Wolverhampton & Black Country What's On November 2017

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WOLVERHAMPTON & BLACK COUNTRY WHAT’S ON NOVEMBER 2017

JO ENRIGHT AT ARENA N THEATRE NA T EA TH E TR T E

Your FREE essential entertainment guide for the Midlands

Wolverhampton & Black Country

17 ISSUE 383 NOVEMBER 2017

’ What sOn FILM I COMEDY I THEATRE I GIGS I VISUAL ARTS I EVENTS I FOOD

wolverhamptonwhatson.co.uk

PART OF WHAT’S ON MEDIA GROUP

thelist

inside:

Your 16-page week by week listings guide

ROBERT PLANT

and the Sensational Space Shifters visit the Civic Hall

TWITTER: @WHATSONWOLVES

LEGALLY BLONDE

smash-hit Broadway musical at Wolverhampton’s Grand

FACEBOOK: @WHATSONWOLVERHAMPTON

THE NUTCRACKER

WOLVERHAMPTONWHATSON.CO.UK

BRB’s magical production makes a welcome return

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Saturday 25th November at 7.30pm

Thursday 9th November at 7.30pm

Friday 10th November at 8.00pm

DRAMA Jazz at the Arena

COMEDY

DRAMA

TEAM VIKING

ERDINGTON GIRL

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Tickets: £12 / £10 Conc.

Conc

Tickets: £12 / £10 Conc. (16+)

Tickets: £12 / £10 Conc. / £5 under 25’s Tick

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November 2017

Contents

Legally Blonde - feelgood musical promises plenty of laughs at the Wolverhampton Grand - more on page 26

the list

Take That musical

Jinkx Monsoon

The Hairy Bikers

stops off at Stoke’s Regent Theatre as part of a UK tour

RuPaul’s Drag Race star on tour with The Vaudevillians

cook up a treat at the BBC Good Food Show

Your 16-page week-by-week listings guide

feature page 8

page 28

page 49

page 51

inside: 4. First Word

11. Food

15. Music

@whatsonwolves Wolverhampton What’s On Magazine

What’sOn MEDIA GROUP

22. Comedy

24. Theatre

@whatsonstaffs Staffordshire What’s On Magazine

40. Film

44. Visual Arts

47. Events

@whatsonshrops Shropshire What’s On Magazine

Managing Director: Davina Evans davina@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281708 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse lei@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281703 Chris Horton chris@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281704 Editorial: Lauren Foster lauren@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281707 Brian O’Faolain brian@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281701 Sue Jones sue@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281705 Abi Whitehouse abi@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281716 Ryan Humphreys ryan@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281722 Adrian Parker adrian.parker@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281714 Contributors: Graham Bostock, James Cameron-Wilson, Heather Kincaid, Katherine Ewing, Lauren Cox, Lauren Cole, Jack Rolfe, Elly Yates-Roberts, Daisy Sparkle Publisher and CEO: Martin Monahan Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry julia@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine.

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Entertainment news from around the region

Telford gets ready to mark 50 glorious years As Telford gears up to celebrate its half century in 2018, locals are being urged to get involved in the festivities, either by volunteering for an event or sponsoring and organising their own.

Telford & Wrekin Council has already developed a wide-ranging programme of events to mark the anniversary, with numerous festivals and carnivals being added to the town’s more familiar schedule of annual events.

The council is encouraging people across the borough to make a contribution to the year-long birthday party, and is directing potential participants to the Telford50 Facebook group, where ideas to mark the milestone anniversary can be shared and discussed.

Iron support for Theatre Severn this Christmas

Celebrate the Roaring 20s at historic Staffs house

Metal props from Shropshire’s British Ironworks visitor attraction will greet pantomime audiences when they arrive at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn this month.

The theatre has installed a special wishing well as a means of generating funds for local charity Hope House, and has plans to create other effects using the Ironworks’ props.

This year’s pantomime, Snow White, runs from Wednesday 29 November to Sunday 7 January.

Weston Park in Staffordshire is hosting a special Roaring 20s night next month (Saturday 9 December).

Central to the evening is a six-course tasting menu inspired by ‘the decade of decadence’.

The venue’s Victorian library will be transformed into a casino for the evening, giving guests the chance to take to the tables and try their luck at blackjack and roulette.

Commenting on the event, Weston Park Marketing Manager Andrea Webster said: “This is going to be a fun-filled night of pure elegance, where people can enjoy the very best of what was unquestionably one of the most influential periods of the 20th century.

Throughout history, Weston Park has been the setting for wonderful celebrations. We know that the spirit of the 1920s was really embraced by the Bridgeman family when they lived at Weston, so we hope to give guests their own unique experience of this.”

For more details, visit weston-park.com 4 whatsonlive.co.uk

James And Ola Uncensored and in the Midlands Two of the biggest stars ever to emerge from Strictly Come Dancing will be stopping off in the Midlands next spring as part of a national tour.

James and Ola Jordan’s new show is an autobiographical production which the couple promise will be ‘full of passion, intensity and high-octane routines’.

Commenting on James And Ola: Uncensored, the husband-and-wife dance stars said: “It’s great to be able to do our own tour, our way, and to offer something totally different to any other dance show. We want to perform a sexy, edgy interpretation of our life story, whilst still having all the sparkle and fun people expect from us. And the best part is that we get to dance together again!”

James And Ola: Uncensored visits Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre on 5 March.

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First Word

Dudley museum opens its doors The new Dudley Museum is now open for business. Located at Dudley Archives, the museum was officially opened by the mayor of Dudley, Councillor Dave Tyler. Guest of honour was paralympic medallist and grand-slam winner Jordanne Whiley MBE. The new museum boasts a dedicated timeline - allowing people to walk through the different periods of the borough’s history and a new Dudley Heroes gallery, showcasing the great and the good from the borough, including scientists, artists, writers and sports stars.

Shrewsbury’s ’80s rock gig returns Day-long ’80s party Let’s Rock Shrewsbury is returning for a second year next summer.

Attracting thousands of fans when it took place in the town for the first time in May, the show is next year being held on Saturday 14 July.

The 2018 lineup features a host of much-loved ’80s icons, including UB40, Kim Wilde, Midge Ure, Jason Donovan (pictured), Go West, From The Jam, Imagination, Five Star, China Crisis and Toyah.

For more information, visit letsrockshrewsbury.com

Christmas visitors ‘see the light’ at Lichfield Cathedral Lichfield Cathedral is inviting visitors to get into the Christmas spirit with the return of its awardwinning A Cathedral Illuminated, a display of spectacular visuals projected across the iconic building.

This year’s theme, Star Of Wonder, Star Of Light, takes viewers on a Christmas journey around the whole Cathedral Close, leading to the West Front where the Nativity story is told via an array of images and sounds.

The experience then continues inside the cathedral, where visitors can enjoy a star installation, the annual Christmas tree festival and readings at the crib.

Commenting on the event, Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield Cathedral, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people from across the region coming to last year’s A Cathedral Illuminated. Our plans this year are even bigger and bolder, as we look to share the wonder of the Nativity story and celebrate this very special time of year on a spectacular scale.”

A Cathedral Illuminated takes place from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 December.

To find out more about this year’s Christmas journey, visit the cathedral’s website.

Wolves return for hit musical Jersey Boys Popular musical Jersey Boys is returning to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next summer.

Telling the remarkable true story of Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons, the show is jam-packed with the group’s hits, including Beggin’, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What A Night), Big Girls Don’t Cry and Working My Way Back To You. The production visits the Grand from Tuesday 28 August to Saturday 8 September.

Tickets for the show are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 01902 42 92 12 or visiting grandtheatre.co.uk.

Shrewsbury winter festival back in the Quarry - complete with Santa selfies!

Santa selfies and a bigger kids’ zone are among the highlights at next month’s Shrewsbury Winter Festival, taking place in the town’s Quarry Park on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December.

The fun gets underway even before the weekend begins, with pop-up Avalanche Parties bringing together ‘a unique setting, fabulous food and great entertainment’ to create ‘the coolest Christmas party around’.

As for the festival itself, there are more than 170 artisan producers, crafts people, designers, florists and clothing boutiques on site, with dozens of activities available to keep youngsters entertained too. Highlights include hands-on crafts, circus skills, singalongs, gingerbread decorating, storytelling and the chance to get up close and personal with lambs, donkeys and alpacas. For more information about the festival, visit shrewsburychristmas.co.uk

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First Word

Weeping Window ceramic poppies to be displayed in Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent’s Middleport Pottery will next summer display Weeping Window, an installation featuring thousands of locally handcrafted ceramic poppies.

The poppies formed part of the famous 2014 Tower of London installation commemorating the centenary of the Great War. They will be on show at the award-winning venue for six weeks - from 2 August to 16 September.

The installation is being displayed in Stoke to honour the 13,000-plus Staffordshire men who gave their lives for their country during the First World War.

Lost Tony Hancock radio scripts to make a belated debut in Wolverhampton Two long-lost Tony Hancock radio scripts from the 1950s receive their belated premiere at Wolverhampton’s Light House Media Centre this month (Saturday 4 November).

