Editors: David O’Coy & Kerry Thomas dave@fusedmagazine.com | @davefused kerry@fusedmagazine.com | @kerryfused Writers: Gemma Corden, Emily Muscat, Laura at Fulltothebrum.co.uk, Stephanie Potter, Dan Shorthouse, Maz Snape, Ian Thomas
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AREA Culture Guide tel: 01384 837 362 areacultureguide.co.uk fusedmagazine.com @areaguide / @fusedmagazine Facebook.com/fusedpublications This guide is produced by Fused Media DISCLAIMER Reproduction of all editorial/images in any form is strictly prohibited without prior permission. We cannot be held responsible for breach of copyright arising from any material supplied. While we aim to make sure all listings are correct we can not be held responsible for any incorrect entries. Readers should check venues before arrival. Views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily the publishers. This is a Fused Publication © Fused 2015 © Area Culture Guide 2015. 03
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Background, Fiona Banner, THE MAN poster collage, 1997. Foreground, Fiona Banner, Not so Much a Coffee Table Book, As a Coffee Table, 2015 and Fiona Banner, Trance, 1997
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FIONA BANNER
SCROLL DOWN AND KEEP SCROLLING Until 17 January Ikon Gallery ikon-gallery.org | @IkonGallery Spanning a period of 25 years Scroll Down and Keep Scrolling is the most comprehensive exhibition of Fiona Banner’s work to date. Her wordscapes; written transcriptions of iconic films retold in her own words, feature alongside recent collaborations and several recently completed films. Punctuating the gallery where the films are shown are various Full Stop sculptures presented as malleable bean bags that provide a moment to sit and pause for thought. While Banner’s life-sized glass scaffold tower Work 3 (2014) stands tall in Ikon’s vaulted space, reminding us of its fragility and uselessness as a tool. Publishing is central to Banner’s practice and she often produces books through her own imprint The Vanity Press. This exhibition includes a wide archive of previously unseen publications and ephemera as well as a new book to accompany the exhibition, which the artist has designed and typeset using her own font (which you can download from Ikon’s website). 05
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ENCHANTED DREAMS
THE PRE-RAPHAELITE ART OF E.R. HUGHES Until 21 February Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag | @BM_AG Mon–Sun 10am–5pm, Fri 10.30am-5pm Admission to the exhibition is free for under 16s, £7 Adults and £6 Concessions The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are currently holding a landmark exhibition to celebrate the PreRaphaelite artist E.R Hughes. Despite being at the heart of the British Pre-Raphaelite movement (his paintings becoming known worldwide thanks to greetings cards, calendars and posters) the man himself has virtually been all but forgotten by the public. Now the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are determined to change this and give Hughes the recognition he deserves, by hosting the largest ever exhibition of his work since his death in 1914. Visitors have the rare chance to see some of Hughes’ most famous paintings such as Midsummer Eve as well as some of his child portraiture and exquisite chalk drawings. The exhibition also features a number of drawings and photographs loaned to the museum from a number of public and private collections from around the world, many of which have not been seen in public for 100 years. The ‘Enchanted Dreams’ exhibition will also allow visitors the chance to see one of Hughes most famous works, Night with her Train of Stars. This has been one of the museums most popular paintings since being gifted to the museum back in 1915 and has been a centerpiece of the city’s gallery ever since. Unfortunately due to its medium (it is painted using watercolours), the piece cannot be permanently on display for conservation reasons, making its inclusion in this retrospective even more special. SP 07
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STEENBECKETT
Until 29 Nov 2015, Tue–Sun, 11am-6pm First Floor Gallery, mac macbirmingham.co.uk | @mac_birmingham mac hosts Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s ambitious installation Steenbeckett. The Gallery has been filled with a forest of travelling celluloid, as two thousand feet of 35mm film moves precariously and continuously around the gallery, driven by a lone Steenbeck editing machine. Steenbeckett explores the qualities and characteristics of analogue and digital film, and the relationship between the recorded archive and human memory. As the 35mm film picks up dust and dirt and begins to scratch, the picture and sound irreversibly deteriorate. Meanwhile, a digital version plays in high definition in an adjacent space, remaining pristine and unaffected by the constant playback throughout the course of the exhibition.
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THIS MORTAL COIL 6-27 November 2015 Vivid Projects vividprojects.org.uk | @VIVID_
Vivid Projects offers up a month of exhibitions, talks and live events exploring representations of death and the macabre delving into the darker side of the relationship between art and the body.
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X-RAY AUDIO: FORBIDDEN SOVIET MUSIC ON THE BONE 6-21 November. Open Thur-Sat, 12-5pm This project, set up by Stephen Coates and Paul Heartfield, collects the images, stories and sounds around illicit recordings using X-Ray plates lifted from hospitals during the Soviet era when popular music output was controlled by the state. This Mortal Coil brings together the beautiful yet unsettling X-Ray plates (pictured) engraved with the grooves of copied gramophone discs, with interview footage of the bootleggers, new moving image works and ephemera. TALK BY STEPHEN COATES 13 November Stephen Coates, author of the X-Ray Audio project, composer and music producer, will tell the story of the X-Ray records. Stephen will be joined by musician and vintage recording specialist Aleks Kolkowski, who will give a demonstration of recording music onto X-Ray plates from a live performance by local musicians in the space. DEATH SALON 27 November A talking Death Salon’ will explore the myriad connections between death and creative practice. Researchers from Birmingham and Bath come together with artists for an afternoon of discussion and film reflecting on the work of artists including Derek Jarman, Ian Breakwell and George Saxon. ART MACABRE 27 November Tickets £12.50 Audiences are invited to join Vivid for a unique Death Drawing event with Art Macabre, London’s purveyors of ‘death drawing’, who will inject a lethal dose of theatricality, curiosity and playfulness into the art of drawing from life. 011
SHOUT FESTIVAL 2015 12-22 November Various Venues shoutfestival.co.uk | @ShoutFestival
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Back for its seventh edition, SHOUT 2015 encompassing the best in live performance, theatre, comedy, music, visual art, talks and film that explores Queer and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and LGBT themes. Here’s our pick of what to see...
