingroom recording it on what is left from my olddrum kit. It sounds rough. This miserablerecording grew into what now sounds like'the end of the world'. Peter himself wouldn'tknow it was inspired by him, and the way itsounds now I'm not sure he'd want to.”The end result is even further from this start-ing point: Political Mother is as varied anddramatic musically as it is visually. The drumloop Shechter describes is layered up with“magical, haunting viola sounds” from NellCatchpole, as well as with his own vocals,sung with an old Egyptian string band inmind, “cigarettes hanging from their lipswhile playing and with a glass of arak withinreach.” In the final production, the heavymetal fury of roaring guitars and poundingmilitary drums mingle with gentle, baroque-style chamber music and even melancholyklezmer sounds. It's a mad-sounding meltingpot, but if the overwhelmingly positiveresponse is anything to judge by, there's cer-tainly method in it.

Since the gritty and provocative In YourRooms set his career skyrocketing in 2006/7,Shechter has gone on to produce work forthe Royal Ballet and a Broadway revival ofFiddler On The Roof, as well as choreograph-ing the ‘Maxxie's Dance’ sequence forChannel Four's Skins and creating severalshows with his self-titled dance company,formed in 2008. Yet Political Mother remainsone of his most powerful and successfulpieces to date. It's hard to imagine a showbetter suited to IDFB, given the festival’s cel-ebration of diversity and innovation and itscommitment to “breaking down barriers todance”, something for which PoliticalMother has itself been praised.

“I think there's a growing group of people inthis city who want to see something a littlebit unusual,” says Massingham. “I thinkBirmingham really wants to be that kind ofinternational and European city, and I thinkour festival reflects that.”Both IDFB and Birmingham REP are thrilledto be supporting Shechter's work at the festi-val.

“Political Mother,” says Birmingham REP'sArtistic Director Roxana Silbert, “is a typical-ly bold, raw, intense piece accompanied bypulsating live music in a heady collision ofcontemporary dance meets rock gig.Birmingham audiences are in for a realtreat.”

Massingham agrees: “Hofesh is one of themost exciting artists to emerge in recentyears and has made much of his work here inBirmingham, so it’s fantastic to see PoliticalMother performed at IDFB, after sell-out sea-sons all over the world - it’s a real coup forthe festival and the city.”

Hofesh Shechter’s Political Mother will showat The REP, Birmingham, Fri 13 to Sat 14 May



The Machine ShowCentenary Square, Birmingham,Wed 11 - Sat 14 May

Age Guidance 12+

A power-driven dance and circus spectacularset against a wall of sound, The MachineShow is the must-seecentrepiece of IDFB2016. This 40-minuteshow features animpressive line-up of13 international per-formers includingMelanie Lomoff, pop-ping legend SalahBenlemqawansaa andAakash Odedra, aswell as live musicfrom Frenchelectro/rock dancegroup Rinôçérôse.

Motionhouse: TorqueCentenary Square, Birmingham,Fri 13 - Sat 14 May

Dancers and JCB diggers work together inthis breathtaking demonstration of strengthand agility.

Corey Baker: Phone BoxMultiple locations plus Centenary Square,Birmingham (check website for details), Sun 1- Sat 14 May

In this nostalgic yet exhilarating 20-minuteshow, Birmingham-based Corey Baker bringsto life the iconic British phone box withincredible acrobatic feats and a wacky digi-tal soundtrack.

ZoieLogic DanceTheatre: RideMultiple locations plus Centenary Square,Birmingham (check website for details),Sat 7 - Sat 14 May

ZoieLogic presents an innovative and visual-ly arresting outdoor work exploring thenature of travelling and the relationshipbetween man and machine. Thrown togetheron a strange journey in a customised FordOrion named Stanley, three strangers soondiscover that the 80s car may have a life ofits own...

Visit idfb.co.uk for further information

The Ricochet Project:Smoke And MirrorsCrescent Theatre, Birmingham,Tues 17 - Wed 18 May

Age Guidance: 14+ (contains nudity)

Winner of a Total Theatre Award for BestCircus at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015.Combining poetic acrobatics, contemporarydance, contortion and high-flying circusfeats, Smoke AndMirrors scrutinisesthe state of Americaand the pursuit ofhappiness in themodern world.Delicate metaphorand jaw-droppingspectacle are seam-lessly woventogether against aminimalist set inthis poignant, hour-long production byaward-winning UScompany Ricochet.

UK PremiereBallet BC: Bill / 16+ ARoom / Solo Echo Birmingham Hippodrome, Fri 20 - Sat 21 May

A cutting-edge company consisting of 17 per-formers, Ballet British Columbia is commit-ted to innovation in contemporary dance.Since 2009, Ballet BC has developed an excit-ing repertoire of new work by acclaimedCanadian and international choreographers.Their first IDFB performance will consist ofthree pieces: Sharon Eyal's Bill, Crystal Pite'sSolo Echo and Artistic Director EmilyMolnar's 16+ A Room.

Hemabharathy Palani /Subhash Viman:Trikonanga & Twine /MorphedThe Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome,Sat 21 May. Age Guidance 12+

This 75-minute double-bill combines tradi-tional Indian dance with contemporary influ-ences. Award-winning dancer and choreog-rapher Hemabharathy Palani blendsBharatanatyam with contemporary danceand ballet in Trikonanga & Twine.Meanwhile, British dancer Subhash Vimanpresents Morphed, an examination of ourindefinitely morphing identities in a glob-alised world. A prom-ising new talentinspired by hip-hop,urban and contempo-rary styles, Viman hasworked with topBollywood choreogra-phers as well as train-ing in classical Indiandance.

Centenary Square LIVE NIGHTS

More IDFB 2016 highlights...

Free Performances, Live Music, Circus and Dance plus award-winning street food from Digbeth Dining Club


RiverdanceRegent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent,Fri 6 - Sat 7 May

Riverdance needs no introduction: experi-enced live in the UK by over 2.9 million peo-ple and watched on television by more thantwo billion viewers worldwide, the interna-tional phenomenon has lost none of itsmagic over the course of 1000-plus perform-ances. Composed by Bill Whelan, producedby Moya Doherty and directed by JohnMcColgan, the current tour has beendescribed as ‘an unmissable chance’ for UKaudiences to reconnect with this stand-outshow.

Birmingham Royal BalletTheatre Severn, Shrewsbury,Tues 17 - Wed 18 May

Showcasing the range and beauty of itswidely renowned work, Birmingham RoyalBallet returns to Theatre Severn with a selec-tion of new and familiar pieces, themedaround Shakespeare's writing to coincidewith the 400th anniversary of his death.Famous pas de deux excerpts from well-loved ballets such as Romeo And Juliet, TheDream and The Taming Of The Shrew areperformed alongside José Limón's TheMoor's Pavane - a single-act adaptation ofOthello - and Jessica Lang's one-act balletWink, a new work inspired by Shakespeare'ssonnets. Live accompaniment is provided by theacclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Balletboyz: LifeLichfield Garrick, Sat 28 May

An all-male company of 10incredible dancers, the freshand inventive Balletboyz returnto Lichfield with a brand newshow co-produced by Sadler'sWells in association withArtsdepot. Taking a powerfuland sometimes provocative lookat life and death, the productionfeatures two new commissionsby Pontus Lidberg and Javier deFrutos, as well as an originalscore written for an ensemble ofnine musicians.

Tribhangi DanceTheatre: Sukumamac, Birmingham, Sun 8 May,Albany Theatre, Coventry, Mon 9May

Hailing from Johannesburg,South Africa, the award-winningTribhangi Dance Theatre bringsits dynamic dance fusion to theMidlands in ‘a show like noother’. Combining the grace andelegance of Classical IndianBharatanatyam with the intensephysicality of African dancestyles, Sukuma promises to bean exhilarating, high-energyexperience for audiences of allages.

Motionhouse & No Fit State: Blockmac, Birmingham, Fri 27 - Sat 28 May

Dance, circus skills and physical theatre collide in this unique collaboration between leadingUK companies Motionhouse and NoFit State Circus.Twenty oversized blocks are deconstructed and reformed into an infinite variety of shapesand structures for the performers to explore, move and play with, reflecting on the diversity,challenges and contradictions of life in the city. Directed by Kevin Finnan and Paul Evans, the event is supported by mac Birmingham.

More dance previews from around the region


Dance


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Slam Dunk Festival celebrates its 10thanniversary this year. Take us throughthe journey from its inception... It started in 2006, when I needed a largevenue to put on Fall Out Boy in the city ofLeeds. I ended up using the large Millen-nium Square - and as it was a Saturday, Iturned it into an all-day event and called it afestival! It’s then just grown over the last 10years - and we’ve added more stages andmore venues as it’s done so. That’s in-creased the audience size from a couple ofthousand to nearly 40,000. We first added aMidlands event, in Wolverhampton, in 2013.After three successful years there, we’vemoved to Birmingham’s NEC for 2016.

You’ve stated the 2016 event is going tobe the best party you’ve ever thrown.What’s going to make this year betterthan the previous nine?

Its simply much bigger than before. The NECis a great venue, and we’ll also be throwinga big after-party in conjunction with Birm-ingham-based promoter Uprawr. Takingplace in one of the Pavilions at the NEC, itwill be the biggest rock club night the Mid-lands has ever seen.

The festival is usually held at Wolver-hampton’s Civic Hall but has relocatedfor the time being due to the venue’s re-furbishment. Is the plan to move back toWolverhampton when the Civic reopens?

We will look at the options. It will ultimatelycome down to the size of the acts we haveon.

Slam Dunk Festival won Best Festival atthe Kerrang! Awards in both 2014 and2015. Did you ever imagine the eventwould be so successful?No, not at all. It started almost as an acci-dent - I never set out to create a festival. Theevent has grown at a good, slow rate. Itwouldn’t have been such a success if we’dtried too much, too quickly.

Who are you most looking forward toseeing play at this year’s event?As it’s the 10th anniversary, it was importantto book a line-up that represented the 10years. I think we’ve done that, so I’m look-ing forward to re-living some great memo-ries as well as discovering new artists.

It must be a real bonus that Panic! At TheDisco’s only UK dates this year are forSlam Dunk. How did booking them comeabout?I knew they were planning to tour Europearound the time of the event, as I’ve alwaysdone their shows in Leeds, so I offered themthe slot.

Are there any moments, good or bad,from previous years that are particularlymemorable?Nothing sticks out because there have beenso many of both! It’s really fun and reallystressful at the same time.

Generally speaking, rock bands have areputation for being rebellious. Are thereany moments from previous years where

this was particularly evident?Back in 2010, the last time New Found Gloryplayed, they and a load of other bands in-vaded the stage during the set of alternativegirl band The Millionaires. It was prettychaotic, so I hope they don’t do that again!

What’s the most unusual thing you’veever come across on an artist’s rider?A framed picture of Cuba Gooding Jr.

What are your hopes for the festival inthe future?Just to keep getting bigger and better!

FEATURE

Slamdunk Festival is at the NEC,Birmingham on Sun 29 May


by Lauren Foster

Showcasing the best in contemporary emo, punk and ska, the three-stop touring Slamdunk Festival this year moves its Midlands date fromWolverhampton to the NEC. Associated with the Leeds-based club nights and indie record label of the same name, Slam Dunk Festivalcelebrates its 10th anniversary this year, meaning that attendees in 2016 can expect to experience the biggest and best Slam Dunk party todate. Over 50 artists will play across seven stages, alongside DJ sets, exclusive signings and a riotous afterparty to round things off.

2016 Line-up Includes: Panic! at the Disco, Of Mice & Men, New Found Glory, Mallory Knox, Yellowcard, Shikari Sounds System, MaydayParade, The King Blues and The Story So Far

What creator Ben Ray hasto say about Slam dunk...

Pictured - Ben Ray, Director of Slam Dunk and Todd‘Jd’ Malloy, Live Music Co-ordinator

Slam dunk Festival

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Festivals May.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:32 Page 1

For more festivals visit whatsonlive.co.uk 27

Birmingham PrideGay Village, Birmingham, Sat 28 - Sun 29 May

Marking its 20th outing in 2016, this year'sBirmingham Pride takes A Generation OfPride as its theme, celebrating the pivotal,hard-won achievements of the LGBT commu-nity over the course of the last two decades.Legal changes to the age of consent, mar-riage and adoption rights, the right to servein the military and to change one's officialgender are among the milestones passed inrecent years. On a local level, too, the eventwill highlight the growth of Birmingham'sown gay scene into one of the most popularin the country, with over 15 vibrant bars andclubs in the Gay Village as well as one of theUK's first LGBT health and wellbeing centres.Today, Birmingham Pride attracts over50,000 visitors per year, boasting a diversearray of activities and entertainment includ-ing music, cabaret, dance and, of course, thehugely popular Carnival Parade. It's come along way from its humble 1990s roots outsidethe Nightingale Club.

Line-up includes: Erasure's Andy Bell, KatyB, Lawson, DJ Fresh, Lisa Stansfield, FleurEast, Marvin Humes, MNEK, Blonde, LibertyX, Imani, Dakota, Vengaboys, Ms Dynamiteand Lucy Spraggan

Bearded TheoryCatton Hall, Derbyshire,Thurs 26 - Sun 29 May

Taking place in the grounds of Catton Hall inthe heart of the National Forest, the multi-award-winning Bearded Theory has beenrapidly gaining a reputation as one of theUK's best independent festivals. Everexpanding to meet demand, the festivaltakes place during the May bank holidayweekend, with fantastic acts spread acrosssix stages, including a dance tent, a cinemaand a comedy & cabaret area in addition tothe main Pallet and Woodland stages. But it'snot only the convenient location and top-quality performers that make it popular:Bearded Theory also features a free, award-winning Children's Village (along withaffordably priced tickets for kids), an award-winning bar selling drinks at typical pub tar-iffs, permission to bring your own drinks,and even award-shortlisted loos!

Line-up includes: Levellers, Killing Joke,Terrorvision, Reverend and the Makers,Public Image Ltd, Billy Bragg, WilkoJohnson, Squeeze, Arrested Development,Turin Brakes, Jack Savoretti and Stiff LittleFingers

SwingamajigThe Rainbow Venues, Digbeth,Sun 1 May

Returning to Birmingham for thefourth year, Swingamajig is a uniquefestival which invites Electro Swinglovers and vintage connoisseurs totake to the streets and party in style.Bringing the ‘sounds and styles of the1920s up to date with a modern twist’,this year’s event features festival cre-ators and organisers Electric SwingCircus and headliners Balkan BeatBox.

Line-up also includes: JFB, TheDestroyers, The Tootsie Rollers,Father Funk, Aries, Stenchman, JimWynn Swing Orchestra, C@ In TheH@, The Carny Villains, Jack RabbitSlim, Swingrowers, Gypsys OfBohemia, Cafe Manouche, SwingDance, Jon Udry, Tankus The Henge,Kitty Bang Bangs, Rubyyy Jones, ElizaDeLite, Equador Wizard and manymore also feature amongst this year'sline-up.

Festivals

Birmingham Town Hall,Thurs 12 - Mon 16 May

Celebrating the vibrancy and diversity ofBritain's contemporary folk scene, TownHall's Imagined Isle Festival showcases someof the country's most accomplished andacclaimed traditional musicians alongsideexciting local and emerging talent. Rangingfrom intimate performances from Eric Bibband Declan O'Rourke to larger scale, multi-act events like Future Folk and fascinatingretrospectives like Way To Blue: The SongsOf Nick Drake, Imagined Isle promises to bean unforgettable few days with something tocapture the imagination of just about any-one. Events are individually listed and canbe booked separately, allowing you to pickand choose shows for yourself.

Line-up includes: Kate Rusby, Eric Bibb,Emily Portman (pictured) & The CoracleBand, False Lights, Josienne Clarke & BenWalker, Luke Jackson, The Ukulele Orchestraof Great Britain and Way to Blue: The Songsof Nick Drake

Imagined Isle Folk Festival

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Squidboymac, Birmingam,Fri 13 May

Rubber-faced NewZealand funnymanTrygve (pro-nounced ‘trig-vee’)Wakenshaw hasn’thad much time tospend in his newLondon home - he’s been way too busy tour-ing this hugely successful show since itcaused a stir at Edinburgh in 2013.Treadmills, bags of crisps, a lion, a dog, agirlfriend and ‘the romance of Jacques Brel’are all present and correct during a truly sillyand surreal 60 minutes of high-energy mad-ness.

DanThomas The Glee Club,Birmingham,Fri 13 - Sat 14 May

Dan Thomas’s dadwas a big fan ofTony Hancock -and was deter-mined to ensurehis son developed an appreciation of theBirmingham-born funnyman too. “Hancock’s hangdog misery-guts quality issomething I’ve tried to capture onstage aswell as in my everyday life,” the Cardiff-based comedian recently told Buzzmag. “Igot started in comedy because I was told thatit was a super-glamorous and quick way ofmaking easy money. And the other night, asI sat in my knackered 12-years-old FordFiesta after a gig, eating a chicken chowmein with my bare hands, I realised howtrue that was.”