Billed as The Lost Hancocks, the much-anticipated performances take place alongside a screening of the Birmingham-born comedian’s final film, The Punch And Judy Man. Commenting on the Light House event, show producer Dave Freak, whose Birmingham Comedy Festival company is staging the production, said: “As very little of his early work has survived, so much of what people know about Hancock is based almost solely on the later Hancock’s Half Hour radio and TV series. But here we get an alltoo-rare glimpse of a pre-superstar Hancock, in what would have been his first major leading role.”

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Shropshire’s involvement in the Great War explored through dance and poetry Shropshire Council has received a £10,000 National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its In The Hands Of Boys project, which commemorates the centenary of World War One. Awarded through HLF’s First World War Then & Now programme, the grant will be used to develop dance, poetry and photographic projects designed to share stories about Shropshire’s involvement in the war.

Madagascar musical magic Audiences will be invited to ‘go wild!’ at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre next summer, when brand new stage show Madagascar - A Musical Adventure stops off at the venue (from Tuesday 31 July to Saturday 4 August).

Based on the smash-hit animated movie, the show follows the exploits of Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and the everplotting penguins as they escape their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Tickets for the show can be booked at selladoor.com

Popular Staffordshire visitor attraction signs the Armed Forces Covenant

Disney returns to the Midlands

Drayton Manor Park has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which supports serving personnel, reservists, Cadet Force adult volunteers, service leavers and veterans.

George Bryan, Company Director of the popular Staffordshire visitor attraction, put pen to paper alongside Colonel Richard Maybery QGM, Deputy Commander at 11th Signal and West Midlands Brigade.

Commenting on the momentous occasion, George said: “It was an honour to sign the covenant and officially announce our partnership with the Armed Forces. Here at Drayton Manor Park, we are so grateful to everyone who has fought for our country - which is why we offer free entry to both serving and non-serving members of the military.”

Life-sized animated characters from Cars and live adaptations of Toy Story 3, The Little Mermaid and the Academy Award-winning Frozen will be among the highlights when Disney On Ice brings its Worlds Of Enchantment production to Birmingham’s Genting Arena next year. The show stops off at the venue from 28 March to 1 April.

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by Heather Kincaid

Could It Be Magic?

Tim Firth talks about hotly anticipated Take That musical The Band, which he’s hoping will Shine on the Regent Theatre stage this month...

We all know the feeling: a tune we remember from our teenage years comes on, and we’re instantly transported back in time, as memories of old haunts and old friends come flooding to our minds. Tapping into the nostalgia that songs seem almost uniquely apt to spark, Tim Firth’s hotly anticipated Take That musical, The Band, breaks with a tradition of jukebox-style biopics, instead putting music lovers and listeners centrestage. Ahead of its arrival in Stoke-on-Trent, we asked him more about the story he describes as a perfect way for Take That to show fans how much their devotion means to them.

“It must have been over 15 years ago that Gary Barlow and I first discussed the idea of a musical, but at that point, I didn’t know where to start with it,” says Firth. “I’d done one musical with existing music by Madness, but that was because I’d felt there was a story hiding in their lyrics. There’s got to be a reason for doing a musical that isn’t just cashing in.

“It wasn’t until years later, when Gary said he’d been approached by the BBC to do a talent show, that I hit on the idea of casting the band in a fundamentally different role, and it changed everything. Now, instead of pretending the songs were written for the show, we have them performing the same function in the lives of the characters that they would in real life - so they’re on the radio, in the characters’ heads, at concerts or being sung along to by the girls.”

The story revolves around the lives of five teenagers, all big fans of the same pop group.

When they discover that the band will be performing in their hometown, they’re eager to attend together. But on the night of the gig, disaster strikes, ultimately causing the friends to split apart. More than 20 years later, however, the band reforms, leading the characters to a reunion of their own.

“It’s partly based on two different true

stories. One involved a group of friends I know, who went through a tragedy together.

In their case, it actually brought them all much closer together, but it made me think about what might have happened if things had gone the other way.

“But ultimately they’re just five ordinary girls at school, so whether you see yourself in one of them or they remind you of someone you know, everybody should recognise them. And anyone can identify with the journey they go on, whether or not they’ve been through something similar. I think what a lot of people find moving about the show is not so much the loss they deal with as the journey back to positivity and optimism, and being reminded of the value of friendship to help us through tough times.”

Featuring the characters at two different stages in their lives has required some special considerations for the casting and rehearsal process.

“Even though some of the women have completely changed from how they were at the age of 16, we have to believe that these are the same characters. Partly that’s to do with casting, but it isn’t just a case of finding lookalikes. In rehearsals, we’ve had the girls watching the women and vice versa, so that they pick up little traits and ways of speaking from each other - even certain catchphrases.”

The TV talent show that prompted Firth to reconsider what might be done with a Take That musical was of course Let It Shine, with winners Five To Five now appearing in the show as the band. But as he explains, it’s not quite as straightforward as them simply playing Take That.

“While the series was still running, the press kept saying that they’d heard the boys wouldn’t be the leads and were just going to be backing singers, and all the time I was smiling to myself thinking, ‘Just wait, hold your nerve!’

“I think until they actually come to see it, it’s quite hard for people to imagine what this story is. Even though the boys don’t have a single word of dialogue, every time they sing, it feels like they’re commenting on the story or nudging the girls into action, almost like an old-fashioned Greek chorus. They’re a constant presence that keeps changing moving in and out of different roles. So at one point they might be workers in an airport, and at another time they might step out of a music video on TV. They must have 20 or 30 costume changes between them, and they also move the set around and facilitate the changing of one scene to another, so they’ve got loads to do.”

Interestingly, neither Take That nor its members are ever actually called by name, usually simply dubbed “the band” or “the boys” by the characters. Even the title of the show can also refer to the wristbands the girls wear to the concert, rather than directly to the group itself.

“Whenever I put the words Take That or Gary or Robbie into the script, which I did a little bit at the start, the story absolutely threw them back at me. It didn’t work. And that I took to be it saying, ‘Look, this is a much more universal story. This isn’t just about people who like Take That. It’s about music and the power of song in its broadest sense.’

“Songs are unique in their ability to retain parts of our lives, like little treasure chests.

And regardless of what sort of thing you listen to, if you have music in your life, you’ll understand that and be able to enjoy this story.”

The Band shows at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Tuesday 28 November to Saturday 9 December, and at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 1 to Saturday 12 May.

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JINKX MONSOON We caught up with actor Jerick Hoffer - better known as RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and international drag superstar Jinkx Monsoon, who’s touring to the Midlands this month with ‘bawdy, rowdy musical comedy’ The Vaudevillians...

How did you get the idea for Jinkx Monsoon, Jerick - and how did you first get started with drag?

I just turned 30 this September and started drag at age15. Jinkx Monsoon is mostly based on my own mother, with heavy influence from the female comedians I admire the most, like Jennifer Saunders, Lucile Ball, Madeline Con - and more modern references like Sarah Silverman and Maria Danford. I really enjoy strong female characters, so decided to create one for myself to play.

You were already an actor and performer before joining Drag Race. What made you decide to do the show?

I went to college for theatre. It was a conservative-style university where you got a degree in theatre with a conservative-style education. When I started there, I thought I would give up drag to pursue a more serious and legitimate acting career. Part way through my college experience, I still had a lot to offer with the work that I’d done as a drag queen, so after I graduated, I started getting female roles in theatre - very dragadjacent roles. I realised that it wasn’t something that I had to give up to be a legitimate actor; it was just a tool in my toolbelt that helped me as an actor. Drag and theatre kind of run hand-in-hand for me.

When I realised that, I thought to myself that Drag Race would be a great way to enhance

my notoriety and increase my visibility as a drag performer, and that would then play its part in enhancing my work as an actor and theatre artist, which it absolutely did. The two have kind of boosted each other throughout the five years since I went on Drag Race.

How have you found the experience of worldwide fame since winning?

I’m kind of shocked but in a good way - there are so many pockets of RuPaul’s Drag Race fans throughout the world! Every time I travel to a new city and realise we have a following there, it’s so awe-inspiring. Fifteen years ago when I started doing drag, I never thought that I’d be in the place that I’m in now. I get

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to travel internationally and put on shows in foreign cities. It’s kind of surreal that I have fans in Reykjavik, Amsterdam and Paris!

What’s been your biggest source of inspiration?

I try and keep an open mind in terms of where my inspiration comes from. I get a lot from television shows. I’m kind of picky when it comes to TV, but so many comedians have been creating new and wonderful things lately. I also love watching cult cartoons. Animation and drag run hand-inhand; both are over-the-top in the same way.

I think a drag queen is the only real-life artist who can mimic cartoons and get away with it. I also play a lot of video games, and that helps with inspiration Describe your show The Vaudevillians and the concept behind it...