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SHOUT OUT 14 November, midday to 5pm mac Birmingham The annual free SHOUT OUT Community event returns and takes over the public areas of mac with performances from The Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra, Rainbow Voices, Rutherford Dance Company, Acting Out as well as soloists Faye Bagley and Zara Sykes. In addition, free community films will be on rotation throughout the day including Coming Out Stories (Birmingham LGBT), Bulls (Joan Montesinos), Little Elephant (Bobby Tiwana) and Chariot Riders (Bobby Tiwana). PAM ANN: QUEEN OF THE SKY 19 November, 8pm New Alexandra Theatre Tickets: £24.90+ The world’s favourite International Air Hostess, Pam Ann’s caustic wit knows no boundaries so fasten your seat belts and prepare for take-off – she’s Queen of the Sky and it’s guaranteed to be a turbulent flight. Often shocking and totally politically incorrect, Pam Ann keeps things lively and nail bitingly unpredictable. ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Saturday 21 November, 10pm The Electric Cinema Tickets: £7.50 Joey Vivo presents a midnight screening of the cult classic 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show; a satirical tribute to science fiction and the horror B movies of the 30s to early 70s that heaps on piles of sexuality, sensuality, frivolity and hedonism. Born from a 1973 musical stage production, Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brian quickly turned it into the phenomenal screenplay in 1975 following its quick ascension to cult classic status.
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Juneau Projects: Data Ritual (Holding 1) (2013, Juneau Projects, Acrylic, leather and oak veneer
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SALON
CONTEMPORARY ART FOR SALE 13 November - 23 December Tue-Sun 10am-5pm Waterhall Gallery, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery newartwm.org | @newartwm A new exhibition organised by New Art WM will feature the work of 75 artists and is giving art-lovers the chance to buy and collect new work starting at just £20. SALON features paintings, prints, sculpture, photographs, drawing, books and film from some of the West Midlands’ leading artists and galleries. Ikon, Grand Union and Division of Labour will showcase their portfolio of limited edition prints and artworks from internationally-known artists including Gillian Wearing, Bedwyr Williams, Vanley Burke, Stuart Whipps and BAZ. Also selling work is photorealist artist Oliver C. Jones, whose drawings were recently exhibited in Los Angeles. Artist duo Juneau Projects (pictured), illustrative embroiderer Stewart Easton, Coventry painter George Shaw, Illustrator Sarah Taylor Silverwood and Stourbridge rising star Dean Melbourne are all ones we’ll be looking out for.
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THE NEW ALTERNATIVE SOUND FOR BIRMINGHAM brumradio.com Birmingham’s new radio station, founded by Richard Farmer and Pete Steel, offers alternative radio for the city. Launching in November it will broadcast 24/7 online with an eclectic mix of Music, Arts and Conversation. Brum Radio offers a fresh approach radio with an established presenter line-up of a variety of DJs, Comedians, Raconteurs, Promoters, Local Voices and Musicians. “Brum Radio is about being fiercely independent and different. We are here to produce quality radio programming that punches way above our weight.” Richard Farmer Offering a platform for everything that’s great about Birmingham and its surrounding areas in one place shows confirmed for the station include Music & Motoring with Fuzz Townsend, Book Club with author Mike Gayle, SKIT-cast Hip Hop show with Jack Parker. MS
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STAGE
Until Sun 22 Nov Arena Gallery, mac macbirmingham.co.uk | @mac_birmingham From the bric-a-brac of the artist’s studio and its histories of creative processes to the spotlight of the public exhibition space, Paul Newman investigates the potential of both territories. As an installation in response to the Arena Gallery, ‘Stage’ transports elements from his studio and includes work looking backwards and forwards as characters and motifs from a 10 year period re-emerge.
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MUSIC
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KYTV FESTIVAL
19 December Wolverhampton Civic Hall wolvescivic.co.uk | @wolvescivic £27.50, Box Office 0870 320 7000 It has been 25 years since Stourbridge stalwarts Ned’s Atomic Dustbin crashed in to the number 1 position of the Indie Music Charts with Kill Your Television (when Indie music meant something - as did chart positions). Each year the band (all original 5 members) come together for a gig at, what they call their ‘spiritual home’, Wolverhampton Civic Hall. It was here, in the ‘90s, the band played many a sold out gig and their faithful followers (now a fair bit older and balder) come back every year to indulge in some harmless nostalgia. This year the band are stepping things up to another level with the KYTV Festival and inviting their friends to join in the party. The Wedding Present, The Primitives and Eat will join Ned’s for one night and, for those with enough stamina, indie disco Blast Off is back to play the indie sounds of the last 4 decades after the gig. 019
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THE ENEMY Remember when you heard The Enemy for the first time? A young band, full of power and disgust at modern society set to raw, energetic punk. Now open your eyes and bring yourself nine years into the future, to 2015. The Enemy have changed, dramatically. They’re still three lads from the Midlands. They’ve not only changed their hair and their style but new album It’s Automatic, sees a huge change in sound. “I’ve been listening to a lot of soundtracks and I just wanted to know what The Enemy would sound like with some really polished production” says their frontman, Tom Clarke. “Really, it all stemmed from Andy (bass player in The Enemy) doing a lot of DJ sets in his spare time. He bemoaned the fact he couldn’t slot The Enemy into any of his sets because it was far too abrasive. I’m hoping this record changes that. I want people to get in their cars, crank it up to eleven and not have their ears bleed.” The Enemy are no longer a one-trick pony. Their first album and arguably their biggest commercial success We’ll Live and Die in These Towns, was full of ‘naivety and energy’ and vastly contrasts this record. The fifth track especially isn’t what you’d expect from the Coventry based band. “Yeah I love that song”. Everybody Needs Someone’s pillar that pulls the song together is an emotional violin that could rival the greatest orchestra. “Can you believe that’s played by one girl? Hannah came into the studio and she worked out how to play it as we wrote. 021