JonnyAwsumHenry Tudor House,Shrewsbury,Wed 4 May

‘If you can’t beat’em, join ’em’seems to have beenthe perspectivetaken by musicalcomic Jonny Awsum. Having served as a bar-man at London’s Chuckle Club for eight longyears, Jonny decided it was high time he putdown the pint glasses and picked up themicrophone himself.Now a regular on the UK comedy circuit, he’salso been the warm-up artist for ITV1lunchtime series Loose Women and featuredin Cravendale's hugely popular ‘cats withthumbs’ advertising campaign, viewed morethan a million times on YouTube.

Four of the best...

Comedy

Katherine RyanBirmingham Town Hall,Fri 20 May

Having experienced mother-hood, divorce and MTV, award-winning Canadian funny ladyKatherine Ryan is well placedindeed to take a wry look atthose aspects of life that makepeople angry and bitter.Alongside her comedy career,Katherine also takes occasionalacting roles - the part of Georgein Channel Four’s Campus, andMerc’s assistant in Episodes,feature among her more recentengagements.She visits the Midlands thismonth with her show, Kathbum.

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Max AndIvanWarwick ArtsCentre, Coventry,Wed 25 May

“After a killer-awe-some EdinburghFestival and kick-ass Soho Theatrerun,” say Max andIvan, “we’re pleased to be heading out onour first ever UK tour. So come along if youfancy a whole heap of skits and sketches fol-lowed by an hour-long epic tale.”Character comedy duo Max Olesker and IvanGonzalez have enjoyed plenty of positivereviews for their latest show, which findsthem introducing their audience to the odd-ball - and soon-to-be-doomed - communityof the godforsaken Sudley-on-Sea.“We aren’t judgmental,” the boys add, “so ifyou’re the kind of person who prefers toenjoy comedy whilst sat in your pants, you’revery welcome to do so at our live gig.”

Just TheTonicThe Comedy Loft,Birmingham,Thurs 5 May

Lee Nelson tops thebill at this speciallaunch night forBirmingham’sbrand new comedyclub. Just The Tonic began in Nottingham over 20years ago and has now taken over theJongleurs sites in Birmingham, Reading,Watford and London. Past performers at theclub have included Ricky Gervais, MattLucas, Al Murray, Bill Bailey and StewartLee. Already lined up for Birmingham gigs areReginald D Hunter, Adam Bloom, GlennWool, Ivan Brackenbury and Paul Sinha.Watch this space for details about when eachof them is performing...

JulianClary:The Joy OfMincingTheatre Severm,Shrewsbury, Sun 1May; StaffordGatehouse Theatre,Thurs 26 May

Julian Clary’s win-ning line in ‘saucy postcard’ humour andinnuendo disguises an intelligent sarcasmthat digs fun at both himself and his audi-ence. A perennial favourite in the stand-upcomedy world, his forays into TV haven’talways been as successful - a long-ago gag atthe expense of Norman Lamont saw himblacklisted by television producers for someconsiderable time.Julian’s here making a welcome return to theMidlands with his latest touring show, anoffering which his website promises will be‘a masterclass in camp comedy’.

For more comedy listings visit whatsonlive.co.uk 29

Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure 333mac, Birmingham, Mon 23 May

Not many comedians make it to God-like status throughstand-up alone. Jerry Seinfeld had a TV show, whileSaturday Night Live alumni like Steve Martin and Bill

Murray used the movies to make it big. Only performerslike Bill Hicks, Jackie Mason and Lenny Bruce managed it

through stage work alone - but you can definitely addEddie Izzard to that list.

Eddie’s worked a live crowd for more years than he proba-bly cares to remember, building his reputation with mate-

rial based around skewed logic and surreal tangents. Of late it’s been his endeavours for Sport Relief which have

seen him in the headlines, completing 27 gruellingmarathons in as many days.

For this latest visit to Birmingham, he’s presenting areloaded version of the three-year-old Force Majeure show

he’s been performing across the world in four differentlanguages, three of which - English, French and German -will be in evidence on the night. Critics have stopped shortof hailing the show classic Izzard, but there’s plenty of off-

the-wall material for his fans to enjoy. Brexit supporters may think twice about attending, mind -

he’s performing the show in support of the Stronger InEurope campaign.

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Theatre May .qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:30 Page 1

King LearThe REP, Birmingham, Tues 19 - Sat 28 May

“Our version of King Lear is set in more orless the same period of prehistory as theplay,” says former Rising Damp star DonWarrington, who takes the title role. “Wehaven't moved it, so it's quite a primitive set-ting. I've seen some of the costume designs,and they're rather medieval-looking.”One of Shakespeare's most iconic roles, Learhas been played by illustrious actors includ-ing Orson Welles, James Earl Jones,Laurence Olivier and Ian McKellen. Bigshoes indeed for Don to fill...“I've seen three performances that were pret-ty remarkable,” he says. “One was PaulSchofield's, which I've only seen on film. Ialso saw Eric Porter in the theatre manyyears ago and, more recently, I saw SimonRussell Beale. It's all extra pressure, butbring it on! I try to wear it as lightly as I canand just get on with doing the play.” Readthe full interview with Don Warringtononline at whatsonlive.co.uk

The FatherThe REP, Birmingham, Tues 3 - Sat 7 May

There’s plenty of humour in this highlypraised offering from French playwrightFlorian Zeller, but that doesn’t mean it’s aneasy or always comfortable ride. KennethCranham stars as 80-year-old Andre, a manwhose life is becoming ever more challeng-ing as he struggles with the onset of demen-tia.

Alice In WonderlandBlue Orange Theatre, Birmingham,Sat 28 May - Sat 11 June

This timeless classic tells the magical storyof a little girl called Alice, who falls down arabbit hole and discovers the world ofWonderland - an enchanted and sometimesscary place populated with nonsensical andamusing characters such as the WhiteRabbit, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.Presented by Blue Orange Arts.

Joseph And The AmazingTechnicolor DreamcoatWolverhampton Grand Theatre,Tues 17 - Sat 21 May

X Factor winner Joe McElderry takes the leadin this Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice showwhich tells the story of a boy driven intoslavery by his calculating brothers, who’reall envious of his coat of many colours.Joseph’s ability to predict the future from hisdreams, however, ultimately frees him andwins him a place among the highest in theland... This long-time hit show is an ensem-ble triumph, with terrific energy put in by allconcerned.Spectacular setsand excellent musiccomplete the experi-ence, which pro-vides everythingyou’d expect of aRice /Lloyd Webbercollaboration, forbetter or worse.

Daughter Of The ForestThe Drum, Birmingham, Sun 29 May

Theatre company Komola Collective is clearabout its intentions - to revisit history, chal-lenge social taboos, unearth myths, questionaccepted beliefs and look at the worldthrough women’s eyes. And the company is

certainly achieving its aims with this latesttheatrical offering, imaginatively unfoldingthe story of a young girl raised by the crea-tures residing in a dense mangrove forest.But when conflictbetween man andbeast threatens todevour her home,she finds herselfunexpectedly cho-sen by Allah toembark on a quest,the outcome ofwhich could changethe forest forever...

Tina T’urner:Tea Lady & Friends Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham,Thurs 26 May

Tracey Collins describes herself as a musicalcharacter comedian. Her award-winningshow, meanwhile, has been called a remark-able tour de force, and her alter-ego titlecharacter a deliciously funny cross betweenMrs Overall and Beyonce. The show playsBirmingham following a sell-out debut run atthe Edinburgh Festival and hit performancesat Bestival and Latitude festivals. Traceyadvises that the evening will feature not only‘hit songs, off-the-wall characters and quickchanges’ but also ‘simply the best tea intown’... What’s not to like?

For more theatre previews visit whatsonlive.co.uk 31

Theatre previews from around the regionTheatre

WIN! TICKETS To enter, visit whatsonlive.co.uk



Theatre

The Sound Of Music Birmingham Hippodrome,Tues 24 - Sat 28 May; Theatre Severn,Shrewsbury, Tues 31 May - Sat 11 June;Wolverhampton Grand Theatre,Tues 4 - Sat 8 October

One of the most popular family musicals ofall time, Rodgers & Hammerstein's TheSound Of Music is best known from its mid-1960s film version starring Julie Andrews. Ittells the story of the Von Trapp family’sWorld War Two flight across the mountainsof Austria, and features hit songs likeEdelweiss, My Favourite Things, Do-Re-Mi,Climb Ev’ry Mountain, The Lonely Goatherd,So Long, Farewell and, of course, the titletrack itself. Lucy O’Byrne (The Voice) plays the lead roleof Maria.

Margaret Thatcher:Queen Of Sohomac, Birmingham, Fri 6 - Sat 7 May

This critically acclaimed show has beendescribed as ‘a delightful odyssey of gayrights, the ’80s and disco’. Taking place onthe eve of the vote on controversial anti-gayclause, Section 28, it finds the prime ministerlost in London’s decadent Soho, where sheaccidentally becomes a cabaret superstar...The production sees performer and co-writerMatt Tedford pulling on the tights to playMaggie. Read our interview with Matt onlineat whatsonlive.co.uk

Rehearsal For MurderBelgrade Theatre, Coventry,Mon 9 - Sat 14 May; Theatre Severn,Shrewsbury, Mon 27 June - Sat 2 July

The Agatha Christie Theatre Company take abreak from presenting grizzly whodunnits bythe legendary Queen of Crime to presentinstead a grizzly whodunnit by two near-leg-endary American screenwriters.Richard Levinson and William Link, the writ-ing team behind this show, are best known

for numerous TV detective series, includedamong which are Columbo and Murder, SheWrote.Robert Daws, Amy Robbins, Robert Duncan,Ben Nealon and Susan Penhaligon star inthis twisted tale of ‘murder most foul’, inwhich a playwright not only determines toprove his fiancee’s death was no accidentbut also to unmask her killer...

Laila: The MusicalWarwick Arts Centre, Coventry,Tues 10 - Sat 14 May

A bittersweet tale of star-crossed lovers thatoriginated in seventh century Persia, LailaMajnu was once described by British poetLord Byron as ‘the Romeo And Juliet of the

east’. “Laila Majnu is one of the oldest lovestories but has rarely been told in the west,”explains Pravesh Kumar, the artistic directorof Rifco, the company behind this brand newcontemporary musical. “The story has trav-elled across borders and generationsthrough music and verse and is a naturalmusical. I wanted to share this beautiful taleand look at the timeless themes of love andhonour in today’s multicultural Britain.”Rifco’s previous theatrical offerings includeaward-winning musical Britain’s GotBhangra.

The AlchemistSwan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon,Thurs 26 May - Sat 6 August

Ben Johnson’s TheAlchemist wasdescribed by poetSamuel Taylor Coleridgeas having one of thethree most perfect plotsin literature. It’s alsowidely considered to beJohnson’s finest work.When an outbreak ofthe Plague forces thegentleman Lovewit to flee London, his butlerJeremy is left in sole charge of the house.Jeremy uses the premises - not to mentionhis association with a conman and a prosti-tute - to set up a series of elaborate scams.But can the man now calling himself CaptainFace really get away with claiming he canturn tin into bankable gold?... Polly Findlay(pictured) directs.

Theatre previews from around the region


Do something different, see something new

0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.comCalls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. 5% transaction charge applies excluding cash sales in person.

Thu 16 - Sat 25 JunFrom £10

Tue 28 Jun -Sat 3 SepFrom £28

Carlos Acosta Cloud Gate DanceTheatre of Taiwan

Wed 7 -Sun 18 SepFrom £23.50

Thu 9 -Sat 11 JunFrom £16.50

Thu 5 - Sat 7 MayFrom £15

Nederlands

Produced by DanceXchange in partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome, funded by Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council.

Dance: Sampled Ballet BC

Tue 3 & Wed 4 MayFrom £15

Tue 10 &Wed11MayFrom £15

Fri 20 &Sat 21 May£15

Tue 17 &Wed18May£15

Tue 24 - Sat 28 MayFrom £20

Mon30 May -Sat 4 JunFrom £20

Thu 16 - Sat 18 Jun

The Taming ofthe Shrew

Wed 22 - Sat 25 Jun

ShakespeareTriple Bill

Thu 9 & Sat 11 Jun

Cavalleria rusticana& PagliacciMascagni & Leoncavallo

Fri 10 Jun

In ParenthesisIain Bell

Sold


Graeme Of ThronesLichfield Garrick, Thurs 12 May;Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tues 24 May

This original and unauthorised parody of hit TVseries Game Of Thrones has been created by ateam of top comedy writers. Described as ‘arollercoaster ride of beheadings, incest and war’,it stops off in the Midlands direct from a sold-out run in the West End.

Grumpy Old Women:Fifty Shades Of BeigeStafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 13 - Sat 14 May;Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 22 May; NewAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Fri 10 June;Lichfield Garrick, Wed 6 July

If you’ve seen the TV series, you’ll already knowhow this show works. Celebrity ladies of a cer-tain age come together and wax lyrical on allmanner of subjects salient to being middle-agedwomen in the 21st century. Jenny Eclair, SusieBlake and Kate Robbins are the purveyors ofmirth taking to the stage on this particular occa-sion. Subjects for their consideration include theart of 'grumpy grooming', the joy of large pants,middle-aged drinking, voluntary euthanasia ver-sus retirement and how to customise an unwant-ed pole-dancing kit...

Joanmac, Birmingham, Wed 11 - Thurs 12 May;Lichfield Garrick, Fri 13 May; Brewhouse ArtsCentre, Burton upon Trent, Fri 6 May

Drag Idol champion Lucy Jane Parkinson - akaLoUis CYfer - here fuses lyrical new writing withdrag king cabaret to present an imaginativeretelling of the story of Joan of Arc. “The show’s about Joan’s journey,” explainsLucy Jane, “about her belief that St Catherinehas visited her and is leading her into battle.Then there’s her decisionto look more like a guy.From being just a regularperson, she suddenlyhas a new-foundstrength when shedecides to incorporateher masculinity into herlife.”

TalentNew Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme,Fri 20 May - Sat 4 June

Although best known as a comedian, the lateVictoria Wood’s initial success came as a play-wright when, way back in 1978, she penned thislighthearted offering, in so doing bagging her-self the first of numerous BAFTA nominations. Set in a run-down nightclub, it follows the for-tunes of wannabe star Julie as she makes her bidfor fame and fortune by entering a talent con-test. With frumpy best friend Maureen in tow,Julie finds herself suddenly plunged into thebackstage world of ukulele-wielding pensioners,hapless magicians and predatory comperes withwandering hands...

The VeryMagic FluteArena Theatre,Wolverhampton,Tues 24 - Wed 25 May

‘Beautiful’ puppets, ‘magical’transformations and an inno-vative use of sign language arehere combined by the highlyrated Krazy Kat theatre compa-ny, an ensemble well versed inthe business of visual story-telling. The 50-minute showhas been created for childrenaged between three and sevenand is loosely based onMozart’s famous opera, TheMagic Flute.

Made InDagenhamWolverhampton GrandTheatre, Tues 24 - Sat 28 May

West Bromwich OperaticSociety make a welcome returnto the Grand with their brandnew version of the hit West Endmusical comedy. Based on truefacts, the show tells the storyof the 1968 Ford sewingmachinists strike at the FordDagenham plant. The femaleworkers’ decision to walk outin protest against sexual andfinancial discrimination led tothe introduction of the EqualPay Act of 1970.

For full theatre listings, visit whatsonlive.co.uk

Hairspray The MusicalRegent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent,Mon 9 - Sat 14 May

Freya Sutton, Claire Sweeney, ex-Blue Peter pre-senter Peter Duncan and former X Factorfavourite Brenda Edwards star in this touringversion of the Tony Award-winning show. Set in1962, it boasts a jukebox-worth of ’60s-styledance music and 'downtown' rhythm and blues.At its heart is the story of Tracy Turnblad(Sutton), a chubby teenager who enjoys anovernight rise to stardom when she earns thechance to appear on a local TV dance show...

Theatre Theatre previews from around the region


WHAT’S ON READERS’ AWARD WINNER!



Firstly, congratulations on winning BestEntertainment Personality in our What’sOn Readers’ Awards. How does it feel tohave won such an accolade?!

Thank you very much. It’s for Citizen Khan,and I think Mr Khan would be absolutely de-lighted. He’d think it’s only right that heshould win the award - it’s just one awardaway from getting an MBE, I think, so he’sdelighted.

What have you found most challengingabout transferring the world of CitizenKhan from the TV studio to the stage?

I think in a way it’s always challenging,whatever we’re doing, whether we’re writingthe sitcom or doing the live show. In a way,though, it feels like an organic progressionbecause the show is filmed in front of a livestudio audience, so we’re already sort of alive show. Some of the best bits, I find, are inbetween the scenes, when we have to movesets and cameras around. So in character asMr Khan, I sort of interact and play aroundwith the audience a lot, so we’re actuallytaking bits like that and creating a live showin which Khan will speak to the audience,get involved, get to the cheap seats. If you’recoming to the Genting Arena and you’re inthe cheap seats in the top block, he willcome and get you. It’ll be great fun. He’llalso do stuff like that somewhere like War-wick Arts Centre - which is a lovely, intimatevenue - and that’ll be great as well. So it’s al-

ways a challenge doing stuff like this be-cause you just never know with comedy -you write it and you hope. You’ve just got toput the effort in, I think. We’ve done a fewlittle try-outs. We did something the otherday at mac - Midlands Arts Centre - in frontof just 80 people. We’re going to try and do acouple more of those before we do the firstdate. Just put the work in, that’s the chal-lenge - make sure you concentrate and workhard at it.