The show’s something we’ve been doing for years, but this is the first chance we’ve had to bring it to the UK. It’s about two vaudeville stars who’re frozen alive in the 1920s due to a freak avalanche accident. Thanks to global climate change, we thaw out and try to pick up our tour where we left off. We put on the same show we did in the 1920s, only to find that our most popular music has been reappropriated by pop stars throughout the last century. It features ragtime, Vaudevillestyle covers of pop songs but put in a historical context, as if they’d been written for the 1920s. So Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is a song we wrote about the Suffragette movement; Toxic by Britney Spears is a homage to our friend, Marie Curie. It’s all very tongue-in-cheek. We like to call it a fever dream.

You’re working with Richard Andriessen aka Major Scales - on the show, but it’s not the only project you’ve worked on with him. What’s the appeal of working together?

We have a very similar sense of humour. We went to college together, so that’s how we met, then lived together for seven years. By being in close proximity to each other, we really melted together our minds and our sense of humour. When we’re on stage together, it’s like we share one mind. The show is scripted, but we leave time for improv and ad-libbing. Sometimes things happen on stage that have never happened before - a complete fluke or something due to a technical malfunction, or someone from the audience saying something. It’s at times like those that we both often think the same thing and voice the thought at the same time, making it look like it’s been scripted even though it hasn’t. It speaks volumes for how we work together and the common thread between us. We share a very similar comedic brain.

Tell us about the new album, The Ginger Snapped?

It’s a bit of a departure from our last album,

which was very much a cabaret fantasy album. This new one is a ’90s garage band throwback, with heavy influences from the area that we live in, in Seattle, which is heavily influenced by the hip grunge movement of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

The music is inspired by hero artists like Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani and Portishead - it’s rock-inspired and ’90s grunge-inspired.

It’s modern but with the heavy influence of albums we bought in the 1990s.

colour we want and wear contacts if we don’t want to wear glasses. Just like we’re able to dress ourselves every day in order to express ourselves, gender should just be another tool in our toolbelt - one which allows us to express ourselves in the way in which we see ourselves on the inside. I think people would be happier if they realised that just because you’re born with a certain set of genitalia, it doesn’t mean you have to behave the way society tells you to behave based on that.

Is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with in the future?

Are you still a fan of Drag Race?

A big coup for us on this album is working with Amanda Palmer, a wonderful singersongwriter who I absolutely worship. She’s singing a duet with me on the album, as well as Fred Stainer from the B-52’s and a cabaret artist known as Lady Riso. In the future, we’d like to incorporate more comedians into our work; people like Maria Banford and Devon Green, amongst many others, who I keep a note of.

Your successor, Bianca Del Rio, is working on her second full-length feature film. Is this something we can expect from you?

Absolutely. I keep up with it as an avid fan and still consider it my favourite television show.

What’s been your response to Season Nine of the show?

I loved it. Every season I feel they broaden the scope of the kind of drag being represented. I love that Drag Race is further embracing and welcoming different types of drag. They had their first trans-identified trans-bodied person. The trans community and the drag community have always run hand-in-hand, and that representation is being allowed on television in a way that it’s never been allowed before.

I was trying my best to be part of that film, but due to my work schedule with this tour, it wasn’t possible. It was very much a kick in the pants for me and my comedy partner, Nick Sahoyer. He and I used to do a web show together. We used Bianca doing her second full-length film as a kick in the pants, so it was time for us to really lean in and write a script for me that’s based on our characters. We’re talking with producers about an inevitable Moonsoon Season movie - that’s the name of our web show. Maybe in 2018 we’ll buckle down and work with some producers to make a Jinkx Monsoon film happen.

No, I wouldn’t tamper with it. I think everything fell into place exactly the way it was supposed to. But if I went back on as the winner that I am, I would try to show how much I’ve evolved as an artist. I’d also show the kind of strength and confidence I’ve gained since my season. I’d bring back everything people recognise in me from my original time on the show but also try to add to it.

Gender neutrality is a big thing at the moment...

What’s been the hardest lesson you’ve learned in the world of drag?

Jinkx is very much a female, but I myself, Jerick Hoffer, don’t adhere to one strict gender. That’s mainly because I’m a malebodied person who identifies with the feminine side of the gender spectrum. I’ve grown up with so many friends who’ve redefined gender for themselves. Because of that, I’ve made a point in the last five years of tearing down the idea that there are two genders, that that’s all there is, and that anything in between is invalid. I believe gender is just a social contract that society created to make things simpler and more understandable - but it doesn’t have any bearing on reality. Each individual person has the ability to find themselves for themselves. If we were taught that truth at a younger age, people wouldn’t feel so worried when hearing about gender norms. I’m trying to tear down the idea that just because you’re born with certain genitalia, you have to act, present and behave in a certain way, simply because our society tells us that that’s the norm. In reality we can dye our hair any

We all need to take moments to realise when we’re wrong, and to adapt and evolve. I think a part of drag is being headstrong, confident and assured in yourself. Part of being an artist is being adaptive and leaving room for growth and evolution. We all need to take moments to realise we don’t know everything and still have a lot to learn.

Would you approach the show differently if you had the chance to do it all over again?

How does Jinkx like to spend her time away from the spotlight?

Smoking weed and playing video games

Jinkx Monsoon & Major Scales’ The Vaudevillians shows at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre on Sunday 5 November, Birmingham Hippodrome on Sunday 19 November, Leicester’s Y Theatre on Saturday 25 November and Nottingham’s Glee Club on Tuesday 5 December.

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Food

Popular Shrewsbury restaurant launches new menus Independent Shrewsbury restaurant The Peach Tree has launched new afternoon and evening menus.

The introduction of the new menus means the venue now serves food every day from 8am to 10pm.

The a la carte menu - served from midday till 3pm and then from 6pm to 10pm - features paprikaspiced whitebait and a mushroom muffin, sharing boards including a charcuterie board and a fisherman’s board, and main courses including a gourmet venison burger, homemade pie of the day and teriyaki salmon.

The dessert menu features lemon curd bavarois, white chocolate brownie and cherry bakewell tart.

The restaurant is now taking bookings for Christmas parties and Christmas Day. To book your table, visit thepeachtree.co.uk.

The bites were soft, full of flavour and served with a beautiful sweet-chilli sauce. The prawns were juicy and fresh, the accompanying sauce - comprising garlic, chilli and lemon - absolutely delicious.

REVIEW: The Station

An unforgettable butchery & dining experience in the Shropshire hills South Shropshire eatery The Station recently introduced a brand new dining concept to the county. Located in the Long Mynd hills, the family-run restaurant now provides its customers with the chance to combine their dining experience with authentic butchery every Friday night.

Aiming to celebrate the family’s heritage and knowledge of meat, the butchery experience sees the restaurant’s chefs help diners choose the best cut of meat, which they then cook according to the customer’s preference.

With a focus on top-quality produce from local farmers, The Station uses beef derived from Hereford or Angus cattle.

On arrival, we were politely greeted and shown to our table.

We were impressed from the moment we walked in. The traditional décor, allied with the low lighting and chilled-out atmosphere, made for a fantastic first impression.

We perused the mouthwatering menu over a cold pint of lager and some bread and butter.

To start, we shared the pork belly bites and the garlic king prawns.

Next up - the meat! I chose the 28-day dry-aged t-bone sirloin steak, weighing in at a generous 500g. It was without doubt the most delicious piece of beef I’ve ever tasted. Cooked to absolute perfection and showcasing an immense flavour, it boasted a beautiful melt-in-the-mouth sensation. Served with chips, mushrooms and a grilled tomato, the steak was incredibly tasty. Despite its hefty weight, I could happily have eaten it all over again.

Although The Station is best known for its beef, my partner opted to indulge his love of lamb by ordering 400g of the Barnsley chop. As with the beef, the lamb was cooked to perfection, seasoned nicely and boasted a phenomenal flavour. We were seriously impressed.

Despite feeling suitably full, for the finale we shared the pecan tart with cream and the raspberry bakewell pie with vanilla ice cream. Two extremely tasty

and well-presented dishes, they were devoured with great delight.

If what we sampled on the evening we visited is anything to go by, The Station has certainly perfected all areas of its menu, not just the meat. The main menu features an array of meat sharing boards, light bites and traditional pub grub options such as fish & chips, sausage & mash and steak, ale & mushroom pie.

I can’t recommend this gem of a restaurant highly enough. The phenomenal food, friendly service and relaxed atmosphere made for an unforgettable butchery & dining experience.

The Station is quite simply a meat eater’s paradise. I can’t wait to return, to sample more of the exquisite food they have on offer. Lauren Foster Food: Service: Ambience: Overall value OVERALL

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The Station Marshbrook Church Stretton SY6 6QE Tel: 01694 781208 whatsonlive.co.uk 11

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Food

Wolverhampton baker becomes cake maker to the stars A cake maker from Wolverhampton is living the sweet life after creating outof-the-box cakes for a number of high-profile celebrities.

Paz Singh Heer, who runs AB Cakes in Wolverhampton, has supplied inventive cakes to an array of sportsmen, musicians and actors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Anthony Joshua and Bugzy Malone.

For more information about AB Cakes, visit abcakes.co.uk.