It’s unbelievable. I was a violin player as kid and I was overwhelmed by her talent.” The artistic beauty of Hannah’s strings may be the obvious diamond of Everybody Needs Someone but there’s an unlikely gem hidden underneath it all. When picked apart, the bottom of this treasure hides a small but shocking gem. There’s a synth keyboard that lazily but cleverly drives the song along. “It’s based on an All Saints track! You’d never have sat around going, ‘I wonder when they’re going to use some 90’s Canadian Pop group because that’s where I want to see them go’ but it works.” Shockingly, Tom denies he’ll sample S Club on ‘Enemy Album 5’. This ‘rebrand’ is similar to one of Tom’s favourite bands. “Look at The Who! They played My Generation and everyone loved it, then Townshend did a chameleon-esque change and released Eminence Front and some were like ‘I don’t get this, I’ll just keep listening to ‘Can’t Explain’, then there were people like me (and this interviewer) who think ‘Eminence Front’ is a f*cking brilliant piece of music. You don’t even realise it’s The Who on first listen!” Stories and background of previous Enemy tracks have been poetically and humorously scathing about society whilst opening up the world of the working class to the musical sphere. With It’s Automatic,’Tom
has closed the book on others and opened up himself, laying himself bare. Conveniently, sixth track Melody showcases Tom’s more melodic side. “We’ve actually recorded that track many times over the years and never nailed it until this time. It’s my favourite track on the record, probably because I’m so closely connected to its meaning.” Does Tom, 29 year old, quiff clad and reflective, regret anything that the 21 year old, long haired Enemy had released previously? “I’m proud of those records and I don’t regret anything we’ve done. We had to make those records to get where we are now. The first record was where we were when we burst onto the scene and the third was straight out guitars. I feel that I’m always going to be over-critical when an album is released to the public but for me, this record is brilliant and speaks where my heads at right now. Myself and Andy were just bored of doing the straight forward indie thing.” That boredom was nearly the death of The Enemy, the death of youth, angry young men singing about unemployment, the working class and recession. “It was at a festival in Scotland. It was beautiful, but for me, I was nervous that it would be our last performance as a group. I genuinely thought Andy and Liam were loving what we were doing and I was alone worrying about the band becoming stagnant. I was surprised to find we
all wanted and all felt like we needed to leave our old sound behind. We weren’t listening to that sort of aggressive music anymore, we’ve grown up and so has the band.” But how will the lads recreate this broader, more engaging sound live on stage? “We’re starting from a clean slate really. Fan’s needn’t worry that we’ll drop the anthems, but expect a major reworking of everything. The whole show will sound bigger and bolder and the light show will be brighter and better. We’re aiming to move away from a simplistic rock show to a proper live music experience. So if you’re an Enemy fan you’ll go ‘Wow, they’ve stepped up their game’ and if you’re new, you’ll go ‘Wow, these lads are mega.’’ That ‘clean slate’ was definitely needed. The Enemy have regularly been pigeonholed into indie. A vastly underrated band limited by a media system that only understands its inner circle. Tom has never got on with the media and recent personal attacks have only heightened his hatred for his London-centric critics. “People definitely put us into a ‘working class rock band category’ when we arrived and I don’t think they understood the message of our first record. Journalists in the capital were never going to get it and I wouldn’t have expected them too. They were journalists having a whale of a time
in Hoxton pretending to be poor, whilst people in Coventry were losing jobs and watching their high streets collapse. Coventry is still struggling.” 1 in 5 people in Coventry are using food banks under a Conservative government who seemingly ignores the fact. This is the grim fact of the matter, but Coventry still has much to excite. Coventry is in the running to be City of Culture 2021 and Tom has his own project in the area. “Yeah, I’m opening a venue in the area. It’ll be entirely independent, we’ll aim to give unsigned bands opportunities like me and my mates had previously and it’ll give Coventry a much needed boost. It’s great to give back to a city that’s given so much to me.” As much as Tom loves Coventry, he’s a Birmingham boy at heart. “I grew up in Castle Bromwich, which if you’re a proper Brummie you’ll say that’s Solihull. It was B36, so it’ll do for me. I’ve lived in Coventry now, nearly as long as I’ve lived in Birmingham and I sort of feel like some kind of dual nationality, if you know what I mean. But I’ve always loved Brum. There’s no bullsh*t with a Brummie. It’s what you see, is what you get. There are no frills, nonsense or egos. It’s just honest and that’s why I love it.” The Enemy’s fourth album It’s Automatic is out now and the band plays The Institute, Digbeth, Birmingham on 18th November. DS
COMEDY
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DARA O’BRIAIN CROWD TICKLER TOUR 12-14 November Birmingham Hippodrome Tickets from £23 birminghamhippodrome.com @brumhippodrome
As the host of the incredibly popular panel show Mock the Week, as well as The Apprentice: You’re Fired and Star Gazing Live, Dara O’Briain is one of the most well know comics on television. Dara not only boasts a successful television career, but has also been a columnist for national newspapers, written a book and of course, is an ever-popular stand-up comedian. Often praised for his fluid delivery and down-to-earth, ‘everyman’ personality, Dara’s stand-up shows offer an evening of clever yet unpretentious comedy. Crowd Tickler promises to test Dara’s unrehearsed wit as he involves the audience’s suggestions to create a fast-paced fictional narrative with laughs at every turn, meaning no two nights will be the same. Continuing with the loosely academic themes from Dara O’Briain: School of Hard Sums on Dave and Dara O’Briain’s Science Club on BBC2, Crowd Tickler focuses on the brain and the mysteries of the mind. Expect an intertwining of anecdotes, audience participation, Dara’s spot-on observations and a bit of his own philosophy to create an intelligent and side-splitting performance which skilfully examines our psychology. EM 025
COMEDY
DAVID O’DOHERTY 12 November mac Birmingham £16 (£14 conc.) mac Birmingham | @mac_birmingham We Are All In The Gutter But Some Of Us Are Looking At David O’Doherty :- Fresh from delighting the Edinburgh Fringe for the 14th consecutive year the lanky Leinsterman, selfproclaimed “Lidl Enya” and former Perrier award winner hits the mac with an evening of exuberant humour and wistful musical numbers played on a tiny 1980s keyboard.