What motivated you to create a live show- a relatively unusual move for a televi-sion comedy?

In a way, yes it is. In years gone by, you’dnever do it, but recently, with things like MrsBrown’s Boys going live, I think there’s thepossibility that it can happen. I just thoughtit would be a nice thing to do.

Why do you think Citizen Khan hasproved to be so popular?I think it’s a universal story. Of course, we’vegot a strong USP - that it’s a Pakistani Mus-lim family - so it kind of stands out in thatsense. I think the success is because it con-nects and relates to lots of people. Despitethe fact the family’s Pakistani, you knowyour White British public can watch it andgo ‘I connect with that, he’s a little bit likemy dad’ or ‘I was a little bit like Alia - thedaughter - when I was growing up’. That’sactually quite a lovely feeling, the fact thatwe can connect with this family even thoughthey’re Pakistani Muslims. The show sellswell abroad now - we’re doing well in placeslike Russia, Bulgaria, India and South Africa- and I think that’s the reason why. I thinkpeople just connect with the family. And it’squite warm, you know. I think the format isdesigned to feel warm and give you a nicefeeling. I think when you watch this kind ofcomedy, you grow to love it and develop areal affection for it.

INTERVIEW


Adil RayThe man behind Citizen Khan talks about his

What’s On Readers’ Award win and Mr Khan’s plans for Hollywood...

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Citizen Khan hasn’t been universallypopular with Muslim viewers. How doyou respond to suggestions that it’s dis-respectful in the way it depicts Islam?

I think there certainly was that in SeriesOne. We had a few complaints and peoplewould say that perhaps it was mocking thefaith, but I think a lot of those people havesince realised that it’s not intending to dothat. It’s just a comedy. If anything, it’s uni-versalising and humanising a community,and essentially it’s just there to make uslaugh. I think that’s more the case now. Idon’t hear people complaining any more. Ofcourse you can spend an afternoon on twit-ter and you’ll find somebody who wants tomake negative comments - I think that’s parfor the course and you’ve just got to acceptit. Comedy is so subjective. I sit with my co-writers - who’re absolutely brilliant writers -and debate comedy, and they’ll like some-thing that I don’t like and I’ll like somethingthat they don’t like.

What were your motivations for decidingto follow a career in comedy?

Growing up, I was a big fan of comedy - itmade me laugh! I remember when I wasvery young watching Not The 9 O’ClockNews and loving Rowan Atkinson. I thoughthe was just brilliant. Me and my dad weremassive fans of Fawlty Towers and OnlyFools And Horses. Also watching sitcomswith my mum on a Friday night was great.We’d sit there with fish and chips on ourplate, watching Cheers. I loved the show,whereas my mum just fancied Ted Danson!My family were like lots of other families -we had our fair share of problems. It wasn’talways plain sailing, but when a comedywas on, we’d all sit down and have a laughtogether. Comedy can be so powerful in thatway, and I just wanted to be a part of it.

What’s your perspective on the subject ofcomedy boundaries? Do you think thereare/should be any no-go areas for come-dians in terms of the subject matter theyrefer to in their material?

No, not at all. For me, you can make a jokeabout absolutely anything as long as the in-tention is right. I’ll give you an example. Be-tween friends, we all say the worst things.We can be very politically incorrect, we cangive each other the worst insults ever. Weknow that, because we’re friends and be-cause we’ve got a relationship with one an-other, the intention is to make each otherlaugh, to have a bit of fun, not to make any-body feel bad or offend anyone. The samecan happen in any joke, in any comedy - youjust have to show your intention. With MrKhan, for example, in the end I think hedoes wear his heart on his sleeve and he’svulnerable, so we kind of excuse him forbeing slightly obnoxious and rude and of-fensive at times.

You’re Birmingham-bred and still livethere. How has the city changed duringyour lifetime, and have the changes beenfor the better or worse?

For the better. It’s a fantastically diverse city.I used to take an hour-long bus ride intoschool, and it was a classic experience be-cause I’d see so much of Birmingham andrealise just how diverse we were as a city.We’re even more diverse now. You walkthrough the city centre and it looks fantas-tic. Birmingham is a microcosm of whatBritain is going to be in many years to come.You can come to Birmingham and adapt tothat Brummie lifestyle, and I think that’sfantastic. I kind of started to fall out withBirmingham a few years ago. I felt like wewere getting caught up in whether wewanted to be the second city, whether weshould compete with Manchester, whetherwe should compete with London. I don’tcare whether we’re the second, fifth or sixth

city as long as we’re a city that we’re proudof. And that’s the thing we need to be moreof. Whoever we are, whatever we are, weshould be immensely proud, and I thinkwe’ve finally started to accept that. We’vestopped rubbishing ourselves, which I thinkwe’re very good at in Birmingham.

There’s obviously plenty of mileage leftin the Citizen Khan character, but whatdo you have planned for an encore - orwon’t you mind if, a bit like SteveCoogan, you remain inextricably linkedto one character for the rest of yourcareer?

It’s a good question. Do I put him to sleepfor a while and bring somebody else out?People do that, but I feel like we’re ontosomething with Citizen Khan. I love it, andwe feel very lucky to have a fifth series com-ing up, so why not let it run and run? We’rethinking of possible film ideas at the mo-ment, so there are no plans to put him tosleep just yet. Hopefully, if the audiencelove it and the BBC still commission it, we’llsee plenty more of Citizen Khan.

And finally, you have plans to tackle Hol-lywood, so what can we expect from Citi-zen Khan in future months?

It’s very, very early days. This film idea justexists in my head and in my lounge at themoment. I’m writing a story idea and I’mbeing very ambitious. I think it could be amovie for Citizen Khan fans, but it couldalso be very funny simply to have a moviewith a Muslim character at the centre of it.It’s certainly something I’d like to do. We’lltake it one step at a time - studios and otherproducing directors agree with me, so timewill tell, I guess.

Citizen Khan plays Warwick Arts Centre,Coventry, Mon 2 May and Genting Arena,Birmingham, Friday 6 May


by Lauren Foster

Citizen Khan DPS.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 20:20 Page 2


X-Men: Apocalypse CERT tbc

Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender,Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, NicholasHoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, SophieTurner, Kodi Smit-McPheeDirected by Bryan Singer (USA)

The ninth instalment in the X-Men series,Apocalypse features the eponymous mutant(Isaac) with a dastardly plan up his sleeve.Having hibernated for thousands of years, heemerges to find a world that he is not entire-ly happy with. So, recruiting a disillusionedMagneto (Fassbender) and other disgruntledmutants, he sets about ridding the planet ofmankind. It’s up to the telepathic Professor X(McAvoy), the shape-shifting Mystique(Lawrence) and other more level-headedmutants to stop him. Of course, it will be anuphill struggle. In 3D.

Released Wed 18 May

Florence Foster JenkinsCERT PG (110 mins)Starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, SimonHelberg, Nina Arianda, Rebecca Ferguson Directed by Stephen Frears (UK/USA)

Florence Foster Jenkins was a New Yorkheiress and socialite and, as a child, a prodi-gy on the piano. However, her real passionwas as an operatic soprano and because ofher connections, she got to sing places oth-ers could but dream of. Her lack of rhythm,pitch and tone, though, did not appear to bea problem to her. Very much a true story,Jenkins’ tale was loosely adapted into aFrench film, Marguerite, which was onlyreleased here in March. You just can’t keep abad singer down…

Released Fri 6 May

Knight Of Cups CERT 15 (118 mins)

Starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, NataliePortman, Brian Dennehy, Antonio Banderas,Wes Bentley, Freida Pinto, Cherry Jones Directed by Marc Abraham (USA)

Terrence Malick used to be a director thatcritics and film buffs scraped and bowed to.However, his recent, and more frequent,offerings have left many baffled, if not infuri-ated. His latest is a modern, experimentaldrama inspired by various ancient texts inwhich a Hollywood screenwriter (Bale)attempts to find the meaning of life. The filmis divided into eight chapters, seven of whichare named after tarot cards. Of course, somemight find it all terribly profound.

Released Fri 6 May

Film highlights released in May...

I Saw The LightCERT 15 (124 mins)Starring Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen,Cherry Jones, Bradley Whitford, MaddieHassonDirected by Marc Abraham (USA)

The biographies are coming thick andfast at the moment. Here, the London-born Tom Hiddleston takes on the man-tle of the legendary Country and bluessinger Hank Williams, from whosefamous gospel song the film takes itstitle. Williams’ life was tragically short-lived, but his influence was consider-able, as is his musical legacy.

Released Fri 6 May

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film

Film May - GROUP.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:27 Page 1

Money Monster CERT tbc

Starring George Clooney, Julia Roberts,Jack O'Connell, Dominic West, CaitrionaBalfe, Giancarlo EspositoDirected by Jodie Foster (USA)

‘Money Monster’ is the name of a TVshow that gives its viewers useful tips onhow to manage their finances. However,when Kyle Budwell (O’Connell) loses allhis dosh on a bad tip from the show’shost, Lee Guest (Clooney), he decides totake him hostage – live on-air. Besides

the double star wattage of Clooney andRoberts - she plays the director of theshow - the actor to look out for is JackO’Connell. The Derby-born thesp cameout of nowhere in 2014 when he playedthree completely different starring rolesin Starred Up, ’71 and Unbroken. Andwith Jodie Foster wielding the mega-phone, this could prove to be cinematicgold.

Released Fri 27 May

Angry Birds CERT PG tbc

With the voices of Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad,Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, KateMcKinnon, Sean Penn Directed by Fergal Reilly and Clay Kaytis(USA/Finland)

Based on the video game of the same name(a favourite of David Cameron’s), this cartoonfrom Sony Pictures Imageworks attempts toget to the bottom of all that avian indigna-tion. Set on an idyllic island populated byflightless birds, the film suggests that somegreen pigs may have something to do with it.In 3D.

Released Fri 13 May

The Darkness CERT tbc

Starring Kevin Bacon, Radha Mitchell, DavidMazouz, Lucy Fry Directed by Greg Mclean (USA)

With his Australian horror films Wolf Creekand Rogue, the Aussie filmmaker GregMclean established himself as a master ofthe genre. Here, he helms his first Americanfilm, the story of a family who, returningfrom a trip to the Grand Canyon, appear tohave brought a supernatural presence backwith them. Apparently based on real events.

Released Fri 13 May

Everybody Wants Some!CERT 15 (117 mins)Starring Blake Jenner, Zoey Deutch, RyanGuzman, Tyler Hoechlin Directed by Richard Linklater (USA)

On their last weekend before the start ofschool, a group of college baseball playerstest the waters of unsupervised adulthood. Ifthe concept of this comedy fails to get yourjuices flowing, remember that RichardLinklater’s last film, Boyhood, was nominat-ed for six Oscars (and won the BAFTA forbest film).

Released Fri 13 May

Film releases in May

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Bad Neighbours 2 CERT tbc

Starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne,Chloë Grace Moretz, Dave Franco, IkeBarinholtz, Selena GomezDirected by Nicholas Stoller (USA)

Just when you thought there couldn’t beanother sequel this year… Just kidding. Here,Mac and Kelly (Rogen and Byrne) are expect-ing their second child and have come tosome sort of understanding with their for-merly raucous neighbour Teddy (Efron).Then the sorority sisters of Kappa Kappa Numove in next door and all hell is let loose.Time for Teddy to step up to the plate, then.

Released Fri 6 May



Green Room CERT 18 (95 mins)

Starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, JoeCole, Callum Turner, Mark Webber, PatrickStewart Directed by Jeremy Saulnier (USA)

The green room is where the heavy metalband The Ain’t Rights finds itself trappedafter a gig goes awry. Actually, there wasnothing wrong with the group’s perform-ance, they just happened to witness some-thing they really, really shouldn’t have.Desperate to make some real cash, the bandagreed to sing for a crowd of neo-Nazi typesat a venue tucked away in the Oregon wood-land. That’s desperation for you… The writer-director Jeremy Saulnier is a smarter genrefilmmaker than most, employing a narrativeshorthand that cuts to the chase without los-ing any humour or character interest. Hisfilm also makes for extremely intense view-ing, with special kudos going to the make-upand special effects department. It’s certainlynot recommended to those of a more sensi-tive disposition.

Released Fri 13 May

Our Kind Of TraitorCERT 15 (95 mins)Starring Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgård,Damian Lewis, Naomie HarrisDirected by Susanna White (UK)

The latest adaptation of a John le Carrénovel, this spy thriller sees a British coupleon holiday who find themselves befriendedby a Russian oligarch. However, Dima(Skarsgård) has an ulterior motive for hisamiability and soon the couple’s holiday inthe sun turns into a game of shadows.

Released Fri 13 May

Alice ThroughThe Looking Glass CERT PG tbc

Starring Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, MiaWasikowska, Rhys Ifans, Helena BonhamCarter, Sacha Baron CohenDirected by James Bobin (USA)

Like Superman and Marty McFly (and oth-ers), Alice is forced to travel back in time inorder to alter the outcome of events. You see,when she returns to Underland she finds theMad Hatter (Johnny Depp) in a terrible stateand decides to dabble in a bit of quantumphysics. But would Lewis Carroll approve?Michael Sheen supplies the voice of theWhite Rabbit and the late Alan Rickman isthe Blue Caterpillar.

Released Fri 27 May

Love & FriendshipCERT U (93 mins)

Starring Kate Beckinsale, Chloë Sevigny,Xavier Samuel, Stephen Fry, Emma Greenwell,James FleetDirected by Whit Stillman (USA/Ireland)

Considering the popularity of Jane Austen,it’s extraordinary that nobody’s made a filmof her 1794 novel Lady Susan till now. KateBeckinsale - who starred in the same direc-tor’s The Last Days Of Disco (1998) - playsLady Susan Vernon who, while staying at amassive estate, sets about finding a suitablehusband for her daughter. Of course, shewouldn’t mind an eligible man for herself…

Released Fri 27 May

Sing StreetCERT 12a (106 mins)Starring Lucy Boynton, Maria DoyleKennedy, Aidan Gillen, Jack ReynorDirected by John Carney(Ireland/USA/UK)

John Carneystarted out asbassist for theIrish rock bandThe Frames,directed some oftheir musicvideos and wenton to helm thecritically acclaimed feature films Onceand Begin Again. He keeps to thetheme of music here with this simplelove story in which a boy starts up aband in order to impress a girl. Bonohimself collaborated on the sound-track.

Released Fri 20 May

A Hologram ForThe King CERT 12a (98 mins)

Starring Tom Hanks, Alexander Black,Sarita Choudhury, Sidse BabettKnudsen, Ben Whishaw, Tom SkerrittDirected by Tom Tykwer (USA/Germany)

Business has not been going well forAlan Clay (Tom Hanks). So the sales-man heads to Saudi Arabia to pitch hislatest idea to an Arab king building amassive new complex in the desert.Based on the 2012 novel by DaveEggers.

Released Fri 20 May

The Silent StormCERT 15 (95 mins)

Starring Andrea Riseborough, DamianLewis, Ross Anderson, Kate Dickie,John SessionsDirected by Corinna McFarlane (UK)

Set on a remoteScottish island prior tothe Second World War,The Silent Storm marksthe solo directorialdebut of McFarlane.It’s a passionate tale,the story of a hot-head-ed minister (Lewis) and his nature-lov-ing wife (Riseborough) who are joinedby a Glaswegian delinquentbequeathed to them by a charity. Thenewcomer may be a curse, or perhapsa blessing…

Released Fri 20 May

Film




Tickets to Tom Jones TheMusical

Closes Monday 23 May

Tickets to Save The LastDance For Me

Closes Monday 9 May

Tickets to SuperbikeWorld Championship

Closes Friday 20 May

VIP Tickes To Foodies Festival


Tickets to Wipers in Coventry

Closes Thursday 5 May

Tickets to Blists Hill VictorianTown

Closes Monday 6 June

Tickets to American Idiot

Closes Tuesday 3 May

Tickets to The Sound Of Music


Tickets to Jackie The Musical


Tickets to Clowning Around atthe BCLM

Closes Wednesday 18 May

Tickets to Shadowlands


Tickets to Slam Dunk Festival


Tickets to Footloose

Closes Monday 27 June

Tickets to The Chris and PuiShow

Closes Friday 8 July

Tickets to King Lear at The REP


To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.uk

To enter all competitions go to whatsonlive.co.ukalso follow us on Twitter for more great competitions

Win!

Competitions May 2016.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 19:06 Page 2


Buried Treasures:Uncovering HoardsThe Barber Institute, Birmingham,Fri 6 May - Sun 26 February

Displaying artefacts from no fewer than 48coin hoards, including the British Dorchesterand Appleford Hoards, this historical exhibi-tion sheds light on Roman, Byzantine andTurkman worlds. Examining buried treasurescan yield exciting revelations about wealth,power and trade networks in the ancientworld, as well as prompting questions abouttheir burial and rediscovery.A series of lectures runs alongside the exhi-bition, delving deeper into its themes andthe questions it poses.