Little Dessert Shop makes Shrewsbury all the sweeter Popular Midlands chain The Little Dessert Shop has opened a new premises in Shrewsbury.

Founded in Wolverhampton three years ago, the chain already has eight shops across the region, including premises in Stoke-on-Trent, Bloxwich, Dudley, Telford, West Bromwich, Wednesfield and Stafford.

The Little Dessert Shop’s menu includes waffles, crepes, wafer baskets, cookie dough, sundaes, milkshakes, cakes, ice creams, gelatos, smoothies, mocktails, soda floats, fruit platters, chocolate shots and plenty more.

For more information on the new Shrewsbury eatery, visit littledessertshop.co.uk.

Local restaurants win coveted ‘best vegan menu’ award A restaurant chain which operates three venues in Staffordshire has won the ‘best vegan menu’ gong at the fifth annual PETA’s Vegan Food Awards.

Loungers has more than 100 premises nationwide, including the Staffordshire trio of Verso Lounge in Stafford, Capello Lounge in Newcastle-underLyme and Faro Lounge in Lichfield.

Demand for vegan food has never been higher, as more and more people turn to plant-based meals for the sake of their health, the environment and animal welfare.

Popular steak house wins top award for a third year running Birmingham’s premier independent steak restaurant, Anderson’s Bar & Grill, has been named Restaurant Of The Year West Midlands for the third year running at the 2017 Food Awards England.

With a strong commitment to offering British-reared, quality, rare breed beef, the restaurant’s winning streak has also seen them named ‘best steak house’ at the 2017 Midlands Food, Drink & Hospitality Awards.

Midlands restaurant’s latest menu reaches new heights Birmingham’s highest restaurant - Rofuto Sky Bar, located at the top of the Park Regis Hotel on Broad Street - has added over 25 new dishes to its menu, in celebration of a fantastic first year on the city’s food scene.

Sticking to its popular Japanese Izakaya concept, Rofuto’s new menu features sharer plates and tapas-style servings, as well as all the old favourites. The new-look menu includes a seafood sharer with whole grilled lobster, Pan Asian-inspired salads, teriyaki grilled salmon, tempura king prawns and a one-kilogramme Tomahawk steak, fresh from the charcoalfuelled Robata grill.

General Manager Anthony Trueman commented: “Rofuto’s reception so far has been fantastic, and Birmingham has been so accommodating. With this first year of success under our belt, we wanted to build on this with a revitalised menu, while still maintaining our unparalleled service, great atmosphere and top-quality food. We sit at the top of the

Birmingham food & drink scene, both literally and figuratively, and we’re positive that these changes will ensure we continue to be a fivestar destination for dinner and cocktails.”

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Gigs

Fleet Foxes Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Fri 24 November

Seattle-formed indie folk band Fleet Foxes came to prominence with the release of second EP Sun Giant and their self-titled debut album. The five-piece bring their refined lyrics and vocal harmonies to the Midlands this month as part of their first headline UK tour in six years.

Robert Plant Duke Special Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury, Wed 22 November

Although sounding like a band, Duke Special is in fact just Peter Wilson, singing and playing his piano. Resembling Tim Minchin, with his long dreadlocks, his eyeliner and his hobo-chic outfits, Peter presents shows that incorporate theatrical elements of vaudeville.

Hailing from Belfast with a sound that’s every bit as hobo-chic as the clothes he wears, he returns to Henry Tudor House this month having sold out his last show there in 2015.

Ex-Led Zeppelin frontman and a favourite son of the Black Country, Robert Plant is here joined on stage by his band, The Sensational Space Shifters. Every bit as comfort-

able performing as he is recording, the 69year-old ‘greatest voice in rock’ is appearing in Wolverhampton in support of latest album Carry Fire. Released last month, the record features guest artists including Chrissie Hynde and Seth Lakeman, the latter of whom is supporting Plant and the band on this tour.

T’Pau

Newton Faulkner

The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury, Fri 17 November

The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Tues 14 November

Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Mon 20 November

Fronted by Carol Decker, T’pau burst onto the music scene in 1987 with hit single Heart & Soul, which reached number four in both the UK and US charts. The band visit Shrewsbury in celebration of the 30th anniversary of China In Your Hand, the classic number one for which they’re best known.

The Temperance Movement The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, Thurs 9 November

Based in London and Glasgow, The Temperance Movement are a five-piece band featuring front man Phil Campbell, bassist Nick Fyffe, guitarists Paul Sayer and Matt White, and drummer Simon Lea. Prior to forming the band, the fellas had each played and performed with numerous prominent names, including Deep Purple, Jamiroquai, Ray Davies, The Waterboys, Jack Bruce and even James Brown.

English singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner’s penchant for tapping and hitting his guitar has certainly helped him stand out from the crowd - as has his undoubted talent as a musician.

Faulkner cites Del Amitri, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones and James Brown among the many and varied performers to have influenced his music. whatsonlive.co.uk 15

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Classical

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 17 November

Scotland’s national broadcasting orchestra has been at the heart of the nation’s cultural life for many years, performing in towns and cities across the country.

Powerhouse Principal Guest Conductor Ilan Volkov here picks up the baton for a performance of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony. The celebrated work is hailed for the way in which, via two explosive chords, it created a world of limitless sonic possibility. The concert also features three new pieces, one of which will be receiving its world premiere.

Orchestra of the Swan: Tamsin Waley-Cohen Plays Mozart

BBC Philharmonic Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 10 November

Residing at the Beeb's Media City home in Manchester’s Salford Quays, the BBC Philharmonic is no stranger to Stoke-on-Trent, regularly presenting Victoria Hall concert-goers with works from its impressive repertoire.

This latest concert sees the internationally renowned orchestra being conducted for the first time by Diego Matheuz, with Jennifer Pike (pictured) returning as soloist. The programme features Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.

City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: Spectacular Classics

Locrian Ensemble: Vivaldi By Candlelight

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 11 November

The elegance and grace of the Baroque is here presented by one of the UK's bestloved classical touring ensembles.

Performing while dressed in lavish period costume, the Locrian pay musical tribute to Antonio Vivaldi by performing the Venetian composer’s famous Four Seasons, a work universally hailed for its depiction of 17th century Italian rural life.

The Locrian’s programme also features the virtuoso Concerto For Two Violins, the Rustic Symphony and classics including Pachelbel's Canon and Handel's Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Choir bring their musical talents to bear on a host of much-loved compositions, including Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

But wait, there’s more... Nessun Dorma, Rule Britannia!, Land Of Hope And Glory and all the explosive magic of the 1812 Overture are certain to have the audience flag-waving in the aisles. And with fireworks and lasers also contributing to the spectacle, expect to be reminded of those balmy Summer Proms nights, when the Champagne flowed freely and Christmas was but a distant expense on a faraway horizon...

Anthony Inglis conducts, with contributions also coming from Ilona Domnich, David Butt Philip (tenor) and Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin).

Birmingham Town Hall, Wed 22 November

Lichfield Garrick, Fri 17 November

Acclaimed violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen once again joins forces with the Stratfordbased Orchestra Of The Swan, with whom she is an associate artist.

Tamsin here plays two works by Mozart, both of which were written by the composer while he was still in his teens - his Symphony no15 in G major and his Violin Concerto no4 in D major.

The David Curtis-conducted concert also features Grieg’s Holberg Suite Op40 and Haydn’s Symphony no22 in E-flat major, The Philosopher. whatsonlive.co.uk 17

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Dance

Dance previews from around the region

BalletBoyz: Fourteen Days Lichfield Garrick, Sat 18 November

Balletboyz’ male dancers combine muscle with grace to present a distinctive style that fuses energetic dance with music and film.

This latest show presents new works created in the space of just 14 days by choreographers including Javier de Frutos and Craig Revel Horwood.

The production also features the Russell Maliphant-choreographed Fallen, a work that won the National Dance Award for Best Modern Choreography in 2013.

Leviathan

Gamechanger

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 15 November

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Wed 22 November

Be careful what you fish for...

Award-winning choreographer James Wilton here reimagines seminal novel Moby Dick.

Wilton takes on the lead role of Captain Ahab, a man hell-bent on capturing the legendary white whale of the title, and brilliantly leads a troupe of highly talented dancers through the increasingly choppy waters of Herman Melville’s epic story.

Wilton’s choreography is always distinctive, his productions powered by an energy the audience can almost reach out and touch.

Leviathan is widely considered to be one of the choreographer’s best and most finely tuned works to date.

In short, a whale of a tale that no self-respecting dance enthusiast can afford to miss...

British Asian choreographer Subhash Viman Gorania and his Morph Dance Company here present a triple bill of thought-provoking work.

“Fly From explores the habits of resistance that linger in mind and body when trying to break free,” explains Subhash. “Metamorphic, meanwhile, is a seriously playful work exploring the multiple identities of a modern man...

“The third piece, Three, bears witness to the stages of human life - from birth to the enlightening freedom of youth and the inevitability of death.”