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HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI 14 November mac Birmingham £16 (£14 conc.) macbirmingham.co.uk | @mac_birmingham “When you’ve a mouth this big, is it any wonder you get into trouble?” asks the Glaswegian chef, broadcaster, journalist and funnyman in this brand new show, Bigmouth Strikes Again. Kohli should know; in the late noughties he regularly appeared on our screens in shows as disparate as Question Time, Celebrity Masterchef and The One Show before being suspended from the latter following an accusation of “inappropriate sexual behaviour”. More recently he has been outspoken in his support for Scottish Independence. Expect acerbic, well-observed and intelligent humour.
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SEAN HUGHES 15 November Glee Club £14 glee.co.uk/birmingham | @TheGleeClub Those of you with long memories may recall Sean Hughes as the boyish host of C4’s Sean’s Show in the early nineties or as the impish team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In more recent years the TV appearances have become more sporadic, but Sean did survive unscathed from a period as the on-screen love interest of Coronation Street’s Eileen Grimshaw (a vacancy currently being filled by Les Dennis!). Now less fresh-faced and thoroughly embracing his middle-age, Hughes has come to realise that the two sides of his brain have been in permanent conflict between common sense and mumbo jumbo and explains all in this brand new show. 028
COMEDY
NISH KUMAR 26 November Glee Club £10 glee.co.uk/birmingham @TheGleeClub Rising star Nish Kumar brings his quirkily titled “Long Word… Long Word… Blah Blah Blah...I’m So Clever” to the Glee Club having previously won acclaim supporting David O’Doherty and Milton Jones. As you may expect from the host of Radio 4 Extra’s Newsjack there will be thoughtprovoking satire mixed with piercing observations on topics as diverse as Mumford and Sons, ISIS and Jeff Goldblum. DAVE GORMAN 26 November Symphony Hall £24 thsh.co.uk | @THSHBirmingham Stafford’s own Dave Gorman returns to the Symphony Hall hot on the heels of another commercially and critically successful series of Modern Life is Goodish on the channel with which he shares a name. If you have been lucky enough to have seen any of Gorman’s previous tours such as Googlewhack Adventure or A Better World then you will know to expect razor sharp observation and thunderingly original Powerpoint based story-telling that has often been imitated but never bettered. 029
COMEDY
ROB NEWMAN 26 November Bromsgrove Artrix £15 (£12 conc.) artrix.co.uk | @ArtrixArts Comedy may not have become the “new rock’n’roll” it was proclaimed by many to be when Rob Newman and David Baddiel were selling out Wembley Arena in 1993 but it’s a joy to have the former of the partnership back on stage in the somewhat smaller, but far more lovely locale of the Bromsgrove Artrix Theatre. In The Brain Show, Newman takes a droll look at the functions and capacity of the human brain and in a comedy first will be hooked up to an fMRI scanner recording the real-time activity of his capacious cerebrum.
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BARBARA NICE 20 December mac Birmingham £13 (£10 conc.) macbirmingham.co.uk @mac_birmingham All the way from salubrious Kings Heath comes mother of five Mrs Barbara Nice with her annual Christmas Cracker, bringing with her mince pies, tombola and anecdotes about the No.50 bus and shopping at Poundstretcher. The comedy equivalent of a great big hug from your mum. IT
FILM
BFI LOVE The BFI are sharing love stories with the nation and hoping to rekindle our passion for some of film and television’s most enduring love stories. They’ll be heading to Birmingham with two films during November and December as part of their UK-wide season that includes 1,000 screenings at 100s of cinemas, special one-off events, new and rare releases on DVD and the BFI Player. 032
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDERETTE 14 November Moseley Washeteria, 90 St Mary’s Row, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9EF Hanif Kureshi’s My Beautiful Launderette will be screened in a working Washeteria in Moseley offering viewers a unique immersive experience. Let the tumbled heat and heady aroma of clean linen draw you into the love story of Omar, an ambitious British Asian striving to make it big during 1980s Thatcherism and his lover, former “white punk” Jonny (an early award-winning performance by Daniel Day Lewis). A BRIEF ENCOUNTER 4, 5, 6 December Moor Street Station, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 7UL David Lean’s British Classic, Brief Encounter will bring 1940s railway romance to the city with a high-impact pop-up screening in historic Moor Street train station providing a perfect chance for film fans to meet their stranger in a railway station. This will be the fitting finale in a series of events screening the rereleased classic film across the UK throughout the season to celebrate the films 60th anniversary. Tickets available from macbirmingham.co.uk
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FASHION&SHOPPING
GEORGIA RICHARDSON Worcester-based fashion designer Georgia Richardson may have only just graduated from a Fashion Design BA from The Manchester School of Art but she is already making waves by recently securing two awards. Winning the Young Designer of the Year category at The Midlands Fashion Awards follows her position as finalist at Graduate Fashion Week earlier in the year, and she’s just in the process of starting her own label Fourth Generation, inspired by her family roots. “I am the fourth generation of dress makers in my family. Fashion has surrounded me all my life. My great grandma was a seamstress in a clothing factory, my grandma and mother both owned their own clothing shops, my older sister is a buyer and my Father has been involved in the fashion industry for years.” Comments Georgia. The brand will be selling unique handmade dresses which can be customised by the buyer who can choose the length, colour and details of the dress. “I believe this is an exciting concept as the customer gets to become the designer and create a dress which is exactly what they desire.” Check Georgia’s blog for news of her new business https://4thgenerationblog. wordpress.com/ 034
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MEN’S HIGH STREET EDIT STYLING FOR A/W
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1. Grey coat: Zara White shirt: New Look Men Black trousers: h&m Black trainers: adidas 2. Brown coat & black polo top: Topman Black tracksuit bottoms: h&m 3. Mesh zip jacket: h&m Grey tracksuit bottoms h&m White shirt: New Look Men Black trainers: adidas 4. Green long bomber jacket: Zara Brown trousers: h&m White polo top: Topman 5. Black coat: Topman Mesh zip jacket: h&m Grey tracksuit bottoms h&m White shirt: New Look Men
MODEL Joshua (Next Management) STYLIST Shennelle McLune GROOMING Rachel Thomas PHOTOGRAPHER Paolo Farinella
Image: Jack Adams
CHRISTMAS
FESTIVE COCKTAILS Christmas festivities really hit Birmingham with the introduction of the city’s Frankfurt Market which starts on the 12th November. For most Brummies this means it’s time to start supping gluhwein whilst stood in the cold, trying not to get their drink knocked down them by the masses of drinkers. Said to originate from Rome in the second century, their conquering legions brought mulled wine up as far as the Scottish boarders, although the German gluhwein has kind of conquered Birmingham. Both of them are pretty similar in execution; wine, sugar and spices. And those spices are all the ones which smell like Christmas; cinnamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg and citrus. Making your own mulled wine is pretty simple, most supermarkets sell a pre-prepared bottles to heat up, sachets to add to your own wine or the spices to knock up your own recipe. Of course easier still is to let someone else make it for you - whether that’s at the Christmas Market or one of the many pubs in the city.