Land, Sea And AirNew Art Gallery, Walsall, Fri 27 May - Sun 4 September

Spanning a period of more than 40 years, thediverse works collected in this exhibition arelinked through the use of maps as a commoninspiration. Frank Bowling, Tiffany Chung,Agnes Denes, Shilpa Gupta, Tania Kovatsand Cornelia Parker explore both the physi-cal geography that maps set out to represent,and the more complex personal and politicalmeanings they contain through themes ofconflict, resistance, negotiation and poweras well as notions of home and identity.

Fools Rush InAirspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent,until Sat 28 May

This solo print exhibition takes autobiogra-phy as its subject, exploring the growth ofcelebrity culture, mass-produced books andfabricated life stories.

Taking its name from the subtitle of an auto-biography by Stoke-born Anthea Turner,Fools Rush In reflects on the premature cre-ation of legacies, and how the proliferationof such texts undermines their value and dis-tinction. Unwanted and second-hand books,often bought as token gifts, are dissected andreduced to only their embossed spines. Bypainting and applying printmaking ink tothese, artist Leigh Clarke removes any senseof hierarchy between the famous personali-ties whose names they bear. For his project at Airspace, Clarke will workwith students on the BA Fine Art course atStaffordshire University to locate and collectevery autobiography in the city's charityshops, which will serve as the material forthe exhibition. To counter these glossycelebrity stories, six local writers have alsobeen commissioned to ghost-author a limitededition of autobiographies about localheroes.

Visual Arts

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery,Sat 28 May - Sun 4 September

The first ever to be curated by internationallyrenowned, West Midlands-born artist JohnStezaker, this striking, free exhibition takesSir Anthony van Dyck's last self-portrait as astarting point to explore the idea of physicaland metaphorical turning in portraiture.From Rembrandt and Rossetti to Picasso andBomberg, Turning To See showcases majorloans from the National Portrait Galleryalongside highlights from Birmingham's col-lection, creating a spectacle of turning thatmirrors the way the viewer moves around thespace. Fragile, rarely displayed works suchas Burne-Jones' sketches for the Pygmalionseries also feature, as well as new collages byStezaker himself.

Turning To See: From VanDyck to Lucian Freud

Visual Arts May.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:28 Page 1

AnotherMinimalismMead Gallery, WarwickArts Centre, Coventry,Thurs 5 May - Sat 25 June

Curated by Melissa EFeldman, this free touringexhibition brings togetherwork by contemporaryartists from around the world, linked through theiremphasis on light and space. Building on the ground-breaking work of Californian artists like Robert Irwin,Larry Bell and Maria Nordman in the 1960s and ’70s, ayounger generation now continues to experiment withminimalistic, site-specific and experiential designs, usingmaterials such as mirrors, glass and coloured lights toalter perceptions of space and time. Another Minimalism is the first exhibition to connect theCalifornia Light And Space movement with new work byartists including Tacita Dean, Olafur Eliasson, SpencerFinch, Uta Bart, Sarah Braman, Sam Falls, Jeppe Hein,Ann Veronica Janssens and James Welling.

For more visual arts listings visit whatsonlive.co.uk 43

Shun Ito: Cosmic BirdsFestival Hub, The Municipal Bank, Birmingham,Mon 2 - Fri 20 May

Japanese artist Shun Ito explores gravity, movement and lightthrough a series of mesmerising kinetic sculptures in this free,family-friendly exhibition, organised as part of theInternational Dance Festival Birmingham 2016. Drawing on hisphysical experiences as a dancer, the artist captures the beautyof natural falling and spinning motions with intricate mechani-cal creations, including the dramatic installation Cells, a giantmobile made up of over 200 rotating steel rings and 30 lightbulbs created in residency in Birmingham.

Visual Arts May.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:28 Page 2

Events May 1.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 16:24 Page 1

Museums At NightVarious locations across the Midlands,Wed 11 - Sat 14 May

This biannual event sees museums all overthe UK throwing open their doors afterhours, allowing visitors to explore the coun-try’s rich and diverse culture in a differentlight. The evening events also provide theopportunity for real enthusiasts to indulgetheir particular interest in an atmospherethat’s calm and relaxing - not always possi-ble during normal opening hours. A total of ten museums across the WestMidlands are taking part in the event.Featured attractions include twilight tours inspooky cellars, pottery workshops and crafts,a film screening of Shakespeare, and amedieval experience. For more information or to run an event, visitmuseumsatnight.org.uk

Events

Red By NightBlack Country Living Museum, Dudley,Sat 14 May

Flying sparks, clanging hammers and risingsmoke are the order of the day - or rather, thenight - at this special Black Country LivingMuseum event. The Dudley visitor attraction’s annual NightAt The Museum celebration this year bringsto life the history of the region via a packageof entertainment that includes soundscapes,theatre performances, light shows, poetry,music and storytelling. There are fire jugglerson hand too, while inquisitive visitors canalso descend into an underground mine andcheck out a full-scale replica of theNewcomen Engine, the world’s very first suc-cessful steam engine. Plenty of traditional food and drink shouldensure the rumbling of stomachs isn’t addedto the museum’s cacophony of industrialsounds.

Compton VerneyCompton Verney, Warwickshire, Fri 13 May

Compton Verney is opening its current dis-plays, Shakespeare In Art and Boydell’sVision, for evening perusal as part of itsMuseums At Night event. Experts from TheShakespeare Birthplace Trust will be onhand to inform visitors about the playswhich feature in the exhibitions. Other attractions on the night include a talkon how Shakespeare’s plays influencedElizabethan thinking about the subject of‘emotion’, and a screening of Peter Hall’s1968 movie version of A Midsummer Night’sDream, filmed entirely at Compton Verneyand starring Helen Mirren, David Warner,Diana Rigg and Judi Dench.

Roaring TwentiesLeamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum,Sat 14 May

A Museums At Night event offering vis-itors the chance to return to the jazz-drenched days of the early 20th centu-ry, The Roaring Twenties brings togeth-er comedy sketches from local showgroup the Cubbington Players andmusic of the era from the GershwinGang. Attending dressed in the style ofthe 1920s isn’t compulsory but is cer-tainly encouraged. For those who’drather not do so but who’d nonethelesslike to enter into the spirit of the occa-sion, there’s a photo booth in whichvisitors can kit themselves out in vin-tage costume from the era.





Ludlow Spring FestivalLudlow Castle & Grounds, South Shropshire,Sat 14 - Sun 15 May

This annual festival ably illustrates whyLudlow is one of the country’s most rep-utable foodie towns. The two-day event fea-tures more than 200 beers (from more than 50local brewers) and an array of food stalls,with vendors offering delectable delightsranging from artisan flours to charcuterie,award-winning cakes, gourmet sausage rollsand local cheeses.A hugely popular element of the festival isthe talks and demonstrations - this yearincluding interactive sessions with chef SteveLyons - while for younger visitors, there’s thechance to get ‘hands on’ in special cookeryclasses.

Open Cockpits EveningsRAF Cosford, Wolverhampton,Fri 13 - Sat 14 May

Now here’s an opportunity no aviation fanwill want to miss. The Royal Air ForceMuseum Cosford’s Open Cockpits Eveningsoffer 300 visitors per night the rare opportu-nity to step inside some of the world’s mosticonic aircraft - including two research jetswhich have never before been opened to thepublic.“Events like this make a visit to RAF Cosfordextra special,” says the museum’s event man-ager, Abi Betteridge. “It’s a unique opportuni-ty to have access inside military aircraft. Tomake sure visitors get the most out of theevent, we have a fantastic team of volunteerson hand to answer any questions they mayhave. We’ve also added two new aircraft tothe list, along with some that haven’t beenopen for a number of years - so there’s some-thing new and exciting for any returning visi-tors to enjoy.”The Open Cockpits Evenings are part of theEurope-wide Museums At Night initiative,which sees hundreds of museums, galleries,libraries, archives and heritage sites openingtheir doors to the public for special after-hours events.

more events from around the region

NEC, Birmingham, Fri 13 - Sun 15 May

Sleep-deprived new parents would do well tocall on their reserves of energy and get alongto this popular show. Widely considered to bethe UK’s leading pregnancy and parentingevent, the Baby Show brings together leadingretailers and brands, includes one-to-onedemonstrations and provides the opportunity

to ‘touch, feel and compare’ items, enablingshoppers to make an informed decision abouttheir purchases. The show also offers freeadvice on topics such as sleeping, breastfeed-ing and weaning, and comes complete with ahost of facilities to help you have a hassle-free day. We’re fairly sure that if your baby could talk,they’d advise you to attend...

Events

Queen Victoria’sBirthdayBlists Hill Victorian Town,Ironbridge, Shropshire,Sat 28 May - Sun 5 June

While our current Queen is cele-brating her 90th birthday, thegood folk of Blists Hill are puttingout the bunting in honour ofanother long-reigning monarch. This year’s birthday bash forQueen Victoria features poetryreadings and short stories, candle-dipping workshops, school houselessons and the chance to ride ona horse-drawn bus. There’s also aself-led trail to enjoy, providingvisitors with the opportunity todiscover more about Victoria andthe British Empire. Take note that Sunday the 29th isan extra special day, with addedattractions including a Punch &Judy show, street games, live enter-tainment and a ‘patriotic parade’.

Drive-In MovieTelford Shopping Centre,Shropshire, Mon 30 May

Telford Shopping Centre ‘goesAmerican’ this May bank holidaywhen it hosts three drive-inmovies in its Red Oak car park -Despicable Me 2 (from 2pm), DirtyDancing (from 5.30pm) and StarWars: The Force Awakens (from8.30pm). Movie fans can relax inthe comfort of their own vehicle toenjoy the films, tuning in their carradio to hear the soundtrackthrough the car speakers.Food and drink is available to pur-chase on the day, but viewers areencouraged to bring along a picnicif they prefer.

The Baby Show





See thelist for all your

events listings

Motul FIM SuperbikeWorld ChampionshipDonington Park, Derby, Fri 27 - Sun 29 May

This is the prestigious World SuperbikeChampionship’s only UK round - andDonington Park’s premier event of the year.As well as a World Superbike race on both theSaturday and Sunday, the event also featuresWorld Supersport and Superstock 1000 cham-pionships, and races from the DucatiTriOptions Cup, European Junior Cup and theNational Superstock 600 and 1000. Other attractions include live music on theFriday and Saturday evenings, an exclusive‘rider Q&A session’ (for campers only) andchildren’s entertainment in the form of foot-ball, bouncy castles and mascot appearances.

Eastnor Chilli FestivalEastnor Castle, Herefordshire,Sun 1 - Mon 2 May

Promising to heat up the bank holiday week-end, Eastnor’s fifth annual Chilli Festivalshowcases an abundance of spiced-up enter-tainment for all the family to enjoy. The castlecourtyard will be transformed into a chilli

market for the event, where visitors can bothtry and buy the selection of chilli-infuseddelights on offer - including chocolate, bread,cakes, vodka, cocktails and chutney. There’salso a selection of specialist hot food suppli-ers on hand, selling authentic Asian curriesand a variety of other spicy foods.Other attractions include a chilli-eating com-petition, contributions from local chefs, achildren’s cookery school, a puppet show andlive music.

Tudor WeekendBlakesley Hall, Birmingham,Sun 29 - Mon 30 May

Visitors to Blakesley Hall get the chance toparticipate in Tudor games and dancing or trytheir hand at writing with a quill pen at thisfamily-friendly event. Tudor reenactors enter-tain and educate throughout the weekend,presenting battle scenes from Shakespeare'sHenry V, performing a short play first stagedin 1575, and demonstrating a range of sure-to-be-impressive sword-fighting techniques.Tudor-style cooking is also on the agenda,while a number of Tudor ladies will be show-ing off their impressive textile skills. Soundslike a step back in time that could be wellworth taking...

Race, Rock ’n’RideSantapod Raceway,Northampton,Sat 21 - Sun 22 May

This is the first ever Race,Rock’n’Ride event - and if itsaction-packed programme ofentertainment is anything to goby, it surely won’t be the last.Highlights include two-seaterdragster rides, Podzilla monstertruck displays, stunt bikes andshows, a display of classic racebikes, a FireForce jet car, around of the Straightliners DragRacing Championships, minimonster truck rides for kids,Run What Ya Brung, a wheeliecompetition and live music fromAC/DC tribute act Live/Wire.Time to get your motor running,we think...

The National KitCar Motor ShowStoneleigh Park, WarwickshireSun 1 - Mon 2 May

Hundreds of trade stands, liveaction displays and more than4,000 cars - from the unusual tothe exotic - feature among thehighlights at this unique event.The two-day get-together alsooffers the opportunity for visi-tors to take a trip in an impres-sive Dakar 4x4 around the site’smassive off-road course. Thechance to enjoy ‘the drift of yourlife’, courtesy of the show’sSlalom Experience, is anothersure-to-be-popular attraction.

Ultimate SmashDownBarclaycard Arena, Birmingham,Sun 8 May

Ten hours of top-class bad-minton is the mouthwateringprospect awaiting fans of thesport at this National BadmintonLeague season-two finale event.Quickfire badminton action,Powerplays, time-outs and sud-den-death tie-breaks shouldensure there’s no let up in thetension as the league's top fourteams go head to head to becrowned champions.

more events from around the region

Events



The List Cover May Birmingham ONLY.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 17:44 Page 1


Your week to week listings guide

May 2016thelist

Music I Comedy I Theatre I Dance I Film I Events I Visual Arts I and more!

Cats at B

irmingham

Hippodrom

e Mon 30 M

ay - Sat 4 Jun

What’s On

Swingamajig at theRainbow Venues, Digbeth

Sun 1 May

Bodypower UK atNEC, Birmingham

Fri 13 - Sun 15 May

Laura Mvula atO2 Institute, Birmingham

Sat 21 May

David Morgan atThe Core Theatre, Solihull

Sun 29 May

Sun 1 to Sun 8 May Mon 9 to Sun 15 May Mon 16 to Sun 22 May Mon 23 to Tues 31 May

The List Cover May Birmingham ONLY.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 17:45 Page 2

Visual ArtsBirmingham Museum &Art Gallery

NEW ART WEST MIDLANDS 2016Exhibition of works by graduatesfrom various West Midlands artschools, until Sun 15 May. Alsoshowing at Wolverhampton ArtGallery & Herbert Art Gallery,Coventry

BIRMINGHAM QUR’AN One of the earli-est surviving copies of the Islamic holybook, on display, until Wed 3 Aug

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERYIN 130 YEARS The story of theMuseum & Art Gallery, told via a spe-cial anniversary exhibition, untilThurs 1 Sept

NEW TURNING TO SEE: FROM VAN DYCKTO LUCIAN FREUD Van Dyck's last self-portrait, curated by West Midlands-born and internationally renownedartist John Stezaker, Sat 28 May -Sun 4 Sept

Eastside ProjectsNEW PRODUCTION SHOW Sat 30 Apr -Sat 16 July

Grand UnionPREM SAHIB A solo show of newwork, until Fri 3 June

Ikon GalleryDAN FLAVIN: IT IS WHAT IT IS AND ITAIN'T NOTHING ELSE An exhibition offluorescent light works, until Sun 26June.