Humanhood: Zero The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 16 November

In a show that’s being described as ‘a visually and sonically mesmerising dance performance’, Humanhood invites its audience into a dream-like world of imagination and beauty. Bringing together immersive sound, hypno-

tising lights and virtuosic movement, the production features two dancers becoming entangled through a ritualistic journey. Their performance seeks answers to the question: if we start at point zero, how would we look at reality and experience life?... The show contains partial nudity and is suitable for audience members aged 14 and older. whatsonlive.co.uk 19

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The Nutcracker

Sir Peter Wright’s world famous production returns to the Hippodrome...

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s world famous production of The Nutcracker returns to Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas. Audiences are invited to join Clara as she’s swept into an enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her magical Christmas tree and her handsome prince, with his army of toy soldiers, are an unforgettable delight. In this most festive of ballets, gigantic sets, lavish costumes, 60 dancers and a full orchestra combine to create the perfect treat for the entire family.

Sir Peter Wright’s version of The Nutcracker, complete with exquisite designs by John Macfarlane, is widely considered to be one of the best in the world. Getting The Nutcracker on stage is a huge undertaking, with some impressive facts and figures racking up behind the scenes...

1. By the end of its 2016 season, Sir Peter’s production had been performed a total of 519 times - 454 times at Birmingham Hippodrome. The 500th performance took place on Tuesday 29 November 2016.

3. The production has a flying goose that transports Clara to a magical land - it travels 20 metres across the stage at every performance. This means that the goose has travelled over 6.4 miles at Birmingham Hippodrome since 1990.

2. Before the curtain goes up on the first performance, hours of work have been undertaken behind the scenes. The sets, props and lights for the show will travel to the Hippodrome in five articulated trucks from the Birmingham Royal Ballet stores in Dudley. When the sets arrive, work will begin on the ‘get-in’ and ‘fitup’. This process takes approximately three days. Another two days are usually required for technical and stage rehearsals.

4. The Nutcracker features a huge transformation scene, where a Christmas tree grows from 4m to 15m and a fireplace grows to fill half of the stage. A crew of around 50 people work backstage on the production.

5. 75kg of flame retardant artificial snow is used in the production. It’s imported from a specialist company in New York.

6. The production has over 200 costumes.

7. Since The Nutcracker’s first performance back in 1990, dancers playing the role of ‘snowflakes’ in the show have made their way through over 720 cans of silver-sparkle body paint.

8. The wigs department and BRB company members use around 500 hairpins per show - that’s a staggering 259,500 hairpins since 1990!

9. The Nutcracker features over 45 wigs and pieces of facial hair.

Birmingham Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from Friday 24 November until Wednesday 13 December.

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Comedy

Barbara Nice The Core, Solihull, Fri 10 November

The ever-popular Janice Connolly returns as Stockport housewife Mrs Barbara Nice for another evening of fun and laughter.

This latest family-friendly gig - entitled Raffle! and including the chance to win a prize from Barbara’s table - offers the perfect opportunity to find out exactly why Janice has become such a significant player on the Midlands comedy circuit.

Katherine Ryan Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 10 November; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Fri 2 February

Having experienced motherhood, divorce and MTV, award-winning Canadian funny lady Katherine Ryan is well placed indeed to take a wry look at those aspects of life that make people angry and bitter.

Alongside her comedy career, Katherine also takes occasional acting roles. The part of George in Channel Four’s Campus and Merc’s assistant in Episodes both feature on her CV. She visits the Midlands this month with new standup show Glitter Room.

Jo Enright Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 10 November

Birmingham-born actor and comedian Jo Enright admits she’s happiest when she’s hiding behind a character.

“I like anonymity,” says Jo. “That’s the great thing about being an actor; you can be in things without anybody recognising you.”

Jo’s career so far has included appearances in three of the UK’s most successful comedy series - Phoenix Nights, I’m Alan Partridge and Life’s Too Short.

“Growing up, I didn’t actually know anyone who performed comedy for a living, although I knew plenty of really funny people. When I started playing the circuit, there were only a handful of women working at it full-time. That said, the handful did include Hattie Hayridge, Jo Brand and Linda Smith - so the bar was set very high!”

Support on the night comes from Christopher John Hall.

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Sean Lock Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wed 22 November

Although Sean Lock is best known from the Channel Four panel game 8 Out Of 10 Cats, he's also picked up the odd gong or two for his standup, so a night in his company is a surefire bet for a big barrel of laughs.

He’s visiting the Midlands this month with his latest touring show, Keep It Light.

Sean’s jokes include: “So what if Jesus turned water into wine? I turned a whole student loan into vodka once. Your move, Jesus...”. There’s also: “I’m in therapy at the moment. I don’t need it, obviously, but I got all these psychiatrist gift vouchers for Christmas which my family had clubbed together for. What I wanted was a crossbow...”

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The Desi Central Comedy Show Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Mon 20 November

“I guess I like to think that maybe I’m breaking down stereotypes,” explains half-Iranian, half-Irish stand-up comic Patrick Monahan (pictured below), who’s headlining this month’s Desi Central Comedy Show.

“The comedians I most admire are the ones who can play to everybody. I think it’s important to look for positive stuff in life. Focusing on the bad stuff all the time would mean that the only people who’d come to my shows would be the ones who thought the end of the world was nigh!”

Patrick is joined for the evening by Eshaan Akbar, Sindhu Vee and Omar Hamdi.

Festival Of The Spoken Nerd Birmingham Town Hall, Wed 15 November

Festival Of The Spoken Nerd brings together stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, geeky songstress Helen Arney and experiments guy Steve Mould for what’s described as ‘a comedy night for the fearlessly inquisitive’.

Making a welcome return with brand new show You Can’t Polish A Nerd, the popular trio combine science, songs and spreadsheets to ‘put the “oooh” into zoology, the “fun” into fundamental theorem of calculus

Mark Thomas mac, Birmingham, Thurs 16 November

Mark Thomas is no ordinary comedian.

Hugely witty and as savage as a rabid dog when it comes to putting hecklers in their place, he takes to the stage with the intention not only of making people laugh but also of exposing governmental and corporate exploitation in its many and varied forms... Mark’s latest show is a speculation on what the future might look like in the aftermath of recent political earthquakes. It sees him collecting and examining his audience’s predictions, and then gambling on their outcome.

and the “recursion” into recursion’.

Previous stage offerings have seen them search for answers to intriguing questions such as: How can you use a parabola to set stuff on fire? How does the angler fish make love? and How dangerous can things get with just numbers?

A quirky, informative and fun evening of fullfrontal Nerdity is very much on the cards...

Margaret Cho The Glee Club, Birmingham, Wed 29 November

“Fresh Off The Bloat is my sickest show to date,” says American comedian Margaret Cho. “My grandmother said, ‘You look bloated, as if you’ve been found dead in a lake after several days of searching’. Koreans are the most savage of all the Asians.

My new show is all about being fresh off drugs and drinking and suicide and coming back to life - finally fished out of the River Styx. It’s meta. It’s magical. It’s me.”

Margaret’s jokes include: “I am the biggest fag hag. I love my gay male friends so much. When I was a little girl, I always wished I would be constantly surrounded by gorgeous guys. And I am. But I should have been more specific.”

There’s also: “The last guy I went out with, he was just so - I don't know - hopeless. He said if I broke up with him, he would kill himself. And I broke up with him, but he's not dead yet. I want to call him up and be like, 'You know, what's the deal? I thought we had an agreement...'” whatsonlive.co.uk 23

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“

I think if I didn’t include Sabbath as one of my favourites in the West Midlands I’d get absolutely vilified, wouldn’t I?

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by Heather Kincaid

TAKING A GAMBLE rising standup star Ed Gamble is a good bet if you’re on the lookout for laughs...

After crashing into Warwick Arts Centre with debut solo tour Stampede last year, rising standup star Ed Gamble is back on the road with a Mammoth new creation that promises to be even bigger and better than his last.

Ahead of its arrival in Coventry this month, we spoke to Ed to find out more about this ‘lumbering beast’ of a show, and what exactly the deal is with massive animals.

“It does sound like I’m building up to some kind of Lion King-type trilogy, doesn’t it?” he laughs. “But in truth I think it’s just down to the fact that you have to come up with a title very early in the life of a show. When you’re booking something in at the Fringe, you have to submit a title and a summary in February, even though you’re not performing until August. I think for most comedians it means that the thrust and thread of the show isn’t necessarily in place yet, so I generally just come up with a word I think will stand out on the programme.

“That said, with Mammoth, I do actually have an explanation for the title, which I talk about during the show. Also, I think I tried a bit to capture something of the energy of each tour. So Stampede was quite a fastpaced onslaught of stuff, whereas Mammoth, as ridiculous as it sounds, I like to imagine as being full of slower, high-impact jokes, a bit like a mammoth walking.”

Though Mammoth is actually his fourth standup show performed without his podcasting partner Ray Peacock, it’s the first one to tour the UK with 100% new material, Stampede having opened with what he describes as a kind of “greatest hits” of the previous two offerings. Since going solo, Ed’s raised his profile with numerous TV gigs, appearing on panel shows like Mock The Week, as well as starring in Almost Royal and writing for Greg Davies’ Man Down.