But a spiced winter warmer isn’t just all about mulled wine. A drink originating from colonial America should give it a run for it’s money this winter and involves spiced rum, something sweet (brown sugar, honey or maple syrup), hot water, a cinnamon stick…and butter. Yep, Hot Buttered Rum is totally a thing and unlike mulled wine, which can be a bit sickly sweet, this is a big old hug in a mug sort of drink. The spiced rum and sliver of butter makes it a pretty perfect drink for Bonfire Night and right into the New Year. If you want to make your own, there are plenty of recipes online, but rumour has it that Island Bar on Suffolk St has been brewing up a special recipe using their own spiced rum mix and might even be sharing it with their Bitters n Twisted sister venues. And it wouldn’t be fair to talk warming winter drinks without mentioning everyone’s favourite medicinal one, the Hot Toddy. Claimed to have been prescribed by physicians back in the 1800s and referenced by Dickens, it’s one of those drinks that may or may not have medicinal qualities but will almost certainly make you feel better. It’s a pretty simple drink made with hot water, honey, lemon and a healthy glug of a spirit (my favourite is whisky, but rum or brandy are good too). If warm drinks aren’t your thing then ask for the equally medicinal-sounding Penicillin cocktail which contains much the
same ingredients as a Hot Toddy but is cooler with added ginger - the Church on Great Hampton St in the Jewellery Quarter does a great version. If winter warmers aren’t your thing and you prefer something a bit creamier then maybe it’s time to delve into the drinks cupboard and pull out that bottle of advocaat that’s been gathering dust. This rich, brandy drink that looks like custard only ever seems to make an appearance in winter and its easy to see why - mix it with some lemonade and lime juice and you have the kitschy as hell Snowball cocktail. Similar still is Eggnog, a drink which has its origins from the early medieval British drink posset and is made up of milk, cream, eggs, sugar and a spirit, but these days seems to be more commonly found as a flavoured syrup for coffee. But don’t be put off it all this seems like a bit too much to handle and you just want a nice beer. The Birmingham-based Two Towers Brewery will be re-releasing their Sleighed beer, a dark porter style beer with hints of spices, particularly cinnamon. If all this is still too much festivity to handle, then just order a cranberry juice…but where’s the festive spirit in that?! By Laura at fulltothebrum. co.uk
CHRISTMAS
TOP 5 FESTIVE DAYS OUT For those who crave an alternative to the hectic markets and fairs circuit, Gemma Corden investigates the best the West Midlands has to offer in our round up of festive days out. CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA Highbury Hall, Birmingham 6 December, 1.30pm to 7pm birmingham.gov.uk/highbury £15.95 per person - booking essential The stunning Victorian setting of Highbury Hall, built by famous Birmingham parliamentarian Joseph Chamberlain, is perfect for a spot of festive tea. Hum along to Christmas carols as you nibble on posh sandwiches and sweet treats. You’re free to explore the house and grounds afterwards and, who knows, perhaps you’ll bump into Ebenezer Scrooge. SNOW DOME Tamworth Open 7 days a week snowdome.co.uk | @SnowDomeTam Prices vary per activity Nothing inspires the festive spirit quite like snow - and while it is unlikely we will get any this Christmas why not indulge yourself over at Tamworth Snow Dome, where you can ski, snowboard, toboggan or even adrenaline tube (essentially careering down a snowy track on a big tyre) to your heart’s content. Be sure to wrap up.