The Library of BirminghamOUR SHAKESPEARE The Library ofBirmingham has joined forces withthe British Library to stage a colour-ful free exhibition, until Sat 3 Sept

Parkside Gallery, BCUNEW IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE?Exhibition celebrating the 30thanniversary of Birmingham alterna-tive music venue and disco The ClickClub, Tues 3 - Sat 28 May

RBSA GalleryECO-CRAFT EXHIBITION Showcasingdesigner-makers with an ethicalapproach to craft-making, until Sat 7May

SHIRLEY BONAS - ARBSA ALL SEASONSALL WEATHERS Exhibition of workreflecting Shirley’s love of the WyreForest and the local countryside,until Sat 14 May

JANETTE SUMMERFIELD RBSAVariations On A Theme - how animage can be interpreted in severalways, until Sat 21 May

JEFF LOMAS RBSA Grasslands - anexhibition of ceramics, until Sat 28May

NEW PRIZE EXHIBITION Annual openexhibition. Wed 4 May - Sat 4 June

NEW WANDERLUST CRAFT EXHIBITIONHaving a strong desire to travel, or‘wanderlust’, has inspired many

designer-makers with their creativepractice, Mon 9 May - Sat 24 Sept

NEW DAVID HAWTHORNE ARBSA -SUNLIGHT AND SHADOWS Atmosphericpaintings of land, sea and skies, Mon16 May - Sat 25 June

NEW ATTILIO FIUMARELLA A series ofnew photographs from the winner ofthe RBSA's Photographic Prize exhi-bition, Mon 23 May - Sat 9 July

NEW KATHLEEN FABRE Solo exhibitionof new site-responsive installations,Mon 30 May - Sat 2 July

The Barber InstituteCHANCE, ORDER, CHANGE: ABSTRACTPAINTINGS 1939 - 1989 A great oppor-tunity to enjoy abstract art at itspurest, until Sun 8 May

PRESTIGE & POWER Artists, writers,politicians and royalty are the sub-jects in this display of works byRubens, Van Dyck and Charles LeBruni, until Sun 15 May

INTO THE WOODS Featuring stylisticallydiverse works by distinguishedartists, including Jacob van Ruisdael,Theodore Rousseau & SamuelPalmer, until Sun 12 June

NEW BURIED TREASURES A fascinatingexhibition exploring coin hoards,telling the stories of their depositionand their discovery, Fri 6 May 2016 -Sun 26 Feb 2017

NEW CURIOUS BEAUTY This displayshowcases Ennemond-AlexandrePetitot's drawings for ornamentalvases, engraved by Benigno Bossi(1727 – 1792), Fri 27 May - Sun 4Sept

mac, BirminghamMADE AT MAC: LIFE DRAWING The art-works featured were created on thelife drawing course, led by artist tutorSally Delany, until Sun 15 May

PRINTS: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SERIESAND 11 DRYPOINTS BY LOUISEBOURGEOIS Two collections of worksby one of the most influential artistsof recent decades (1911-2010), untilSun 19 June

BARBARA WALKER: SHOCK AND AWE Amajor new commission of drawings,until Sun 3 July

BOM (B’ham Open Media)INGENIOUS AND FEARLESS COMPANIONSThe first ever exhibition by the HighAltitude Bioprospecting (HAB) sci-ence-art collective, until Sat 11 June

Bramall Music BuildingANTONIO ROBERTS: PERMISSION TAKEN

Work by Antonio Roberts focused onissues surrounding copyright, per-mission culture and art, until Mon 30May

Museum of The JewelleryQuarterCOLLECTING BIRMINGHAM: STORIESTHAT SHOULD BE SHARED The first ina series of four exhibitions showcas-ing objects collected from local peo-ple, telling their stories of life inBirmingham, until Sat 31 December


thelist Friday 1 - Sunday 8 May

GigsMAGNUM Sun 1 May,O2 Institute, B’ham

DANCEHALL DAYS Sun 1May, Old Joint StockTheatre, Birmingham

TONY KEARNEY Sun 1May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

DAN SARTAIN Sun 1 MayOrt Cafe, Birmingham

FULL 100 2016!FEATURING TARRUSRILEY Sun 1 May, O2Academy, Birmingham

MICHAEL BOLTON Sun 1May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

ANDROMEDA XV –MAYDAY WARNING Sun 1May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

UB40 Sun 1 May,Barclaycard Arena,Birmingham

JOE GODDARD Sun 1May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

INTRIGUE IN TANGIERSSun 1 May, KitchenGarden Cafe, B’ham

DO NOT SLEEP FEATUR-ING PACO OSUNA Sun 1May, The RainbowVenues, Birmingham

MARK LANEGAN Mon 2May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

WHITECLIFF Mon 2 May,The Sunflower Lounge,Birmingham

CHRIS CORNELL Mon 2May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

DANIEL CHAMPAGNETues 3 May, The Robin,Bilston

ANASTACIA Tue 3 May,Symphony Hall, B’ham

THE BLUETONES Tues 3May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

MICHAEL CHAPMAN Tues3 May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

JEZ LOWE & THE BADPENNIES Wed 4 May,The Red Lion FolkClub, Birmingham

DANNI NICHOLLS Wed 4May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

FIELD HARMONICS Wed4 May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

NINA NESBITT Wed 4May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

TEDDY THOMPSON &KELLY JONES Wed 4May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

TINASHE Wed 4 May,

O2 Institute, B’ham

NGOD Wed 4 May, O2Academy, Birmingham

JONNY & THE BAPTISTS:THE END IS NIGH Wed 4May, mac, Birmingham

9BACH Wed 4 May,Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

SI CRANSTOUN WITH HISBAND Wed 4 May, TheRobin, Bilston

HATTIE BRIGGS Thurs 5May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

WORLDSERVICE PROJECTThurs 5 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

BENJAMIN FRANCISLEFTWICH Thurs 5 May,The Rainbow Venues,Birmingham

RAT BOY Thurs 5 May,O2 Institute, B’ham

MAHALIA Thurs 5 May,The Glee Club, B’ham

BOY JUMPS SHIP Thurs5 May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

THE BOXER REBELLIONThurs 5 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

CREEDENCE CLEARWATERREVIEWED Thurs 5 May,The Robin, Bilston

FLIGHT 15 Fri 6 May, O2Academy, Birmingham

AN EVENING WITH THEDUBLIN LEGENDS Fri 6May, Birmingham Town

WUSSY Fri 6 May, Hare& Hounds, Birmingham

DANNY DARCY Fri 6 May,Irish Centre, B’ham

AURELIO VOLTAIRE +AMONG THE ECHOES Fri6 May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

YOUNG PILGRIMS,FOFOULAH & JACT Fri 6May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

KING KRAB + CHEMICALMOJO + FRANTIC Fri 6May, The Roadhouse,Birmingham

RICKY COOL AND THE INCROWD Fri 6 May,O’Neill’s, Birmingham

THE ICICLE WORKS Fri 6May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

YES Fri 6 May,Symphony Hall, B’ham

THE TREATMENT Fri 6May, The SladeRooms, W’hampton

KLASSIDE Fri 6 May, O2Institute, Birmingham

FROM THE JAM Fri 6May, The Robin, Bilston

PILGRIMAGE FEAT.FOFOULAH, JACT &YOUNG PILGRIMS Fri 6May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

DANNY DARCY Sat 7May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

TOO REX Sat 7 May, TheRoadhouse, B’ham

BRANTLEY GILBERT Sat 7May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

SOUND OF THE SIRENSSat 7 May, Ort Cafe,Birmingham

THE DIRTY NIL & WACOSat 7 May, TheSunflower Lounge,Birmingham

ESKIMO DANCE Sat 7May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

LETHAL BIZZLE Sat 7May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

SCOTT MATTHEWS Sat 7May, Newhampton ArtsCentre, Wolverhampton

JAKE & ELWOOD Sat 7May, The Robin, Bilston

IDESTORY + STILETTOFARM + NOISE REVOLT+ YOUTH WITHIN Sun 8May, The SunflowerLounge, Birmingham

PALEHORSE Sun 8 May,Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

T R DALLAS Sun 8 May,Irish Centre, B’ham

CHAMELEONS VOX +EVIL BLIZZARD Sun 8May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

BIG BOY BLOATER Sun 8May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

SYMPHONIC FLOYD FEA-TURING THE EN SUITEELECTRIC BAND Sun 8May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

CHRIS WOOD Sun 8May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

KARNATAKA Sun 8 May,The Robin, Bilston

THROUGHOUT MAY

The List 1-8 May - BIRMINGHAM ONLY VERSION MM.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 18:30 Page 1

Classical MusicCELEBRITY RECITAL WITH SIR JAMESAND LADY JEANNE GALWAYProgramme includes works byGaubert, Chaminade, Harty, Gossec,Marais, Kreisler & Morlacchi, Sun 1May, Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham

BENEDICT MASON PORTRAIT Sun 1May, CBSO Centre, Birmingham

FINAL YEAR RECITALISTS FeaturingMatthew Hayden (baritone), JacobDorell (voice), Lydia Haynes (sopra-no) & David Woods (tenor), Tues 3May, The Bramall, Birmingham

THOMAS TROTTER IN RECITALProgramme includes works by Bach,Mozart, Widor, Dove, MacMillan,Dukas & Liszt, Wed 4 May,Symphony Hall, Birmingham

CBSO VAUGHAN WILLIAMS’ FIFTHFeaturing John Wilson (Conductor),Alice Coote – Mezzo soprano)Programme includes works by Bax,Elgar & Vaughan Williams, Thurs 5May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

FINAL YEAR RECITALISTS FeaturingKaris Ong (piano), ChristopherPercival (piano) & Usha Aron (piano),Thurs 5 May, The Bramall,Birmingham

DI XIAO: MOON, WATER AND DANCEProgramme includes works by Ravel,Guang Ren, Debussy, JianzhongWang, Yiqiang Sun & Liszt, Fri 6 May,The Barber Institute, Birmingham

CBSO PLAYERS: VAUGHAN WILLIAMSPHANTASY QUINTET Fri 6 May, CBSOCentre, Birmingham

IL DIVO Sat 7 May, Genting Arena,Birmingham

KARL JENKINS REQUIEM Karl Jenkinsconducts his highly acclaimed andpopular Requiem alongside Palladio& The Healer. Lucy Knight (soprano),Håkan Vramsmo (baritone), CliveBell shakuhachi & Zands Duggan(percussion), also feature, Sat 7 May,Symphony Hall, Birmingham

CANOLDIR: 50 GLORIOUS YEARSCelebrating 50 glorious years ofmusic making, Canoldir will here bejoined by the Make Choirs ofBridgend, Cardiff Arms Park, Dunvant& Pontarddulais, Sat 7 May,

Birmingham Town Hall

BIRMINGHAM CITADEL BAND OF THESALVATION ARMY GALA CONCERT 2016Sat 7 May, Adrian Boult Hall,Birmingham

Comedy GigsJARRED CHRISTMAS, TONY LAWFEATURING BETHANY BLACK, RICHWILSON, JAMES ANDERSON & COMICTBC Sun 1 May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

MOCK THE FLOCK Wed 4 May, The Mockingbird, Birmingham

MANILLA ROAD COMEDY Thurs 5 May,The Victoria, Birmingham

GARY LITTLE, FUNMBI OMOTAYO & COM-EDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSONThurs 5 May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

LEE NELSON, MATT REED & COMIC TBC5 May, The Comedy Loft,Birmingham

DAVE JOHNS, ANDREW RYAN, GARYLITTLE & FUNMBI OMOTAYO Fri 6 May,The Glee Club, Birmingham

SIMON EVANS Fri 6 May The Glee Club, Birmingham

CITIZEN KHAN Fri 6 May, GentingArena, Birmingham

MATT REED, JARLATH REGAN, STEVEBUGEJA & BRENDON BURNS Fri 6 - Sat7 May, The Comedy Loft, B’ham

FUNMBI OMOTAYO, ANDREW RYAN, DAVEJOHNS & GARY LITTLE Sat 7 May, TheGlee Club, Birmingham

CURTIS WALKER, SINCK, MELANIE GAYLE& JOHN SIMMIT Sun 8 May, mac,Birmingham

TheatreDON QUIXOTE James Fenton's stagingof Cervantes' comic novel - a workregarded as one of the foundationstones of modern fiction, until Sat 21May, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

DOCTOR FAUSTUS Maria Aberg returnsto the RSC to direct Marlowe’s noto-rious take of vanity, greed & damna-tion, until Thurs 4 Aug, The SwanTheatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

CYMBELINE Melly Still directsShakespeare’s rarely performedromance, until Fri 12 Aug, RoyalShakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNESTBlue Orange Arts presents its versionof Oscar Wilde's classic comedy ofmanners, Thurs 28 April - Sat 7 May,The Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham

BAD JEWS Joshua Harman'srenowned play, set in a Manhattanapartment on the evening of a familyfuneral, Mon 2 - Sat 7 May, NewAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERTDuncan James takes the lead as Tickin a touring production of the feel-good international musical based onthe smash-hit movie of the samename, Mon 2 - Sat 7 May,Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

CONNECTIONS 500 In collaborationwith the National Theatre, 13 youththeatres from across the country visitThe REP to present a selection ofplays to celebrate the 21st year ofthe National Theatre’s ConnectionsFestival. Each group stages one of12 plays commissioned by the

National Theatre since 1995, Tue 3 -Sat 7 May, The REP, Birmingham

THE FATHER Kenneth Cranham repris-es his role in Florian Zeller’s

acclaimed play, Tues 3 - Sat 7 May,The REP, Birmingham

SWEENEY TODD The Arcadians pres-ent the story of the Demon Barber ofFleet Street, Tues 3 - Sat 7 May,Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

AMBER TOPAZ: STORM IN A D CUP One-woman comedy show from one ofthe UK's brightest burlesque andcabaret stars, Thurs 5 May, Old JointStock Theatre, Birmingham

BUGSY MALONE Birmingham YouthOnstage present an amateur produc-tion based on the popular 1976gangster movie of the same name,Thurs 5 - Fri 6 May, Old Rep Theatre,Birmingham

MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER Mr Bcontinues his ongoing quest toreconnect hip-hop with manners andbring the Queen’s English toBirmingham, Fri 6 - Sat 7 May, OldJoint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

MARGARET THATCHER: QUEEN OF SOHOFri 6 - Sat 7 May, mac, Birmingham

WEEKEND ROCKSTARS Theatre meetsgig in Middle Child’s unapologetictelling of three young lives living forthe weekend, Fri 6 - Sat 7 May, TheREP, Birmingham

TO MEET OSCAR WILDE NormanHolland’s fascinating play in whichOscar Wilde gives a dissertation onhis colourful life, Fri 6 - Sat 14 May,Hall Green Little Theatre,Birmingham

DON QUIXOTE Part of the RSC’sUnwrapped Season, in which mem-bers of the acting company demon-strate some of the skills that go intomaking a production, Sat 7 May,Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Friday 1 - Sunday 8 May





GOD OF CARNAGE The CrescentTheatre Company present NoelCoward's comedy of manners, Sat 7- Sat 14 May, Crescent Theatre,Birmingham

WOODY SEZ: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OFWOODY GUTHRIE Soul-stirring hit musi-cal capturing the heart and spirit ofAmerica's original folk hero, WoodyGuthrie, Sun 8 May, New AlexandraTheatre, Birmingham

DanceNEDERLANDS DANS THEATER 2 With animpressive company of 18 interna-tional dancers, NDT2 presents amixed repertoire of work that promis-es to inspire and entertain.Tue 3 -Wed 4 May Birmingham Hippodrome

COMPAGNIE PHILIPPE SAIRE: BLACK OUTA strong and intimate experiencewhich sees thousands of black gran-ulated fragments transform thedancers’ world into a moving, pictori-al composition that jars as it shifts inresponse to the light, sound andmovement, Tues 3 - Wed 4 MayDanceXchange, BirminghamHippodrome

BRIDGING THE VOID ExperimentalDance present a new film/dance pro-duction featuring a dramatic move-ment vocabulary performed by threedancers. Wed 4 May mac,Birmingham

DETOX Intense, energetic andthought-provoking production byPagrav Dance Company, Thurs 5May, The Drum, Birmingham

ECLIPSE & JINX 103 A double billshowcasing choreographic worksthat beautifully complement oneanother, Fri 6 - Sat 7 May,DanceXchange, BirminghamHippodrome

CARLOS ACOSTA Featuring an incredi-ble cast of dancers from Cuba,Carlos here performs excerpts fromhis favourite ballet repertoire. Fri 6 -Sat 7 May, Birmingham Hippodrome

ZOIELOGIC DANCE THEATRE: RIDE Worldpremiere of an outdoor dance theatrework exploring the nature of travel-ling, Sat 7 May, Ward End Park,Birmingham

PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN An afternoon ofspectacular free dance performancesin a range of styles, Sat 7 May, TheBullring Shopping Centre,Birmingham

TRIBANGHI DANCE THEATRE: SUKUMAHigh-energy fusion of Indian classicalBharatanatyam and African dance,brought together with contemporaryflair, Sun 8 May, mac, Birmingham

FilmINDEPENDENT LISTINGS:VERTIGO (PG) This cinematic classicfrom the master of suspense was sopoorly received upon its initial 1958release that Alfred Hitchcock laterwithdrew it from distribution for sev-eral years. Its reputation has sincegrown and it is now widely regardedas Hitchcock’s finest film, a hauntingexamination of male desire memo-rably filmed in real San Franciscolocations. Stars James Stewart & KimNovak. Sun 1 May, The ElectricCinema, Birmingham

COURT (tbc) A sewerage worker'sdead body is found inside a manholein Mumbai. An ageing folk singer istried in court on charges of abetmentof suicide. He is accused of perform-ing an inflammatory song whichmight have incited the worker tocommit the act. As the trial unfolds,the personal lives of the lawyers andthe judge involved in the case areobserved outside the court. StarsUsha Bane & Vivek Gomber. Tues 3 -Thurs 5 May, mac, Birmingham

BIG HERO 6 (PG) San Fransokyo is introuble! Robot genius Hiro Hamadafinds himself catapulted into danger,and turns to Baymax, a plus-sizedinflatable robot, for help. Sat 7 May,mac, Birmingham

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (PG) MerylStreep stars in the true story ofFlorence Foster Jenkins, a New Yorkheiress and socialite who obsessivelypursued her dream of becoming agreat singer. Convinced of her owntalent, the voice Florence heard inher head was beautiful, while toeveryone else it was both hilariousand awful. Fri 6 - Thurs 12 May, TheElectric Cinema, Birmingham

THE SEVENTH SEAL (PG) IngmarBergman’s allegory about a medievalknight (Max von Sydow) who playschess with Death (a white-faced,shrouded figure played by BengtEkerot) was a landmark of arthousecinema in the late 1950s. Taking itstitle from the Book of Revelation, thefilm examines the knight’s crisis offaith during a dark period of humanhistory. Sun 8 May, The ElectricCinema, Birmingham

NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE:Released from Fri 6 May, showing atselected cinemas.