“It’s really nice because it feels like this time there are people who are actually coming to see me and half-knowing what to expect. I think with the last tour, a lot of the audience

were there to support the venues - people coming for a night of comedy at their local arts centre rather than for a night of me.

“And I’m proud of this show. I think it’s by far the best one I’ve written so far - as it should be. I also really like the touring format of doing it in two halves. Edinburgh is great for developing shows, but when you’ve only got 75 minutes because of time constraints, it can be overly tight, and that’s not how I work best as a comedian. I think it’s fun to loosen it up, so the material’s really growing on the tour and I’m finding new avenues and more room for chatting with the audience.”

Asking questions and interacting with audiences has been a feature of Ed’s live work since his days as a comedy compère, during which time he developed a knack for improvisation. Reviews have described him as being at his best ‘off-book’, but as he explains, in a full standup show, there’s a fine balance to be struck between rehearsed material and spontaneous responses.

“I could go on and do a show without talking to the audience at all quite easily, so it’s only a big part of my show if the audience are up for it. But I think it makes it feel more live and ‘in the moment’ if you make it a unique evening - otherwise people might as well be watching a video.

“It’s interesting. I think once you hone your skills at improvising it doesn’t feel like you’re going ‘off-book’, because you know you can do it and produce something good out of it.

But I do like to have everything planned out in advance - and to be honest, sometimes you write stuff where you can sell it better if you make it look more improvised than it actually is. So I would say there’s probably some tricksy stuff going on as well!”

As with previous work, Ed’s latest show draws heavily on personal experience and observations on everyday life. In particular, this time he’s discussing the crisis of identity provoked by attempting to reconcile his

“Coldplay face” with his passion for heavy metal.

“This year the show is sort of about my perception of myself versus other people’s perceptions of me, and there’s a lot about how I’ve attempted to recreate myself and how it doesn’t really work. As for looking like a metal fan, the truth is, my face won’t physically allow me to grow a big beard, and having long hair is just unmanageable. I’m too fussy to be able to deal with the middle stage!”

Some of his audience might well identify with his difficulties. Back before he was touring independently, he spoke about having discovered that his Edinburgh audiences were generally “clean-shaven and punctual”. Recently, though, he seems to have attracted slightly more varied crowds, including some “tatted up” alternative types.

In the West Midlands at least, it’s likely he’ll encounter a fair few serious metal fans, who can look forward to hearing some of his personal favourites in the show.

“I think if I didn’t include Sabbath as one of my favourites in the West Midlands I’d get absolutely vilified, wouldn’t I? I’m a big Iron Maiden fan as well. But I also go slightly deeper into stoner and doom stuff - High On Fire and Kyuss and Every Time I Die. But then Clutch are my favourite band and they’re more rock’n’roll.

“We could talk about this for hours, though I think it might actually put some people off coming! But I have hand-selected quite an impressive audience walk-in playlist, so if you do just want to come and hear some absolutely slamming stuff, you can come and listen to the music and then leave before I come on.”

Ed Gamble plays Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, on Sunday 26 November.

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Theatre

Theatre previews from around the region

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 7 - Sat 11 November & Wed 31 January Sat 3 February; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 24 - Sat 28 April; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 12 - Sat 16 June

A West End performer best known from a television talent contest takes the title role in this touring homage to the life and music of legendary American singer-songwriter Carole King.

Bronté Barbé competed in the BBC One series Somewhere Over The Rainbow. The 2010 competition aimed to find an undiscovered musi-

cal theatre performer to play the role of Dorothy Gale in Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage production of The Wizard Of Oz. Bronté has since made a name for herself in numerous hit musicals, including Hairspray.

Touring to the Midlands on the back of Olivier Award-winning West End success, Beautiful boasts a playlist of King’s most famous songs.

Featured numbers include You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman, Take Good Care Of My Baby, You’ve Got A Friend, So Far Away, It Might As Well Rain Until September, Up On The Roof and Locomotion.

The REP, Birmingham, until Sun 12 November

Bin Laden: The One Man Show

Birmingham Rep gets into the Christmas spirit with this world-premiering stage musical based on the popular UK film franchise.

The show is written and directed by Debbie Isitt, who also created the movies.

“I’ve always believed that Nativity! would make a fantastic stage musical,” says Debbie.

“It’s so full of joy, the children are so sweet and funny and the songs so catchy that it lends itself to being the perfect Christmas musical.

“The songs really do change the dynamic. It gives you much more insight into the characters and their backstories. And the emotions are more intense, like with the love story between Mr Maddens and Jennifer - it feels even bigger now because they’re singing duets.”

Royal Exchange-supported artists Knaïve Theatre are the ensemble behind this thought-provoking stagework, which sees solo performer Sam Redway providing a fresh perspective on the world’s most notorious terrorist.

Alongside its examination of the causes of the Middle Eastern conflict, as well as the possible solutions, the production also presents a biography of Osama Bin Laden. And it’s very much to the producers’ credit that the show manages to do so in a way which is humorous, entertaining and impressively neutral - leaving the audience with plenty of space in which to form their own opinions about the ‘mastermind’ behind 9/11.

Nativity! The Musical

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Lichfield Garrick, Fri 3 November

Silent Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thurs 23 - Fri 24 November

With a coveted Olivier Award bearing witness to the quality of the work, the uber-talented Pat Kinevan presents the story of the downon-his-luck Tino McGoldrick, a man whose marriage, children and job have been replaced by mental ill health, an alcohol addiction and a homeless existence on the streets of Dublin.

With his best days seemingly behind him, Tino delves into his past life via the romantic world of silent-screen legend Rudolph Valentino...

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Unforgettable performances, powered by you

0844 338 5000 birminghamhippodrome.com Calls cost 4.5p per min plus access charge. Where applicable, a 5% transaction charge may apply excluding cash sales in person.

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Wed 1 Sat 4 Nov

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Tue 19 Dec Sun 28 Jan From £15.50

Motionhouse: Charge

Tue 6 Sat 10 Feb From £19.50

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Tue 13 Sat 24 Feb

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The Patrick Centre at Birmingham Hippodrome

“If you are a kid, if you have kids, if you ever were a kid, go and see The Snow Dragon” Three Weeks

Thu 21 Dec Sun 7 Jan From £12.50

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Theatre

Theatre previews from around the region

Legally Blonde Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 7 - Sat 11 November; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 12 - Sat 17 March

Based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon, this critically acclaimed musical follows the story of college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods, a girl who just doesn't take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend Warner announces that he's dumping her for someone more serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and heads for Harvard Law School.

X-Factor finalist and Eurovision Song Contest entrant Lucie Jones stars as Elle, with Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders) and Bill Ward (Emmerdale and Coronation Street) lending heavyweight support.

(SORRY) The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 9 - Sun 11 November

Job exploitation, crumbling friendship and the prospect of the apocalypse are the themes being considered by REP Foundry graduate Susie Sillett in this trio of highly charged monologues exploring the experiences of young people in the 21st century.

Fast earning herself a reputation as a writer with her finger on the pulse of modern times, Sillett uses the play to examine the world of the millennial, questioning why, despite having had everything ‘handed to them on a plate’, they continue to complain about their lot.

The monologues are performed by Phoebe Frances Brown. Originally commissioned by Women And Theatre, the show is part of New And Nurtured, a project promoting ‘unmissable’ new works by ‘exciting local artists’.

presents the timeless tale of a young married couple struggling to eke out a living from the land despite the gathering storm clouds of war in Europe...

Night Project Theatre are the ensemble behind the show, producing it in association with Blue Orange Arts.

Real Magic MAC, Birmingham, Wed 22 - Fri 24 November

“Our new performance creates a world of absurd disconnection, struggle and comical repetition,” explain Forced Entertainment performers Richard Lowdon and Claire Marshall. “To the sound of looped applause and canned laughter, a group of performers take part in an impossible illusion - part mindreading feat, part cabaret act, part chaotic game show - in which they endlessly revisit moments of defeat, hope and anticipation.

“Caught in a world of second chances and second guesses, variations and changes, distortions and transformations, Real Magic takes the audience on a hallucinatory journey, creating a compelling performance about optimism, individual agency and the desire for change.”

Our House Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 8 - Sat 11 November

An Olivier Award winner in the category of best new musical, Tim Firth’s Our House is a raucous comedy inspired by and featuring the music of Madness.

Set in Camden Town in the mid-1980s, it tells the story of Joe Casey and his less-than-legal attempts to treat his girlfriend Sarah to an evening in a brand new luxury apartment.

But when the police turn up, Joe has to decide whether to go on the run or face the music... And speaking of music, expect all the big Madness hits, including Baggy Trousers, My Girl, Driving In My Car, The Wings Of A Dove, Night Boat To Cairo and all-time classic It Must Be Love. Oh, and the title track too, of course!