CHRISTMAS CAKE DECORATING CLASS Chitty’s Cakes, Birmingham 8, 16 and 19 December chittyscakes.co.uk | @chittyscakes £50 for a three hour session A bit like The Bake Off, only with mulled wine and distinctly less pressure, you are given three hours and a fruit cake to master marzipan, icing and sugarpaste, making your own seasonal decorations including reindeer and 3D penguins. You get to cake your creation home with you, for better or worse. Don’t panic, festive tunes and mince pies will keep your spirits high. TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS EVENINGS Black Country Living Museum 11, 12, 18, 20 December, 6.30pm – 10pm bclm.co.uk | @BCLivingMuseum £15 adults, £8 children A truly magical experience, the Museum’s gas-lit streets are transformed with festively decorated shops and homes to bring Christmases of old to life. Visitors can chat with costumed characters around a roaring fire, take part in carol-singing, listen to the brass band and enjoy real ales and roast chestnuts. A guaranteed sell-out - book fast. CHRISTMAS WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP Jinney Ring Craft Centre, Hanbury (near Bromsgrove) 1, 5, 12 December jinneyring.co.uk| @jinneyringcraft £37.50 Channel your inner Hyacinth Bucket with this 5-hour handmade wreath making workshop at a quaint traditional craft centre, set in beautiful gardens complete with duck ponds and views of the Malverns. You will be taught the techniques needed to produce a striking door wreath or table centre decoration - the in-laws will certainly be impressed when they come round for Christmas dinner. 045
A WINTER LESS ORDINARY
119 Floodgate St, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 5SR 1 - 24 December Mon-Thurs 4pm-11pm, Fri 4pm-1am, Sat 12pm-1am, Sun 12pm-10pm facebook.com/lessordinaryuk If the thought of trying to traverse the huge Frankfurt Market in Birmingham to do your Christmas shopping fills you with dread then Digbeth may well be the answer. Taking inspiration from the night markets of Goa and the eclectic music and arts scene of Berlin collaborators Jit CoulterPatel (Magic Door) and Lee McDonald (Rainbow Venues) have put together a multi-faceted event as a much-needed independent alternative. Showcasing art, fashion, crafts and food in the creative hub of Digbeth A Winter Less Ordinary promises to include a mixed used space of a bustling market, a buzzing place to meet, a dancefloor and a recreational space which will be open everyday in December until Christmas Eve, with each day having a varied programme of entertainment.
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The event will be housed in a newly renovated warehouse space. The venue is a sprawling warren of small and expansive rooms providing a perfect home for the planned exhibitions, installations, stalls, stages, bars, eating and lounge spaces.
CHRISTMAS
PANTO SEASON Panto season will be upon us in a few weeks time and as usual the West Mids has a packed program of camp, glitter and celebrity appearances.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Belgrade Theatre, Belgrade Square, Coventry, CV1 1GS 25 Nov - 9 Jan belgrade.co.uk What they say: This enchanting tale of heroic adventure, true love, messy mayhem and festive frivolity is destined to be the most beautiful and beastly yet! Once upon a time in a land far away there was a handsome but selfish young prince. He fell foul of an evil sorceress and was doomed to spend the next 500 years hidden in his castle in the guise of a grotesque beast. Could anyone ever love such a beast and unlock the cruel spell? Make-believe, music and lots of magic fun means a “beauty-full� Christmas treat for all the family! What we say: Pantomime. In November? PETER PAN Grand Theatre Wolverhampton Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DE 12 Dec - 24 Jan grandtheatre.co.uk What they say: Join comedy legends Paul and Barry, the Chuckle Brothers on a swashbuckling adventure to Neverland with Peter Pan, Wendy and the Lost Boys as they fight against a team of pirates and the dastardly Captain Hook, played by Eastenders bad boy - Nasty Nick, John Altman! What we say: The Chuckles Brothers (pictured) and Nasty Nick - what a combination!
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CINDERELLA Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Upper Clifton Rd, B73 6AB 16-20 Dec cinderella2015.com What they say: Continuously taunted by her (ugly) step-sisters Cinderella is finally rescued by Prince Charming who, upon finding Cinderella’s glass slipper, searches the city to find her. The show is full of hilarious jokes, top vocal performances, beautiful costumes, dancing and traditional pantomime fun. The show features Cinderella’s best friend Buttons, the daft Baron Hard-Up, the handsome Dandini and, of course, the magical Fairy Godmother who makes Cinder’s dream come true. What we say: It might not be full of TV stars or names but with such a short run its an ideal introduction for young kids to enjoy.
ALADDIN Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TB 19 Dec - 31 Jan birminghamhippodrome.com What they say: Birmingham Hippodrome’s spectacular pantomime extravaganza Aladdin stars Marti Pellow as Abanazar, Julian Clary (pictured) as Slave of the Ring, Lee Mead as Aladdin and Matt Slack as Wishee Washee. Packed with sensational special effects, a magical 3D flying carpet ride, laugh-out-loud comedy, and an Aladdin’s cave of lavish sets and costumes, this year’s pantomime will be everything you could wish for! What we say: The Hippodrome are GREAT at pantos. Big names, lots of laughs for all ages and plenty of fun. The missing person this year is of course comedian and ventriloquist Paul Zerdin who won America’s Got Talent earlier in the year.
CINDERELLA - THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PANTOMIME Barclaycard Arena, King Edwards Road, Birmingham, B1 2AA 20-24 Dec thenia.co.uk What they say: Funny men Bradley Walsh and Paul O’Grady are joined by children’s TV favourites Dick and Dom and a cast of over 100 performers to take you on a magical journey of love, friendship and surprises. With more singing, dancing and jokes than you can shake a magic wand at; prepare to be wowed by aerial acrobatics, amazed by 3D special effects and to be part of the action from start to finish. Cinderella with a twist... this family show is bigger, funnier and more fabulous than you’ve ever seen before. What we say: 4 days and 9 shows if you are looking for all singing all dancing then this is the one - but you’ll pay for it!