BAD NEIGHBOURS 2 (tbc)

EVOLUTION (15)

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (PG)

I SAW THE LIGHT (15)

KNIGHT OF CUPS (15)

ROBINSON CRUSOE (PG)

THESE FINAL HOURS (15)

EventsBIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEINGTOUR Beginning at the commercialheart of the city at the end ofColmore Row, Victoria Square, thispopular tour includes the city’s majorbuildings of architectural interestincluding St Philip’s and St Chad’sCathedrals, the Victoria Law Courts,the Town Hall, the Council House,Birmingham Museum & Art Galleryand Library, Sun 1 May, BirminghamCity Centre

INTERNATIONAL DAWN CHORUS Catchthe early morning chorus on anRSPB-led walk around the garden,Sun 1 May, Castle Bromwich HallGardens, Birmingham

10K GREAT BIRMINGHAM AFTERPARTYSun 1 May, The Slug and Lettuce,Birmingham

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS Join the resi-dents of Blists Hill Victorian Town onMay Day as they mark the occasionwith fun and merriment, Sun 1 May,Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire

EASTNOR CHILLI FESTIVAL Now in itsfifth year. All things chilli to try andbuy! Live music, bars, hot food, chil-dren’s cookery school, a chilli-eatingcompetition and cookery demonstra-tions, Sun 1 - Mon 2 May, EastnorCastle Deer Park, Herefordshire

PIRATE WEEKEND Pirates invadeCadbury World for a weekend ofswashbuckling fun, Sun 1 - Mon 2May, Cadbury World, Bournville

MEDIEVAL RE-ENACTMENT WEEKENDThe manor house museums wel-come the Buckinghams Retinue, whowill be setting up camp in thegrounds, Sun 1 - Mon 2 May, ManorHouse Museum, West Bromwich

PENGUIN WEEK Learn all about thepenguin leader Alf and his pals. Plus,get involved in numerous activities tocelebrate World Penguin Day on the25th, Sun 1 - Mon 2 May, NationalSea Life Centre, Birmingham

IRONBRIDGE GORGE WALKING FESTIVALNow in its 11th year, this poular festi-val offers nine days of free, variedand rewarding walks in and aroundTelford’s stunning Ironbridge Gorge,where the Industrial Revolutionbegan over 300 years ago, Sun 1 -Sun 8 May, Ironbridge, Shropshire

WARWICK MAY RACING CARNIVAL Mon2 May, Warwick Racecourse

CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE: THE FUTURE OF EYECARE A talk from Professor ShehzadA Naroo from the School of Life andHealth Sciences at Aston University,Tues 3 May, Thinktank at MillenniumPoint, Birmingham

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE FILM FESTIVALBCLM celebrates Deaf AwarenessWeek, hosting a series of specialistfilms suitable for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, Tues 3 - Sat 7May, Black Country Living Museum,Dudley

TALES FROM HISTORY: THE LUNARSOCIETY AND SOHO HOUSE To cele-brate the 250th anniversary of theLunar Society, Soho House ManagerSamina Kosar gives a talk atWaterstones as part of their TalesFrom History season, Thurs 5 May,Soho House, Birmingham

DIGBETH FIRST FRIDAY Digbeth comesalive on the first Friday of eachmonth with exhibitions, late-nightopenings, special events, culture inunexpected spaces, live music, streetfood and more, Fri 6 May, Digbeth,Birmingham

HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK Checkout fine Georgian and Victorian archi-tecture, a convent designed byAugustus Pugin, a church that wasbuilt nearly one millennium ago, Sat7 May, Soho House, Birmingham

KINGS HEATH FARMERS MARKET Sat 7May, All Saints Church, King’s Heath,Birmingham

THE KINGMAKER'S MEDIAEVAL BANQUETIt’s the year 1471 and you have beensummoned to dine with the infamousEarl of Warwick for an unforgettableevening of eating, drinking andmedieval revelry, Sat 7 May, WarwickCastle

CADBURY CHARACTER WEEKEND Posefor photographs alongside Freddo,Caramel Bunny and friends as theymeet and greet visitors, Sat 7 - Sun 8May, Cadbury World, Bournville

1940'S WEEKEND Fabulous music andmagical memories, Sat 7 - Sun 8May, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens,Birmingham

CENTRAL PERFORMANCE SHOW Thefastest sports & performance cars inthe country battle it out head tohead, Sun 8 May, Santa PodRaceway, Northants

TOY COLLECTORS FAIR Sun 8 May,NEC, Birmingham

BIKE4LIFE FEST 2016 Bike4Life Festreturns, with over 3,000 bikers andenthusiasts expected at the biggestbiking event in the Midlands, Sun 8May, RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton

AJ BELL NATIONAL BADMINTON LEAGUESun 8 May, Barclaycard Arena,Birmingham

thelist Friday 1 - Sunday 8 May




Classical MusicRISING STARS: TRIO CATCH FeaturingBoglárka Pecze (clarinet), EvaBoesch (cello) & Sun-Young Nam(piano), Mon 9 May, BirminghamTown Hall

IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE English TouringOpera presents a 'heart-wrenching'masterpiece based on a famousstory from Greek myth, Mon 9 May,Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

DON GIOVANNi English Touring Operapresents its version of Mozart's 'mostengrossing' opera, Tues 10 May,Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

IGOR LEVIT (PIANO) Programme com-prises Beethoven’s Sonata No 17 Op31 No 2 & Frederic Rzewski’s ThePeople United Will Never BeDefeated, Tues 10 May, BirminghamTown Hall

CITY OF SOUNDS: TWO TRIOS FeaturingBen Muirhead & Billy Weir as one actalongside The BirminghamConservatoire Trio which comprisesJiafeng Chen (violin), Jiaxin LloydWebber (cello), Di Xiao (piano) pre-senting music by Bach, Debussy,Paganini & Mendelssohn, Tues 10May, Recital Hall, BirminghamConservatoire

ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN:SCANDINAVIAN SERENADE FeaturingDavid Le Page (violin) & David Curtis(conductor). Programme includesworks by Grieg, Sibelius & Dvorak,Wed 11 May, Birmingham Town Hall

CBSO: BEN-HUR LIVE Carl Davis con-ducts the CBSO Orchestra in livescore to accompany the 1925 silentmovie, Fri 13 May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

RECYCLAGE MUSICAL FeaturingRichard Sutcliffe (viola) & SofieVanherie (harpsichord). Programmeincludes works by Marin Marais,Antoine Forqueray, Louis de Caixd’Hervelois and Jean-BaptisteBarrière, Fri 13 May, The BarberInstitute, Birmingham

MOSCOW STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAProgramme includes works byStephen Johnson, Rachmaninov &Shostakovich, Sat 14 May,Symphony Hall, Birmingham

CBSO: A GREAT BRITISH SUMMERFeaturing Julian Wilkins (conductor)& the CBSO Children’s Chorus. TomRedmond presents, Sun 15 May,Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Comedy GigsLOUDEEMY SOUP COMEDY NIGHT Mon 9May, The Blue Orange Theatre,Birmingham

CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 10May, The Dark Horse, Birmingham

MOCK THE FLOCK Wed 11 May The Mockingbird, Birmingham

ALISTAIR BARRIE Thurs 12 May Station Pub, Sutton Coldfield

MARK OLVER, PAUL MCCAFFREY &

COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDYROBINSON Thurs 12 May, The GleeClub, Birmingham

TRYGVE WAKENSHAW: SQUIDBOY Fri 13 May, mac, Birmingham

DAN THOMAS, DANE BAPTISTE, PAULMCCAFFREY & COMIC TBC Fri 13 May,The Glee Club, Birmingham

DIANE SPENCER, KEVIN MCCARTHY, IANCOGNITO & DARIUS DAVIESFri 13 - Sat 14 May, The ComedyLoft, Birmingham

PAUL MCCAFFREY, MARK OLVER, DANTHOMAS & DANE BAPTISTE Sat 14 May,The Glee Club, Birmingham

SHAZIA MIRZA Sat 14 May, mac,Birmingham

HAL CRUTTENDEN Sat 14 May, The OldRep Theatre, Birmingham

TheatreCENTURY SONG Volcano Theatre pres-ent a unique show inspired in part byVirginia Woolf’s Orlando and AliceWalker’s In Search Of Our Mothers’Garden, Tues 10 May, mac, B’ham

SOUTH PACIFIC This popular musicalpresented by Solihull TheatreCompany is an unusual love storyset against the backdrop of a cruelwar. Contains much-loved songssuch as I'm Gonna Wash That ManRight Outta My Hair and the famous-ly finger-wagging Happy Talk! Tues10 - Sat 14 May, The Core Theatre,Solihull

AMERICAN IDIOT X Factor finalistAmelia Lily and musical theatre starAaron Sidwell star in Green Day'sexplosive, award-winning Broadwaymusical, Tues 10 - Sat 14 May, NewAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham

KIKI LOVECHILD: SHEETS Brand newclown show for grown-ups, about theend of the world, Wed 11 May, OldJoint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

THE WEDDING SINGER Heart OfWorcestershire College PerformingArts present an amateur version ofthe musical comedy, based on the1985 film of the same name, Wed 11- Thurs 12 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove

JOAN An earthy story of courage,conviction, hope, survival and love,performed by Drag Idol championLucy Jane Parkinson, aka LoUISCYfer, Wed 11 - Thurs 12 May, mac,Birmingham

thelist Monday 9 - Sun 15 May

GigsELESSAR Mon 9 May,The Rainbow Venues,Birmingham

ISAAC GRACIE Mon 9May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

SKATERS Mon 9 May,The Rainbow Venues,Birmingham

TRIO CATCH Mon 9 May,Birmingham Town Hall

CLIVE GREGSON Mon 9May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

CORKY LAING Mon 9May, The Robin, Bilston

SHOOK TWINS Tues 10May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

IGOR LEVIT Tues 10May, Birmingham TownHall

THE REFORM CLUB Tues10 May, The Robin,Bilston

COLUM SANDS Wed 11May, The Red Lion FolkClub, Birmingham

CHASTITY BELT Wed 11May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

THEO JACKSON Wed 11May, Lichfield Garrick

A CELEBRATION OF JOHNDENVER Wed 11 May,Wolverhampton GrandTheatre

JASON DONOVAN TENGOOD REASONS &GREATEST HITS TOURWed 11 May,Symphony Hall,Birmingham

THE BAR STOOLPREACHERS Thurs 12May, Slade Rooms,Wolverhampton

THE HEAVY Thurs 12May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

FREE REIGN Thurs 12May, The Roadhouse,Birmingham

IMAGINED ISLE FOLKFESTIVAL Thurs 12 -Mon 16 May,Birmingham Town Hall

WAY TO BLUE: THESONGS OF NICK DRAKEThurs 12 May,Symphony Hall,Birmingham

TRAVIS Thurs 12 May,O2 Academy,Birmingham

QUI Thurs 12 May, Hare& Hounds, Birmingham

REND COLLECTIVE Thurs12 May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

ABSOLUTE BLONDIEThurs 12 May, TheRobin, Bilston

EMILY PORTMAN & THECORACLE BAND Fri 13May, Birmingham TownHall

MANOS PA'ARRIBA Fri 13May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

OATHBREAKER Fri 13May, The RainbowVenues, Birmingham

FRAN THE MAN Fri 13May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

THE HARTS + SALADDAYS + SHOOT THESYMPHONY + THE REALCOOL Fri 13 May, O2Institute, Birmingham

SNOWPOET Fri 13 May,The Glee Club, B’ham

CRIME & PUNISHMENTFri 13 May, TheFlapper, Birmingham

ARMY OF BONES Fri 13May, The Asylum,Birmingham

BILLY OCEAN Fri 13 MayWolverhampton GrandTheatre

THE SESSIONS - A livere-staging of TheBeatles at Abbey RoadStudios Fri 13 May,Barclaycard Arena,Birmingham

THE SUMMER SET Fri 13May, The Asylum,Birmingham

ANDY JORDAN Fri 13May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

LIVEWIRE - TRIBUTE TOAC/DC Fri 13 May, TheSlade Rooms,Wolverhampton

ONE NIGHT OF ELVIS Fri13 May, The Robin,Bilston

KATE RUSBY Sat 14 May,Birmingham Town Hall

DECLAN O'ROURKE Sat14 May, SymphonyHall, Birmingham

PAT BRESLIN Sat 14May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

ANDY BLACK Sat 14May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

THE MEMBRANES Sat 14May, The Flapper,Birmingham

IN DISMAY + HOPE FORRETURN + VICTORYLANE + SILO 18 Sat 14May, Slade Rooms,Wolverhampton

MANIC STREETPREACHERS Sat 14 May,Genting Arena, B’ham

SUPERFICIALS Sat 14May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

JOCELYN BROWN &KENNY THOMAS Sat 14May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

THE SMITHS LTD Sat 14May, The Roadhouse,Birmingham

ROCK 4 SPON 5 Sat 14May, The Robin, Bilston

FUTURE FOLK FEATURINGFALSE LIGHTS, JOSIENNECLARKE & BEN WALKERAND LUKE JACKSON Sun15 May, BirminghamTown Hall

SEAN WILSON Sun 15May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

TRANSVIOLET Sun 15May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

MIKE PETERS PRESENTSTHE ALARM Sun 15May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

TRIAXIS / IMMNESIONSun 15 May, TheRainbow Venues,Birmingham

FRANCES Sun 15 May,The Glee Club, B’ham

RICKY COOL AND THE INCROWD Sun 15 May,The Brasshouse,Birmingham

FRANKLY SINATRA Sun15 May, New AlexandraTheatre, Birmingham

THE UKULELEORCHESTRA OF GREATBRITAIN Sun 15 May,Birmingham Town Hall

THE GLENN MILLERORCHESTRA Sun 15May, Palace Theatre,Redditch

OYE SANTANA Sun 15May, The Robin, Bilston

Declan O’Rourke, Symphony Hall, 14 May

The List 9 - 15 May - Birmingham Only VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 18:33 Page 1





THE SORCERER AND TRIAL BY JURYTinkers Farm Opera present a Gilbert& Sullivan double bill, Wed 11 - Sat14 May, Crescent Theatre, B’ham

STAGE DOOR JOHNNY OBJETS TROUVESThe host of the Old Joint Stock'sFootsie Club brings his solo show tothe cabaret festival, Thurs 12 May,Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

GRAEME OF THRONES An original andun-authorised parody on the interna-tional phenomenon that is Game OfThrones, Thurs 12 May, LichfieldGarrick

JO BLACK Evening of song, stories &nonsensical behaviour from the gin-drinking cabaret darling, Fri 13 May,Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

CLUB CAIRO Fusion of live music,dance & theatre, bringing audiencesa super-sensory experience steepedin Arabian tradition, Fri 13 May, mac,Birmingham

JOAN An earthy story of courage,conviction, hope, survival and love,performed by Drag Idol championLucy Jane Parkinson, aka LoUISCYfer, Fri 13 May, Lichfield Garrick

EAST END CABARET Raucous andrisque musical comedy show fromthe award-winning cult comedy duo,Sat 14 May, Old Joint Stock Theatre,Birmingham

WILD! BY EVAN PLACEY A one-personshow that unravels the story of awayward yet fragile and misunder-stood boy with an untamed imagina-tion, Sat 14 May, Lichfield Garrick

PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS Non-sexualshow that features full-frontal malenudity. Suitable for adults only! Sat14 May, Wolverhampton GrandTheatre

GYLES BRANDRETH - WORD POWER! Sat14 May, Lichfield Garrick

MADE UP Heart-warming play aboutfriendship and the faces we show theworld, Sat 14 - Sat 21 May, The REP,Birmingham

FRANKLY SINATRA Stephen Triffitrbrings the swing, the swagger andthe velvet vocals of Frank Sinatra tothe stage, Sun 15 May, NewAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham

DanceCOMPANY WANG RAMIREZ: MONCHICHIA bedrock piece by duo WangRamirez creates a portrait of a new,urban, mobile and intercultural gen-eration, Tues 10 May DanceXchange,The Patrick Centre, Birmingham

ARACALADANZA: MOKO DANCEProduced in association with MOKO

Dance, award-winning internationalcompany Aracaladanza's new dancetheatre production for families isinspired by the visionary genius ofLeonardo da Vinci, Tues 10 May TheREP, Birmingham

VUELOS (FLIGHTS) Award-winninginternational company Aracaladanzareturn to the UK to delight audienceswith their new dance theatre produc-tion, Tues 10 May, The REP, B’ham

ZOIELOGIC DANCE THEATRE: RIDE World premiere of an outdoor dancetheatre work exploring the nature oftravelling. Commissioned and co-produced by DanceXchange forIDFB 2016 and co-commissioned byGulbenkian, Kent and Dance Villagein Bristol Harbour Festival, Tue 10May, Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Birmingham; Wed 11 May,Handsworth Park, Birmingham;Thurs 12 May, Bournville College,Birmingham; Fri 13 - Sat 14 May,Centenary Square, Birmingham

CLOUD GATE DANCE THEATRE OFTAIWAN: SONGS OF THE WANDERERSSpiritually evocative movements setto soulful Georgian folksongs,brought to life on a truly astonishingset featuring 3½ tons of golden ricegrains. Tues 10 - Wed 11 May,Birmingham Hippodrome

TAMSIN FITZGERALD: CUBES Bringingtogether dancers, runners and acro-bats for a series of spectacular solosand duets celebrating the talent,youth and diversity of the Midlands.Wed 11 - Sat 14 May, CentenarySquare, Birmingham

THE MACHINE SHOW A brand newdance & circus spectacular, head-lined by live music from French bandRinôçérôse, that takes its inspirationfrom the manufacturing and automo-tive industry in Birmingham, lookingback at the Industrial Revolution.Wed 11 - Sat 14 May, CentenarySquare, Birmingham