One Man, Two Guvnors Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Wed 29 November - Sat 16 December

The Hired Man Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 27 November - Sat 2 December

Based on a Melvyn Bragg novel and featuring music by award-winning composer Howard Goodall, this stage version of The Hired Man 26 whatsonlive.co.uk

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a smalltime East End hood who’s now in Brighton to collect £6,000 from his fiancée’s dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, who’s been killed by her boyfriend, Stanley Stubbers.

You keeping up?...

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Lights.

Camera.

Action!

Danny Mac stars in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation of the movie Sunset Boulevard, which stops off in Birmingham this month...

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by Heather Kincaid

“Look at this street. All cardboard, all hollow, all phony. All done with mirrors. I like it better than any street in the world.”

So says the starry-eyed Betty Schaeffer as she walks through a Paramount Pictures set in Billy Wilder’s iconic 1950 film, Sunset Boulevard. Artifice, fantasy and the blurring of boundaries between truth and fiction are at the heart of this unsettling story, in both its original screen incarnation and in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s later musical adaptation.

And with the help of highly stylised set design, director Nikolai Foster adds another layer to the story’s self-awareness in an innovative new production coming to Birmingham Hippodrome this month.

It’s often said that cinema has something of a dreamlike quality, and in Sunset Boulevard, fading silent film star Norma Desmond is proud of offering audiences “new ways to dream”. But not everyone in the show is as enamoured of Hollywood make-believe as Betty and Norma... As the down-and-out scriptwriter Joe Gillis, Danny Mac views the glamour of the studios with an ironic, disillusioned detachment, understanding and acknowledging the dark side of the screen while almost everyone else is dazzled by its light.

“It’s such a fantastic story about the human condition, especially in the world we live in now, where fame and celebrity are so big and bright and tragic,” he says. “It’s horrible. In the title song, I have to sing all these words that sum up the industry - ‘twisting, tempting, headline, jackpot, frenzied, brutal, ruthless and lethal’. I’ve spent quite a lot of time in LA over the last two or three years, and even in 2017, it seems a lot like the place that’s been projected in this show.”

Sunset Boulevard follows the story of an accidental encounter which comes to change Joe’s life forever. On the run from debt collectors, he parks his car in the driveway of a mysterious old mansion, which turns out to be the home of former screen queen Norma Desmond. Since the advent of the ‘talkies’,

she’s been out of work, abandoned by a once adoring public. In her loneliness, she manipulates Joe into moving in with her, first offering him work on a script she’s written, before emotionally blackmailing him into a more disturbingly intense relationship.

“As soon as I read the script, I thought, I know who Joe is and where he’s at. I can just feel the frustration that he has, and I love him for it, for every flaw that he has. He does a lot of breaking the fourth wall, but it’s not like he’s playing the audience. He’s a writer, and it feels almost like he’s typing the story out - as he tells it, you can imagine it in courier type. It’s strange because when Joe speaks to the audience, the lights are right on him, so I can’t see anyone. But I quite like the idea of him just saying these words into a black hole and never really knowing if anyone is listening. When you think about it, that’s what all writers do, just hoping one day someone will pick it up.”

Working closely with designer Colin Richmond, Nikolai Foster has created a world for his production in which the sense of unreality is heightened. Lights and cameras follow characters around and scene changes are deliberately drawn attention to, rather than disguised. In classic Hollywood style, driving scenes combine projected footage with just a dashboard, seat and windscreen standing in for a whole car - the rest filled in with cheap wood stamped with ‘Property of Paramount’.

Meanwhile, Norma’s Beverley Hills mansion is the only place where things are almost naturalistic. While the outlandishness of both the house itself and her bizarre, reclusive life within it seem like something from a film, the contrast between how scenes play out here and what’s happening outside at once serves as a cruel reminder of the life she’s been shut out from, and reflects her own inability or refusal to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not.

“I don’t think Sunset Boulevard’s ever been conceived like this before. Making grand,

realistic sets is beautiful, but it doesn’t fully capture the dark side of the story the way this does. It’s like two parallel universes, showing you how the audience can just switch on and off from what is a horrific reality for Norma.

And there are lines in the show that parallel that - there’s a bit where Joe says, ‘One day this will end, it isn’t real.’ He’s talking about his life and his world, but as he says it, I turn round to the set and you can see that’s not real either, so it works on so many levels.”

Of course, Danny himself isn’t entirely in the dark about celebrity culture and everything that comes with it. But unlike Norma, he’s someone who’s resisted its allure. His dance moves might have caused a stir in Strictly, but he’s never been interested in pursuing stardom.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my career, but I think it’s been quite well-documented that the whole celebrity thing has never really sat well with me. Doing Strictly was interesting for me and I’m glad I did it, because I learned a lot and had the best time of my life on it.

But all I really want is to be an actor and do a great job at that.”

Happily, Sunset Boulevard is giving him plenty of room to stretch himself as a performer.

“This has been such a brilliant creative process, definitely the most wonderful experience I’ve had as an actor so far. It’s the first show I’ve been involved with where I’m proud of it to the point that I don’t feel like I need other people to tell me it’s good. I really hope other people like it, of course, but I love it anyway because it feels like our baby. I lose myself in this show. I’ve never done that before. It’s completely engulfing, walking on stage and becoming someone else. I don’t even think about Danny until the curtain comes down.

Sunset Boulevard shows at Birmingham Hippodrome Monday 13 to Saturday 18 November.

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Theatre

Theatre previews from around the region

Deathtrap New Alexandra Theatre, B’ham, Tues 7 - Sat 11 November

A clever piece of theatre with more than a touch of Schaeffer’s Sleuth about it, Ira Levin’s Deathtrap focuses on the conniving Sidney, a playwright intent on plagiarising the work of unknown dramatist Clifford.

Between them, they act out two terrible murders in front of Clifford’s wife - but is it all makebelieve, or have they really performed the gruesome acts?...

EastEnders favourite Jessie Wallace and longtime Holby City actor Paul Bradley star.

Grease Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 27 November - Sat 2 December

Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and get ready for the most funfilled high-octane rock’n’roll party of them all. Grease is the original high-school musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie, including You’re The One That I Want, Grease Is The Word, Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Sandy and Greased Lightnin’.

The cast includes Tom Parker from boy band The Wanted, Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope and EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Louisa Lytton.

Six friends on an annual camping trip tell ghost stories to one another in the woods, unaware of the fact that a malevolent entity is engaged in the stalking of its prey...

For Love Or Money New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tues 7 - Sat 11 November

Northern Broadsides’ new adaptation of 18th century comedy Turcaret is set in a small Yorkshire town in the 1920s, where wily widow Rose is busily entertaining the advances of two dubious suitors.

The first, Fuller, is a rich and morally corrupt banker; the second, Arthur, a man intent on taking as much money from Rose as he can.

Two upwardly mobile servants, a bailiff, a drunkard, a vamp and a second-hand clothes dealer further crank up the chaos.

Twelfth Night Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, Thurs 2 November - Sat 24 February 2018

Nexus: Whispers Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 23 November

A post-Halloween and pre-Christmas ‘dark autumn night’ is the perfect time to check out this new tale of the supernatural, written and directed by Seamus O’Riordan-Fox. The first in a trilogy, it explores the familiar conventions of ‘terror’ in film, making use of multimedia devices to bridge the gap between cinema and theatre.

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As with many Shakespearean comedies, Twelfth Night is based on a case of mistaken identity, with Viola disguising herself as a boy and causing all manner of awkward romantic shenanigans.

However, the play’s continuing popularity can mainly be attributed to its comic subplot, in which the merciless Sir Toby Belch and his foolish companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek seek to humiliate the pompous Malvolio - and achieve their aim with more than a little style...

Adrian Edmondson stars as Malvolio and is joined in the cast by Kara Tointon.

The Vaudevillians Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sun 5 November; Birmingham Hippodrome, Sun 19 November

Actor Jerick Hoffer here stars as alter-ego Jinkx Monsoon in a show which, so far, has sold out an off-Broadway run, earned plaudits aplenty on an Australian tour and bagged critical acclaim like it’s going out of fashion at London’s Soho Theatre.

Jinkx will be familiar to loyal followers of US reality TV series RuPaul's Drag Race, a talent show searching for America's next drag superstar.

She’s joined for The Vaudevillians by composer and musician Major Scales, otherwise known as ‘the evil twin’ of Richard Andriessen, the man who plays him.

A ‘bawdy, rowdy musical comedy’, the show follows the fortunes of Kitty Witless and Dr Dan Von Dandy, vaudevillians frozen alive in Antarctica during the 1920s. Having finally thawed out thanks to global warming, the pair find that all of their music has been nicked by pesky pop artists...

Expect vintage cabaret with a twist of drag.

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Theatre

Theatre previews for younger audiences from around the region

Stick Man Malvern Theatre, Mon 6 - Tues 7 November; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Wed 8 November; Birmingham Town Hall, Tues 26 December - Fri 12 January

“Scamp Theatre send shivers down my spine,” reveals Julia Donaldson, the co-creator (along with Alex Scheffler) of the hugely popular children’s book on which this show is based. “They’re so lively and innovative. I love their production of Stick Man, and so do the audiences.”