JACK & THE BEANSTALK Stourbridge Town Hall Theatre Crown Centre, Stourbridge, West Midlands 23-30 Jan stourbridgepanto.co.uk What they say: We perform at the Stourbridge Town Hall Theatre and have built up an outstanding reputation for pantomimes that appeal to the whole family. What we say: The Stourbridge Pantomime company have been producing shows every year for the last 45 years so they must be good by now! At least better than they are at describing their shows. 051
CHRISTMAS
XMAS GIFT GUIDE DESIGN LOVER
£74.95
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Mini Moderns kettle £39.95 themakery.co.uk
cuckooland.com
$800 Xarvierandme.com
Mini Moderns -£499 swooneditions.com
Mondaine Helvetica edition £280 John Lewis
Bottle opener £98
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uk.jonathanadler.com
cuckooland.com
£29.95
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Forest by Forge £72 UnlimitedShop.co.uk
uk.jonathanadler.com
£39 outthereinteriors.com
Caoscreo £41 Dawanda.com
Coaster set £78
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£60
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nazaninkamali.com
£45 unlimitedshop.co.uk
£45 unlimitedshop.co.uk
Orla Kiely £29.95 wildandwolf.com
Vodka Paddle glasses £36 berryred.co.uk
£175 outthereinteriors.com
£48 cocoroselondon.com
CHRISTMAS
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£34 illamasqua.com
£21.99 chaseandwonder.com
Orla Kiely Set £36 cuckooland.com
Pittards England £195
Tom Ford £221
XMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HER
Selfridges
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£59.99 rocketdog.co.uk
Sandro £295 Selfridges
Maison Martin Margiela £80 Selfridges
Armani Fragrance Rose D Arabie Gift Set £250
Jo Malone Calendar £260
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£105 houseofflorrie.com
jomalone.com
£195 baiabags.co.uk
£54 romyldn.com
Show Beauty Working Texture Spray £30
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B Dower & Hall £165
Lucky Voice Karaoke Kit £50 shop.luckyvoice.com
£43 urbandecay.co.uk
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£14.99 Nike at Footasylum
£180 Alexander McQueen Scarf - Selfridges
£129.99 plantronics.com
B Card Radio £24.99 Maplin
£40 animal.co.uk
CHRISTMAS
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£21.99 chaseandwonder.com £150 pittardsonline
£54.95 wildandwolf.com
Kenzo Selfridges
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Tipplesworths Mini Old Fashioned Kit £19.99 Selfridges
XMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM
£29.99 Hype @ Footasylum
£300 pickett.co.uk
£13.95 prezzybox.com
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£29.95 prezzybox.com
£74.95 cuckooland.com
CLOTHES SHOW COMPETITON We are offering the chance for one lucky reader to win four tickets to The Clothes Show, an ALCATEL ONETOUCH PIXI 3 4.5” mobile phone and £300 worth of products from YoungBritannia.com! Taking place 4-8 December at Birmingham’s NEC, find all the brands you love under one roof including Mink Pink, Young Britannia, Sugarhill Boutique, Ma-Ga, Wolf & Whistle, Paper Dolls and Oasis. Fashion-forward designer labels such as Pringle, Mawi, Bolongaro Trevor and Gushlow and Cole will also be on show in the Designer Outlet, while the Graduate ASOS Marketplace will offer the latest collections from emerging British brands. Head over to the Saks Pamper Lounge for a makeover and treat yourself to the latest hair and beauty products from NYX, Rimmel, Elemis, Ciate, Models Own, Beautiful Brows, and many others. Be sure to visit the Lambrini Cocktail Bar who will be providing sparkling drinks during the show and join the ‘frow’ of the Olympus PEN Style Studio as Hilary Alexander OBE interviews top designers about the latest trends. Be inspired by the finest high street and graduate collections on the Image Catwalk, presented by Antonia O’Brien. The must visit THX Total Hair Experts Paparazzi Pen returns to the show where you can meet your favourite TV personalities and reality stars such as Joey Essex and pose for a selfie with top bloggers on site. What’s more, every ticket to the show will also include a seat in the award-winning ALCATEL ONETOUCH Fashion Theatre where you will get to see performances from Charli XCX, Ella Eyre and Rae Morris; and see presenters Rick Edwards, Alice Levine, Gemma Cairney, and Jamie Laing take to the stage.
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COMPETITIONS
As a lucky winner, you will also receive £300 to spend at YoungBritannia.com. The Young Britannia collection includes high fashion, edgy and British inspired products designated for Young Britons. Update your wardrobe with exclusive T-shirts, jumpers and accessories inspired from a vibrant culture. For more information visit clothesshow.com HOW TO ENTER Send your name, address, telephone number and date of birth to competitions [@] fusedmagazine.com. Please put ‘Clothes Show Competition’ in the subject box. Deadline 20th Nov. To be in with an extra chance of winning join our mailing list at fusedmagazine. com T&C’s: Tickets will be valid for Saturday 5th December 2015 only. £300 is valid on full price Young Britannia merchandise only and must be used in a single transaction. £300 will be applied via a discount code and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Nonrefundable, non-transferable and no cash alternative.
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COMPETITIONS
ENTER OUR XMAS COMPS
ENTRY DETAILS ON PAGE 65
WIN A LOFT BIKE FROM ELECTRA
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Loft is a lightweight bike inspired by those who live, breathe and ride in cities all around the world. Designed with a functional minimalism in mind, the Loft is built to handle the rigours of the streets. Potholes, cabs, police tape, apartment buildings. Whatever. The clean lines and straight bars give it a nice, unaffected look while the 700c wheels, foot-forward positioning and upright riding position provide optimum speed, comfort and control. Available in a bunch of speeds from the fixie-like single to the versatile 7-speed, you’ll find one that’s right up your alley. So to speak.
IMPORTANT: By entering this competition you agree for us to share your email address with Electra Bikes new newsletter. Entries are open to UK residents ONLY.
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COMPETITIONS
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WIN A MIFFY BUNDLE Miffy is a little white bunny from the storybooks of internationally acclaimed Dutch designer Dick Bruna. 2015 saw Miffy’s 60th anniversary and to celebrate we have a cushion, t-shirt and a art print to give away.