KEI MIYATA: IN A LANDSCAPE A live per-formance, this dynamic new pieceincorporating Ito’s installation, Cells,combines hypnotic electronic sounds- played live by Liverpool’s guitar-based percussive innovators ExEaster Island Head (EEIH) - withsculpture, movement, and fizzingelectric light bulbs, Thurs 12 - Sat 14May, Municipal Bank, Birmingham

HOFESH SHECHTER: POLITICAL MOTHERDescribed as a dance experiencelike no other, Shechter's PoliticalMother fuses movement from inter-nationally acclaimed dancers withthe choreographer's cinematic score,featuring a band of live drummersand electric guitarists, pulsating livemusic, extraordinary ensemblesequences and cinematic editing. Fri13 - Sat 14 May, The REP,Birmingham

MOTIONHOUSE: TORQUE A poignantcelebration of the relationshipbetween movement and emotion.Moments of beautiful interactionbetween dancers and machine aredesigned to be understood throughthe senses. A visceral, exciting expe-rience which moves the audiencethrough risk, daring, beauty and the

unexpected. Fri 13 - Sat 14 May,Centenary Square, Birmingham

VERTEDANCE, JIRI HAVELKA & THECLARINET FACTORY: CORRECTIONImagine a world where you can’tprogress despite your best efforts topush forward. Award-winning con-temporary dance companyVerTeDance have created a beautiful-ly poignant piece about our lack offreedom, reclusion and our power tomake decisions, Fri 13 - Sat 14 May,DanceXchange, Birmingham

TalksPRESENTING ANCIENT EGYPT - THE CRE-ATION OF THE SECRET EGYPT:UNRAVELLING TRUTH FROM MYTH EXHI-BITION With Chris Kirby from CultureCoventry, Wed 11 May, PerryBeeches II: The Free School,Birmingham

FilmINDEPENDENT CINEMAS:EDDIE THE EAGLE (PG) With lashings ofcomedy, this is the true story ofEddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, a youngEnglishman who was determined tobecome an Olympic skier - againstimprobable odds. Stars TaronEgerton & Hugh Jackman. Fri 13 -Thurs 19 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove

LABYRINTH (U) Young Sarah is lefthome alone by her parents and hasto babysit her little brother Toby. Butthe baby keeps crying and Sarah,while telling him a story to make himsleep, inadvertently conjures theGoblin King from a fantasy world.Stars David Bowie & JenniferConnelly. Sat 14 May, Artrix,Bromsgrove

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (PG) NicholasRay's juvenile delinquent film openedafter the death of its star, JamesDean, in a car crash and made Deaninto an icon of rebellion. The story-line follows Jim Stark (Dean), a rest-less teenager always in trouble withthe law. His mother smothers him,while his father is weak and ineffectu-al, and the family has only recentlymoved to Los Angeles to try andsave Jim from a life of crime. Sun 15May, The Electric Cinema,Birmingham

NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE:Released Fri 13 May, showing atselected cinemas.

ANGRY BIRDS (tbc)

CABIN FEVER (tbc)

THE DARNKESS (tbc)

EVERYBODY WANTS SOME (15)

GREEN ROOM (18)

KILL COMMAND (15)

OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (15)

CABIN FEVER (tbc)

EventsWINTERBOURNE CENTRE FORHORTICULTURE OPEN DAY With sampleclasses, practical activities and toursof the facilities, this is a great oppor-tunity to find out what the centre canoffer to get your horticultural careeroff the ground, Tues 10 May,Winterbourne House & Garden,Birmingham

HANDSWORTH HERITAGE WALK Checkout fine Georgian and Victorian archi-tecture, a convent designed byAugustus Pugin, a church that wasbuilt nearly one millennium ago, Wed11 May, Soho House, Birmingham

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT The Writing WestMidlands young writers’ group arepicking up the theme of EdwardianLiterature as the house opens until8pm, Thurs 12 May, WinterbourneHouse & Garden, Birmingham

AN EVENING WITH JAMIE CARRAGHERFri 13 May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

BODYPOWER EXPO 2016 Fri 13 - Sun15 May, NEC, Birmingham

THE BABY SHOW The UK’s leadingpregnancy and parenting eventreturns to the NEC. Whether you’reexpecting or have recently had ababy, you’ll find everything you needat the show, Fri 13 - Sun 15 May,NEC, Birmingham

MAGICAL LANDS AND ENCHANTEDPLACES Experience Selly Manor asnever before as it’s transformed intomagical kingdoms from classic sto-ries and fairytales, Sat 14 May, SellyManor, Birmingham

EVENING HOUSE TOURS 2016 Sat 14May, Packwood House, Solihull

BAMMA 25 Presented by David Hayeand Andy Shepherd and broadcastaround the world, BAMMA returns tothe Barclaycard Arena inBirmingham, Sat 14 May,Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham

THE BASIL BRUSH SHOW Join BasilBrush and Mr Stephen for aBooming Bonkers Bash as they takeyou on a journey of laughs, sillinessand song, Sat 14 - Sun 15 May,Cadbury World, Bournville

BIRMINGHAM BUS TOURS 2016 Sat 14 -Sun 15 May, Birmingham City Centre

MISTER MAKER Sat 14 May - Sun 12Jun, National Sea Life Centre,Birmingham

MIDLAND CLOCK AND WATCH FAIR Sun15 May, National MotorcycleMuseum, Solihull

BONSAI DEMO See some of theexperts demonstrating best care andpractice for Bonsai trees, Sun 15May, Birmingham Botanical Garde

W DAY Sun 15 May, AvoncroftMuseum, Bromsgrove




Classical MusicACADEMY OF ANCIENT MUSIC: VIVALDIIN DRESDEN Programme comprisesworks J S Bach, Vivaldi & Telemann,Wed 18 May, The Barber Institute,Birmingham

DANIEL HOPE WITH THEKAMMERORCHESTER BASEL Programmeincludes works by Vivaldi, Mozart,Mendelssohn, Pärt, El-Khoury &Bach, Wed 18 May, Birmingham TownHall

CBSO BECOME OCEAN FeaturingLudovic Morlot (Conductor) & StevenOsborne (Piano) Programme includesworks by Sibelius, Ravel & JohnLuther Adams, Thurs 19 May,Symphony Hall, Birmingham

CBSO CENTRE STAGE: SHOSTAKOVICH’SPIANO QUINTET Featuring StevenOsbourne (piano), Zoe Beyers & JaneWright (violin), Adam Romer (viola) &Richard Jenkinson (cello), Fri 20 May,CBSO Centre, Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM CONTEMPORARY MUSICGROUP Featuring Daniel Galbreath(conductor), Ulrich Heinen (cello),Malcolm Wilson (piano) & the VivaNova Chamber Choir, Fri 20 May,Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham

LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA GRANDOPERA GALA Celebrating 25 Years ofSymphony Hall Featuring: AndrewGreenwood (conductor), Claire Rutter(soprano), Justine Gringyte (mezzo-soprano), Peter Auty (tenor & AshleyHolland (baritone), Fri 20 May,Symphony Hall, Birmingham

CITY OF SOUNDS: MOZART’S CORONA-TION MASS Featuring Patrick Larley(conductor), Elouise Waterhouse,Alistair Donoghue, Rob Tilson &Lucinda Scott, Sun 22 May, AdrianBoult Hall, Birmingham

Comedy GigsTOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Mon 16 May,The Blue Orange Theatre,Birmingham

CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 17 May,The Dark Horse, Birmingham

MOCK THE FLOCK Wed 18 May, The Mockingbird, Birmingham

REGINALD D HUNTER, ADAM BLOOM,STEVE HARRIS & DARRELL MARTINThurs 19 May, The Comedy Loft,Birmingham

BOBBY MAIR, JULIAN DEANE & COMEDYCAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs19 May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

IVO GRAHAM, DAVID FULTON & ANDREWRYAN Thurs 19 May, Bramall MusicBuilding, Birmingham

STEPHEN GRANT, TOM GLOVER &TIERNAN DOUIEB Fri 20 May, LichfieldGarrick

RICH WILSON, PETER BRUSH & JOHNRYAN Fri 20 May, Molineux Stadium,Wolverhampton

DAMIAN CLARK, JOJO SMITH, JULIANDEANE & BOBBY MAIR Fri 20 May, TheGlee Club, Birmingham

KATHERINE RYAN Fri 20 May, Birmingham Town Hall

SIMON BLIGH, MICKEY BARTLETT, DAVELONGLEY & WAYNE DEAKINFri 20 - Sat 21 May, The Comedy Loft,Birmingham

JOJO SMITH, BOBBY MAIR & DAMIANCLARK & JULIAN DEANE Sat 21 May The Glee Club, Birmingham

BARNSTORMERS COMEDY NIGHTLINE-UP TBC Sat 21 May, Artrix,Bromsgrove

JEREMY HARDY Sat 21 May, The OldRep Theatre, Birmingham

ROMESH RANGANATHAN Sun 22 May,Artrix, Bromsgrove

TheatreSAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME A nostal-gic feelgood journey which transportsaudiences back to the early 1960s,Mon 16 - Sat 21 May, New AlexandraTheatre, Birmingham

THE DIARY OF A HOUNSLOW GIRL Acomic story of dreams, aspirationsand coming of age, Tues 17 May, TheDrum, Birmingham

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZINGTECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT X Factorwinner Joe McElderry dons the covet-ed coat in Tim Rice and AndrewLloyd Webber's sparkling family musi-cal, Tues 17 - Sat 21 May,Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

INVINCIBLE The Original TheatreCompany and The Theatre RoyalBury St Edmunds present a brandnew production of Torben Betts'smash-hit comedy, Tues 17 - Sat 21May, The REP, Birmingham

THE WIZARD OF OZ Amateur productionpresented by Coleshill OperaticSociety, Tues 17 - Sat 21 May, TheCore Theatre, Solihull

SCOTTISH FALSETTO SOCK PUPPETTHEATRE: SHAKESPEARE ‘Earth's funni-est footwear’ return with a brand newshow of songs, sketches, socks andviolence, taking on The Bard Of Avonhimself. Howl at their Hamlet, roar attheir Romeo And Juliet, and peer intotheir Coriolanus, Thurs 19 May, OldJoint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

KING LEAR Don Warrington stars inShakespeare’s brutal portrait of oneman’s unwinding sanity, Thurs 19 -



GigsERIC BIBB Mon 16 May,Birmingham Town Hall

STEVE TURNER Mon 16May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

SEPTEMBER GIRLS Tues17 May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

BRIAN WILSON Tues 17May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

CALAN Tues 17 May,mac, Birmingham

FORT HOPE Tues 17May, The Asylum,B’ham

EAGULLS Tues 17 May,Hare & Hounds, B’ham

EVERYBODY LOOKSFAMOUS Tues 17 May,The Rainbow Venues,Birmingham

KIERAN GOSS Tues 17May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

BELSHAZZAR'S FEASTWed 18 May, The RedLion Folk Club, B’ham

LANDSCAPES Wed 18May, The RainbowVenues, Birmingham

TOM ROBINSON Wed 18May, The Robin,Bilston

HEATHER PEACE Wed 18May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

KEN VANDERMARK +NATE WOOLEY DUO Wed18 May, mac, B’ham

DAN REED & DANNYVAUGHN Wed 18 May,Hare & Hounds, B’ham

EMMA POLLOCK Wed 18

May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

SHE MAKES WAR Wed18 May, Ort Cafe,Birmingham

SCOOPS Wed 18 May,Hare & Hounds, B’ham

DANIEL KEMISH (FULLBAND) + SUPPORTSWed 18 May, TheRoadhouse, B’ham

THE JAM DRC + THENATURAL EMOTIONSThurs 19 May, TheRoadhouse, B’ham

SACRED QAWWALI:SOUNDS OF SPRITUALITYThurs 19 May, mac,Birmingham

NICK DEWHURST Thurs19 May, Bramall MusicBuilding, Birmingham

RORY MCLEOD & THEFAMILIAR STRANGERSThurs 19 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

SIMON MCBRIDE Thurs19 May, The Robin,Bilston

THE YOUNG Fri 20 May,O2 Academy, B’ham

MOTOWN AND SOULNIGHT WITH DJ PAULKELLY Fri 20 May, IrishCentre, Birmingham

HENRY WU Fri 20 May,Hare & Hounds, B’ham

IDEAL CLUB Fri 20 May,O2 Institute, B’ham

FAIRPORT CONVENTIONFri 20 May, The Robin,Bilston

THE HOSTS Fri 20 May,The Flapper, B’ham

THE SMYTHS Fri 20 May,O2 Academy, B’ham

SONGWRITER SESSIONS@ THE GALLERY WITHGARY OÂ�DEA & ALEXVANN Fri 20 May,Wolverhampton ArtGallery

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND:THE MUSIC OF JAMESTAYLOR AND CAROLEKING Fri 20 May, Artrix,Bromsgrove

METAL 2 THE MASSES

Fri 20 May, SladeRooms, W’hampton

OUT OF TIME MODWEEKENDER Fri 20 -Sun 22 May,Newhampton ArtsCentre, W’hampton

SPICE GIRLS TRIBUTE Fri20 May, The Belfry,Sutton Coldfield

JAMES Fri 20 May,Barclaycard Arena

THE BORN AGAINBEATLES Fri 20 May,Lichfield Guildhall

BUSTED Fri 20 May,Genting Arena,Birmingham

THE OASIS EXPERIENCEWEEKENDER Fri 20 - Sat21 May, TheRoadhouse, B’ham

GREEN CIRCLES Sat 21May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

AMY WADGE & PETERILEY Sat 21 May, TheBrewhouse ArtsCentre, Burton-upon-Trent

DILJIT DOSANJH Sat 21May, BarclaycardArena, Birmingham

DAUGHTRY Sat 21 May,O2 Academy, B‘ham

SPACE Sat 21 May, O2Academy, Birmingham

LAURA MVULA Sat 21May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

TOUNDRA Sat 21 May,O2 Institute, B’ham

STONE BROKEN Sat 21May, The SladeRooms, W’hampton

JOSH GROBAN Sat 21May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

THE FORTUNES - PAST &PRESENT Sat 21 May,Artrix, Bromsgrove

KING KING Sat 21 May,Birmingham Town Hall

LAUREN RAY Sun 22May, Kitchen GardenCafe, Birmingham

PAUL KELLY Sun 22May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

BABY STRANGE & WHITESun 22 May, TheSunflower Lounge,Birmingham

CHARLIE PUTH Sun 22May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

GRAHAM NASH Sun 22May, Birmingham TownHall

BY THE RIVERS Sun 22May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

CATE LE BON Sun 22May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

Daughtry, O2 Academy, Sat 21 May

The List 16 - 22 May - Birmingham ONLY VERSION.qxp_Layout 1 20/04/2016 18:32 Page 1


Sat 28 May, The REP, Birmingham

FORBIDDEN NIGHTS New all-male vari-ety show with full theatre productionand explosive choreography, Fri 20May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

TRIBUTE ACTS TheatreState present a

boldly honest exploration offather/daughter relationships, Fri 20May, mac, Birmingham

WESTERN? Comedy meets theatre,meets jazz-fusion. A fast, physicaland farcical show presented by

Sleeping Trees, Sat 21 May, LichfieldGarrick

FIRST STAGES: HANSEL & GRETEL ThePlay House Theatre present areworking of a children’s classic, Sat21 May, The REP, Birmingham

WONDERWOMAN: THE NAKED TRUTHNotnow Collective address family,parenthood and work-home subjectsin a challenging, highly visual andimmersive way, Sun 22 - Tues 24May, mac, Birmingham

DanceDANCE: SAMPLED A selection of differ-ent dance styles, all in one night,performed by some of the world’sbest dancers - Company WayneMcGregor, Birmingham Royal Ballet,BBC Young Dancer finalist VidyaPatel, world tango championsGerman Cornejo and Gisela Gallessifrom Buenos Aires, and Sidi LarbiCherkaoui’s Faun, Tues 17 - Wed 18May, Birmingham Hippodrome

THE RICOCHET PROJECT: SMOKE &MIRRORS Poetic acrobatics, contem-porary dance, contortion and high-flying feats combine in an exhilarat-ing examination of the current stateof America in the pursuit of happi-

ness, Tues 17 - Wed 18 May,Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

SANDHYA & SANGACHHADHWAMDouble bill of Indian dance, Thurs 19May, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

GISELLE - VIENNA FESTIVAL BALLET Atale of innocence, love, betrayal andmadness, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 May,Lichfield Garrick

BALLET BC Ballet British Columbia is aunique creation-based company of17 dancers under the leadership ofArtistic Director Emily Molnar. Fri 20 -Sat 21 May, BirminghamHippodrome

PINOCCHIO Ballet Theatre UK presenta choreographed staging of the clas-sic family tale, Sat 21 May, CrescentTheatre, Birmingham

Monday 16 - Sun 22 May

King Lear, The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 19 - Sat 28 May

Pin0cchio, Crescent Theatre, Sat 21 May



thelist

FilmINDEPENDENT LISTINGS:TRUMBO (15) In 1947, Dalton Trumbo(Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood'stop screenwriter - until he and otherartists were jailed and blacklisted fortheir political beliefs. Directed by JayRoach, the film recounts how Daltonused words and wit to win twoAcademy Awards and expose theabsurdity and injustice of the black-

list. Also stars Helen Mirren. Fri 20 -Thurs 26 May, Artrix, Bromsgrove

NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE:Released Fri 20 May, showing atselected cinemas.