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WIN A COPY OF MILLIE MAROTTA’S ANIMAL KINGDOM We have 3 copies of this luxury edition of the bestselling Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom (Batsford, £25) colouring book to giveaway. Millie’s much-loved wildlife illustrations are printed single-sided on thick 180 gsm paper to ensure no colours shows through. The book comes with 5 free-standing prints – including a new illustration that hasn’t previously been published – as well as 13 gatefolds with fold-out illustrations to colour in. This handsome edition is linen-bound with silk ribbon ties and a gold foiled and screenprinted cover. 061
COMPETITIONS
PREZZYBOX
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Our friends at prezzybox.com are giving you the chance to get your hands on a very cool retro Tetris Light (£29.99) and eye catching Steepletone Heartbeat 1960s Retro Style Portable Radio (£34.95).
ENTER OUR XMAS COMPS ENTRY DETAILS ON PAGE 65
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COMPETITIONS
WIN AN ICE CITY WATCH The Ice City range of watches combine a subtle and modern design with an ultra-slim steel case and a clean, pared-down dial making them an elegant and casual classic timepiece. These unisex watches are £100 each and available from: uk.ice-watch.com We have one to give away!
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TIS THE SEASON TO SING KARAOKE
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Lucky Voice is bringing the Christmas party home for two lucky AREA AGUIDE readers, with its’ Karaoke Kit worth £50; transforming any computer or tablet into the ultimate singing machine. The Lucky Voice Karaoke Kit means no need for expensive CD’s or downloads; simply stream directly from luckyvoicekaraoke.com. The catalogue is updated regularly, and after a month’s free singing it’s just £4.99 for unlimited access. Breathe a sigh of relief too, because the Lucky Voice Karaoke Kit is easy to use, and can be set up in no time – making it the ideal Christmas present. Simply connect your computer or tablet and speakers to the kit and create an account, grab the mike and make like a pop star! 063
COMPETITIONS
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WIN A SOLARMONKEY ADVENTURER If you’re looking for a space-saving, lightweight portable solar charger for your small 5V devices, then the solarmonkey adventurer is for you. Perfect for beach holidays, hikers, runners, camping trips or if you just can’t be without your musthave gadgets, the solarmonkey adventurer offers you real solar power on the go. The solarmonkey adventurer will charge any device that can be recharged via USB i.e. smartphones / iPhones, iPods, e-readers, GPS, handheld games consoles and will even give a 25% charge on an iPad / tablet – virtually any small handheld device. To charge your Apple device, simply use the Applesupplied white sync / charge cable directly into the USB socket. 064
WIN A RUM BUNDLE Win a Rum bundle containing, a bottle of Pusser’s Rum and bottle of Grog mix, a leather bar wrap, Oyster card holder, T-Shirt, cocktail shaker, mini rum decanter and two tickets to the new Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. (Worth over £150!)
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COMPETITIONS
B WIN MADNESS DVD & CD SET Available for the first time in one complete package, Madness’s ‘Madstock’, released 6th November on Salvo Sound & Vision, features the original Madstock ’92 film on DVD and the CD concert soundtrack along with four rare bonus tracks, one of which (Razor Blade Alley) has never been released on CD. We have 3 sets to giveaway.
WIN A CD BUNDLE We have 3 x bundles of the latest CD’s by Caro Emerald, Eska, Caravan Palace, Erasure, Brian Setzer, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Downes Braide Association, Hed Kandi 2016 & Perfectly Chilled and a selection of Now CD’s including Now 92, Now Pop, Now 80s, Now Disney, Now Singer and Now Xmas to giveaway.
HOW TO ENTER To be in with a chance of winning send your name, address, telephone number and date of birth to competitions@fusedmagazine.com. Please put the name of the PRIZE your are entering in the SUBJECT BOX. Deadline for entry to all competitions* is 11/12/15. For more opportunities to win follow us on Twitter @FusedMagazine & @AreaGuide *Please note the above details do not include the Clotheshow Competition. See separate details for entry on the page. T&Cs: By entering the ELECTRA Bike competition you agree for us to pass your email address to Electra for their new email newsletter. By entering our competitions you agree to sign up for the Fused / AREA Guide newsletter. We will not pass any of your details to third parties unless stated above.
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VENUE DIRECTORY ART VENUES A3 PROJECT SPACE Unit A3 2 Bowyer Street, Digbeth, B10 0SA | @ A3projectSpace A3projectspace.org BARBER INSTITUTE Univeristy of Birmingham Edgbaston, B15 2TS 0121 414 7333 barber.org.uk BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY Mt Pleasant, Bilston, WV14 7LU wolverhamptonart.org.uk BM&G Chamberlain Square, B3 3DH bmag.org.uk | @BM_AG CUSTARD FACTORY Gibb Street, B9 4AA custardfactory.co.uk EASTSIDE PROJECTS 86 Heath Mill Lane, B9 4AR, 0121 771 1778 eastsideprojects.org | @eprjcts GRAND UNION Fazeley Street Birmingham B5 5RS grand-union.org.uk | @grandunionltd 066
THE HERBERT Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP 024 7683 2386 theherbert.org IKON GALLERY Oozells Square, B1 2HS 0121 248 0708 ikon-gallery.co.uk | @ikongallery THE LIGHTHOUSE The Chubb Building Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT 01902 716 055 light-house.co.uk MAC Cannon Hill Park macarts.co.uk VIVID PROJECTS Minerva Works, 16 Fazeley St, B5 5RT vividprojects.org.uk WARWICK ARTS CENTRE University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL 024 7652 4524 warwickartscentre.co.uk WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY Lichfield St, WV1 1DU 01902 552055 wolverhamptonart.org.uk
THEATRE VENUES BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME Hurst Street 0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome. com BIRMINGHAM REPERTORY THEATRE Broad St, Birmingham, B1 2EP 0121 236 4455 birmingham-rep.co.uk RSC Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB rsc.org.uk OTHER VENUES BRAMALL MUSIC BUILDING University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT birmingham.ac.uk/bramall/ LIBRARY OF BIRMINGHAM Broad St, B1 2EP libraryofbirmingham.com MILLENNIUM POINT Curzon Street, B4 7XG SYMPHONY HALL Broad St, B1 2EA thsh.co.uk