THE CALL UP (tbc)

THE DAUGHTER (15)

A HOLOGRAM FOR A KING (tbc)

THE SILENT STORM (15)

SING STREET (15)

IVAN’S CHILDHOOD (12a)

JOURNEY TO THE SHORE (tbc)

RISEN (12a)

ROCK THE KASBAH (tbc)

See Film section for previews on p39

EventsLADIES SEASONAL STYLE EVENT Wed18 May, Birmingham BotanicalGardens

EXPLORE AVONCROFT: THE FLORA &FAUNA OF AVONCROFT MUSEUM Aguided tour around the museum,including its ponds, orchard andwildflower meadow, Thurs 19 May,Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove,Worcestershire

WALK WITH PRIDE: FROM GUNS TOGRAFFITI A five-mile walk throughhistoric Aston, Digbeth andHighgate, Fri 20 - Mon 30 May,Birmingham LGBT Centre

RACE, ROCK 'N' RIDE Brand new andon two wheels, a weekend filled tothe brim with anything and every-thing from the world of motorcycles,Sat 21 - Sun 22 May, Santa PodRaceway, Northants

DOWN UNDER LIVE Sat 21 - Sun 22May, National Motorcycle Museum,

Solihull

AZTEC WEEKEND Travel 1,000 yearsback in time to the Aztec jungle.Explore the origins of the cocoabean and uncover the mysteries ofEmperor Montezuma, Sat 21 - Sun22 May, Cadbury World, Bournville

BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEINGTOUR Beginning at the commercialheart of the city at the end ofColmore Row, Victoria Square, thispopular tour includes the city’s majorbuildings of architectural interestincluding St Philip’s and St Chad’sCathedrals, the Victoria Law Courts,the Town Hall, the Council House,Birmingham Museum & Art Galleryand Library, Sat 21 - Sun 22 May,Birmingham City Centre

HANGING BASKETS WORKSHOP Createand take home your very own hang-ing basket, Sun 22 May, CastleBromwich Hall Gardens

BIG FISH LITTLE FISH FAMILY RAVE Sun22 May, The Rainbow Venues,Digbeth, Birmingham

PIZZA MAKING AT SAREHOLE MILL Jointhe millers at Sarehole Mill for a funand informal baking class. Learn tomake dough, see the mill in actionand create and bake your own deli-cious pizza, Sun 22 May, SareholeMill, Birmingham

Monday 16 - Sun 22 May

Aztec Weekend, Cadbury World, Sat 21 - Sun 22 May




Classical MusicLUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITHTHOMAS TROTTER Programmeincludes works by W. Harris, JSBach, Messiaen, A. Hollins & JIreland, Mon 23 May, BirminghamTown Hall

SIR ANDRIS SCHIFF WITH THE CHAMBERORCHESTRA OF EUROPE Programmecomprises Mendelssohn’s PianoConcerto No2 in D minor, HebridesOverture & Piano Concerto No 1 in Gminor, Mon 23 May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

CBSO TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIFTH FeaturingAlexander Vedernikov (conductor) &Tasmin Little (violin). Programmeincludes works by Glazunov &Tchaikovsky, Wed 25 - Thurs 26May, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

EX CATHEDRA: IN A STRANGE LANDProgramme includes works byWilliam Byrd, Gesualdo, Lobo &Tallis, Thurs 26 May, Adrian BoultHall, Birmingham

BLAKE Re-inspired by the classic trioharmonies of The Three Tenors, TheBee Gees and Boyz-II-Men, the 3Brit-Award-winners perform exclusivesongs from their fifth studio album,released UK-wide this autumn, Fri 27May, Artrix, Bromsgrove

MILOS KARADAGLIC IN RECITALFeaturing an eclectic programme ofworks ranging from Bach to TheBeatles, Fri 27 May, BirminghamTown Hall

FINAL YEAR RECITALISTS Line-up tbc,Tues 31 May, The Bramall,Birmingham

Comedy GigsEDDIE IZZARD Mon 23 May, mac,Birmingham

CHEEKY MONKEY COMEDY Tues 24May, The Dark Horse, Birmingham

FAT PENGUIN COMEDY Wed 25 May, The Patrick Kavanagh, Birmingham

MOCK THE FLOCK Wed 25 May The Mockingbird, Birmingham

MARK NELSON, COMEDY CAROUSELWITH ANDY ROBINSON PLUS COMIC TBCThurs 26 May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

ANDREW BIRD, ALLYSON JUNE SMITH,CIAMH MCDONNELL & CHRIS TURNERFri 27 May, The Comedy Loft,Birmingham

SUZI RUFFELL, ALEX BOARDMAN, MARKNELSON & CHRIS MCCAUSLAND Fri 27

May, The Glee Club, Birmingham

ANDREW BIRD, ALLYSON JUNE SMITH,CIAMH MCDONNELL & COMIC TBC Sat28 May, The Comedy Loft,Birmingham

SUZI RUFFELL, MARK NELSON, ALEXBOARDMAN & CHRIS MCCAUSLANDSat 28 May, The Glee Club,Birmingham

TheatreSALLY MORGAN - CALL ME PSYCHICSally Morgan is back with a brandnew show, Tues 24 May, LichfieldGarrick

MADE IN DAGENHAM West BromwichOperatic Society presents its versionof the British musical comedy aboutfriendships, love and the importanceof fighting for what’s right, Tues 24 -Sat 28 May, Wolverhampton GrandTheatre

THE SOUND OF MUSIC New productionof the timeless family musical. LucyO'Byrne, from BBC One's The Voice,plays Maria. Gray O'Brien stars asCaptain Von Trapp, Tues 24 - Sat 28May, Birmingham Hippodrome

JACKIE THE MUSICAL Brand new ‘fun &feisty’ musical featuring original cho-reography by Arlene Phillips. JaneyDibley, Graham Bickley, NicholasBailey & Mike James star, Tues 24 -Sat 28 May, New Alexandra Theatre,Birmingham

TINA TURNER: TEA LADY & FRIENDSJoin musical character comedianTracey Collins for a high-octaneevening of hit songs, off-the-wallcharacters, quick changes and thebest tea in town, Thurs 26 May, OldJoint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM THEATREMRES: LITTLE MISSES Four individualsreflect on incidents which havechanged their lives forever, Thurs 26May, mac, Birmingham

THE QUIET HOUSE Gareth Farr’s highlyanticipated new play explores fertilityand the taboo that surrounds it,Thurs 26 May - Sat 4 Jun, The REP,Birmingham

thelist Monday 23 - Tues 31 May

GigsBEN CAPLAN & THECASUAL SMOKERS Tues24 May, The SladeRooms,Wolverhampton

G-EAZY Tues 24 May,O2 Institute,Birmingham

OWINY SIGOMA BANDTues 24 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

DIET CIG Wed 25 May,Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

LUKE CONCANNON Wed25 May, KitchenGarden Cafe,Birmingham

TIA MCGRAFF Wed 25May, The Robin, Bilston

HOMESHAKE Wed 25May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

NIGHT BEATS Wed 25May, The RainbowVenues, Birmingham

BARLUATH Wed 25 May,The Red Lion FolkClub, Birmingham

PENTATONIX Wed 25May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

MORTIIS + SERAPH SIN+ DEADFILMSTAR Thurs26 May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

SAMM HENSHAW Thurs26 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

LUKAS GRAHAM Thurs26 May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

IN THIS MOMENT Thurs26 May, O2 Institute,Birmingham

BEVERLEY KNIGHT Thurs26 May, The SladeRooms, W’hampton

THE PRIMITIVES Thurs26 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

BLAKE - SONGS FROMSTAGE & SCREEN Fri 27May, Artrix,Bromsgrove

BOOGIE NIGHTS LIVEWITH ABBA TRIBUTE & DJROB Fri 27 May, IrishCentre, Birmingham

DR FEELGOOD + EDDIE &THE HOT RODS Fri 27May, The Robin, Bilston

WHITE LUNG Fri 27 May,The Flapper, B’ham

THUNDERSTONE Fri 27May, The Asylum,Birmingham

FETTY WAP Fri 27 May,O2 Institute, B’ham

THE NEIL DIAMONDSTORY Fri 27 May,Dovehouse Theatre,Solihull

GORDON LIGHTFOOT Fri27 May, SymphonyHall, Birmingham

THE NEIL DIAMONDSTORY Fri 27 May,Dovehouse Theatre,Solihull

SEAFRET + SPECIALGUESTS Fri 27 May, OrtCage, Birmingham

CIARAN CLIFFORD & THEHIGH DRIVES Sat 28May, Irish Centre,Birmingham

YOUNG CULTURE PRES-ENTS TROJANSOUNDSYSTEM 'DEX 'N'FX' Sat 28 May, Hare &Hounds, Birmingham

THE LEGENDS OF REGGAEFESTIVAL 2016 Sat 28May, O2 Academy,Birmingham

FIRE RED EMPRESS Sat28 May, O2 Academy,

Birmingham

DIZZY LIZZY Sat 28 May,The Roadhouse,Birmingham

DREAMING OF KATE -KATE BUSH EXPERIENCESat 28 May, Artrix,Bromsgrove

GERRY CROSS THEMERSEY Sat 28 May,The Core Theatre,Solihull

PAT JORDAN & FINIAN'SRAINBOW Sun 29 May,Irish Centre,Birmingham

LA GUNS + OLIVERDAWSON SAXO Sun 29May, The Robin, Bilston

MONSTER CEILIDH BANDSun 29 May, KitchenGarden Cafe, B’ham

BC CAMPLIGHT Sun 29May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

MAGCON Sun 29 May,O2 Institute,Birmingham

LEEROY STAGGER Mon30 May, KitchenGarden Cafe,Birmingham

BONNIE RAITT Mon 30May, Symphony Hall,Birmingham

HANDS LIKE HOUSES + ITHE MIGHTY + DEAD!+THE GOSPEL YOUTHTues 31 May, O2Institute, Birmingham

THE HUNNA Tues 31May, Hare & Hounds,Birmingham

HAUS Tues 31 May, TheSunflower Lounge,Birmingham

WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN- CARPENTERS TRIBUTETues 31 May,Wolverhampton GrandTheatre

JOEL SAVOY, JESSE LEGEAND CAJUN COUNTRYREVIVAL Tues 31 May,Kitchen Garden Cafe,Birmingham

Luke Concannon, The Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham, Wed 25 May



Birmingham@WHATSONBRU

M

Wolverhampton@WHATSONWOL

VES

Shropshire@WHATSONSHR

OPS

staffordshire@WHATSONSTA

FFS

Worcestershire@WHATSONWOR

CS

warwickshire@WHATSONWAR

WICKS


EAST END CABARET Raucous andrisque musical comedy show, Fri 27May, Old Joint Stock Theatre,Birmingham

MAUSOLEUM: TALES OF CHAOS ANDCLAUSTROPHOBIA Explores the livesand stories of refugees through anarrative of poetry. Presented byFired Up Theatre, Fri 27 - Sat 28 May,Lichfield Garrick

GOLDILOCKS AND THE 3 BEARS A mix ofpuppetry, music and mischievousmoments for children aged two andolder, Fri 27 May, Lichfield Garrick

YETIS DEMON DIVE BAR Evening ofnaughty songs and hilarious charac-ters from the London Cabaret award-winners, Sat 28 May, Old Joint StockTheatre, Birmingham

FERTILITY FEST Bringing together 20of the country’s leading writers, visu-al artists, theatre makers, film direc-tors and composers for a day of per-formance, discussion and debate onone of the most important scientificand societal developments of mod-ern times, Sat 28 May, The REP,Birmingham

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSI-CAL!) Satire in which one storylinebecomes five delightful musicals, Sat28 May - Sat 4 Jun, CrescentTheatre, Birmingham

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Blue OrangeArts presents its version of LewisCarroll's classic tale, Sat 28 May -Sat 11 Jun, The Blue OrangeTheatre, Birmingham

BANGARANG Keith Shebada stars in afiery comedy set in Princess Street,downtown Kingston, Sun 29 May,New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST KomolaCollective present a play based on atraditional Bangladeshi tale about theimpact of manmade disasters on thesurrounding wildlife and its local peo-ple, Sun 29 May, The Drum, B’ham

CATS Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical returns, direct fromthe London Palladium, Mon 30 May -Sat 4 Jun, Birmingham Hippodrome

HAIRSPRAY Presented by SuttonColdfield Musical Theatre Company,Tue 31 May - Sat 4 Jun, LichfieldGarrick

SHADOWLANDS Stephen Boxer, TonySlattery & Amanda Ryan star in astage version of William Nicholson'sTV drama and subsequent film of thesame name, Tue 31 May - Sat 4 Jun,The REP, Birmingham

DancePASHA: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE YOU TheStrictly star hits the road once againwith a brand new show in which he'llbe joined by spectacular dancersand guests, including Anya Garnis,Tues 24 - Wed 25 May, The Core,Solihull

NEW WORK NIGHTS: DANCE Featuring

headline act Sonia Sabri DanceCompany, as well as developingwork from other West Midlandsdancers and choreographers, Thurs26 May, Old Rep, Birmingham

MOTIONHOUSE & NO FIT CIRCUS: BLOCKExciting new collaboration whichshowcases what happens whendance and circus collide, Fri 27 - Sat28 May, mac, Birmingham

BALLETBOYZ - LIFE Back with a brandnew show for 2016, co-produced bySadler's Wells in association withArtsdepot, Sat 28 May LichfieldGarrick

FilmINDEPENDENT LISTINGS:SPEED SISTERS (PG) Documentary fol-lowing The Speed Sisters the first all-woman race car driving team in theMiddle East. Grabbing headlines andturning heads at improvised tracksacross the West Bank, these fivewomen have sped their way into theheart of the gritty, male-dominatedPalestinian street car scene. Mon 25- Thurs 2 Apr, mac, Birmingham

HIGH RISE (15) The director BenWheatley has garnered considerableacclaim following his films DownTerrace, Kill List and A Field inEngland. Here, he untangles an eco-system preserved in a luxury Londontower block, where a young doctor(Hiddleston) moves to the twenty-fifthfloor to discover fierce dissentbetween the residents. Stars TomHiddleston & Jeremy Irons. From Fri29 Apr, mac, Birmingham

FUTURE SHOCK! THE STORY OF 2000AD(15) This documentary offers an llu-minating overview of the magazine'shistory: a warts and all look at thevarious highs and lows, a peekinside the creative process of someof its most legendary creators, and afunny, moving and passionate chron-icle of how a disparate band of tal-ented eccentrics came together tocreate something both visionary and

extraordinary. From Sat 30 Apr, mac,Birmingham

NEW FILMS ON GENERAL RELEASE:Released Fri 29 April, showing atselected cinemas.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (tbc)

DEMOLATION (15)

SON OF SAUL (tbc)

See Film section for previews on p39

EventsHERITAGE SKILLS WORKSHOP: BASKETWEAVING Try your hand at thisancient craft and make two function-al, attractive items for your home,Tues 26 Apr, Avoncroft Museum,Bromsgrove

2016 BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE DARTSThurs 28 Apr, Barclaycard Arena,Birmingham

FLORALIA FESTIVAL Flower arrange-ments through the ages, Fri 29 Apr -Mon 2 May, Wightwick Manor,Wolverhampton

THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Familyshow featuring 'incredible ball han-dling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks,trick shots, comedy and fan interac-tion’, Sat 30 Apr, Barclaycard Arena,Birmingham

EXCALIBUR PAPER CRAFTING FAIRPapercrafting and Stamping Show,Sat 30 Apr, National MotorcycleMuseum, Solihull

PIRATE WEEKEND Sat 30 Apr - Mon 2May, Cadbury World, Bournville

BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEINGTOUR Beginning at the commercialheart of the city at the end ofColmore Row, Victoria Square, thispopular tour includes the city’s majorbuildings of architectural interestincluding St Philip’s and St Chad’sCathedrals, the Victoria Law Courts,the Town Hall, the Council House,Birmingham Museum & Art Galleryand Library, Sat 30 - Sun 31 May,Birmingham City Centre

Monday 23 - Tues 31 Maythelist


MEETING POINT:corner of Colmore Row &

Waterloo Street, Victoria SquareTOUR TIMES:

10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm

CONTACT: 0121 427 2555 / 07805 115 [email protected]

AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE THROUGHOUT

Cats, Birmingham Hippodrome, Mon 30 May - Sat 4 June

THE DINNER CLUB (EST 86)A RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANYA RECIPE FOR FINE FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY

For the more discerning unattached person, age 40+

Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tieballs, theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad.

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

SINGLE?

For the more discerning unattached person, age 40+

Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tieballs, theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad.

NOT A DATING AGENCY

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

www.thedinnerclubuk.com


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Birmingham Cover Online.qxp Birmingham Cover …...The show will also boast a giant castle, ‘amazing’ special effects, 24ft-high fountains and impressive displays of aerial acrobatics