Julia’s not wrong - audiences most definitely do love the show, as a smash-hit season in the West End ably demonstrated.

Featuring a trio of talented performers, the production brings together puppetry, songs, live music and ‘funky moves’ to tell the story of Stick Man’s desperate attempts to get back to the family tree. Suitable for children aged three and older.

Leaf Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sun 5 November

After previous shows Circles In The Sand and Curious both proved big hits with little children, the ever-inventive Tam Tam Theatre return to Bromsgrove with yet another heartwarming offering. Inspired by nature and the seasons, and focusing on the life story of a very special leaf, the show has been created to appeal to children aged three and younger. The 25-minute production is followed by an interactive free-play session, during which participating youngsters are invited to explore the tactile world of Leaf.

Peppa Pig’s Adventure New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Sat 4 Sun 5 November; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 8 - Thurs 9 November

If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and enjoyed the experience of watching them having a fantastic time - you’ll already know that this latest production is well worth catching.

“It seems hardly any time at all since we started on the first Peppa Pig live stage show,” observes writer and director Richard Lewis. “It’s been an incredible experience 30 whatsonlive.co.uk

seeing the children’s reactions, not only in the UK but throughout the whole world.

It just confirms that Peppa really is a worldwide phenomenon.”

tific knowledge into a compelling narrative with dynamic interactive activities, engaging audiences with climate change in a new and refreshing way.”

The Shark In The Park!

Little Angel Theatre: Me...

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 4 November

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Fri 10 November; mac, Birmingham, Wed 15 - Thurs 30 November

Nick Sharratt has illustrated over 250 books, around one-sixth of which have been his own. One of these is the hugely successful Shark In The Park!, a children’s story about a young lad named Timothy who goes to his local park to try out his new telescope. While there, he thinks he spots a shark - and not just on one occasion either, but several times in several places!

The popularity of the book prompted Sharratt to write and illustrate two follow-ups Shark In The Dark! and Shark In The Park On A Windy Day!.

All three stories are featured in this brand new stage show from the highly rated Nonsense Room theatre company. The production is suitable for children aged two-plus.

Where’s My Igloo Gone?

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 12 November

Soaring snow geese, pet husky dogs, starry nights, fishing adventures - and the kind of cold that makes the skin tingle - all feature in this story about a little girl who sets off in search of help when her igloo starts to melt...

“We’re collaborating with experts in climate change and social psychology,” explain the show’s producers, the Birmingham-based Bone Ensemble, “so that we can weave scien-

Little Angel Theatre make a welcome return with a production based on a book by muchloved children’s author Emma Dodd.

Bringing together live puppetry and performance, the company recounts the story of a tiny baby penguin who’s trying to find her feet. But with stars shimmering in the sky, snow glistening on the ground, the wind rushing to and fro and the mountains towering high above, getting to grips with her new environment is no easy challenge.

The 40-minute production is suitable for children aged between two and six.

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“

It was back when I did Hamlet at school that I first thought, ‘Oh, I’m doing Shakespeare now, I’m going to be an RSC actor’

”

Ade Edmondson on making his RSC debut in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

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by Heather Kincaid

Having cut his teeth at The Comedy Store before going on to star in sitcom classic The Young Ones, Ade Edmondson remains best known as a comedian, one of the key players on the ’80s alternative comedy scene. But despite this, he says, at heart he’s always been an actor, harbouring since childhood the hope of one day joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In recent years, he’s had the chance to show off proper chops, receiving praise for his performances in ‘serious’ TV dramas One Of Us and War & Peace, as well as Bits Of Me Are Falling Apart at Soho Theatre in 2016. Now, at last, he’s living up to what perhaps once seemed a pipe dream, playing Malvolio in Christopher Luscombe’s new production of Twelfth Night, which runs at the RST throughout the winter.

“It was back when I did Hamlet at school that I first thought, ‘Oh, I’m doing Shakespeare now, I’m going to be an RSC actor,” he explains. “It wasn’t that I decided against it it decided against me. I auditioned for drama schools and didn’t get into any, so I went to university instead. And then, as I was trying to get an acting career, I accidentally became a comedian.”

That said, for a short time at least, there was reason to believe he might have had a lucky escape. Whether or not any of his fellow students actually made it there before him, he recalls discovering at college how “pretentious” some of his contemporaries with similar ambitions seemed to be.

“They were all so bloody avant-garde! But in that sort of mimsy way. Not proper avantgarde, just pretending to be. Doing nude versions of Edward II and stuff like that. I mean, does anyone really need a nude version of Edward II?!”

Happily for Edmondson, his experience of joining the RSC for the first time at the age of 60 hasn’t reflected that early experience at all. The rest of the cast have all been warm and welcoming, with many of them also making their RSC debuts, including Kara Tointon as Olivia. There’s also decidedly

nothing pseudo-avant-garde about this show, although there will be lots of music, and director Chris Luscombe has chosen to update the action by some 290-odd years.

“It’s sort of a play about strange sexual exploration: you’ve got men dressed as women and women dressed as men, one man openly declaring love for another man, and a woman looking rather sad when she realises that the man she’s been in love with is actually a woman, and she sort of liked it. So we’ve set it around 1890, which is an era when the idea of unexplored sexuality was quite a big thing. It’s the time of Oscar Wilde, and we’ve also taken inspiration from Victoria And Abdul for Feste the Fool - now he’s part of Olivia’s inner circle, which I think makes him more interesting.”

Regular RSC visitors might remember Luscombe’s 2014 festive double-bill of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Love’s Labour’s Won (Much Ado About Nothing), which went on to tour the UK to major critical acclaim. Both featured lavish Edwardian design inspired by Warwick’s Charlecote Park, complete with seasonal décor including a massive Christmas tree. Also running over Christmas, Twelfth Night looks set to continue the trend for sumptuous settings, reuniting Luscombe with designer Simon Higlett. This time round, Higlett takes his cues for Orsino’s home from Lord Leighton’s House in Kensington, and for Olivia’s from Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton. Meanwhile for the cast, the careful attention to detail has offered unique opportunities for learning.

“In some ways it’s been more like going to a repository of knowledge than joining a normal cast - you suddenly get access to a lot of things that you didn’t have before. So we’ve had day trips to country houses, and lectures on letter-writing and manners and the way that people held themselves and didn’t touch each other in the 19th century.”

Feste the Fool isn’t the only character to have acquired a bit of a backstory. While his take might not be as radical a reimagining as the National Theatre’s casting of Tamsin Greig as

‘Malvolia’ earlier this year, Edmondson has been working on filling in some unexplained gaps in Malvolio’s past.

“I’ve injected more emotion into him by inventing a time when Olivia was a child and he used to entertain her. Something has happened to him since to turn him into a bit of a grouch, but really he’s always been desperately in love with her, and feels utterly betrayed when he finds out that he’s been tricked into thinking she loves him. It’s pretty cruel, the joke that’s played on him, just for being a kind of ‘little Hitler’ in the household. We never see him exhibit behaviour that deserves the kind of punishment he receives.”

Although Edmondson is on Malvolio’s side now, he does admit he might not have been as sympathetic to the character in his youth.

It’s certainly not an easy role to play, not least because he is, for the most part, quite unloveable, but also because he has to be funny without having a sense of humour of his own. Play it too much for laughs, and you risk missing the mark with his lack of selfawareness. As Ben Lawrence put it, he’s perhaps “the greatest tragic character to have stumbled upon Shakespeare’s comic universe”.

We know Ade Edmondson as a comic, but with the recent losses he’s suffered - not least of his best friend and former comedy partner Rik Mayall - he’s perhaps a little more inclined towards tragedy these days. Just this year, he published a children’s book about a girl dealing with grief, which he described as being partly a way of processing his own.

And while it might not be quite the same, acting, he says, can also offer a kind of ‘personal catharsis’.

“I enjoy the emotional bits,” he smiles.

Twelfth Night shows at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon, from Thursday 2 November to Saturday 24 February.

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Festive shows and attractions opening in November

Christmas

There’s plenty of opportunity for Midlanders to get into the festive spirit over the next few weeks. The region is hosting some of the best pantos and Christmas shows in the land, not to mention a wide range of other activities to enjoy from checking out a magic lantern trail and searching for Santa to wrapping up your Christmas shopping at Birmingham’s splendidly festive German market. You name it, the marvellous Midlands has got it covered...

The Hundred And One Dalmatians The REP, Birmingham, Thurs 30 November - Sat 13 January

Birmingham Rep is going dotty for dogs this Christmas, courtesy of this brand new stage version of The Hundred And One Dalmatians.

The REP’s Associate Director, Tessa Walker, takes the helm for the festive-season family show, having previously directed the venue’s yuletide productions of A Christmas Carol and The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

Dodie Smith’s delightful tale has been transformed for the stage by Debbie Isitt, writer and director of the hugely popular Nativity! films.

Isitt’s stage show, Nativity! The Musical, began its national tour at The REP last month, continuing into November (see Theatre section).

Commenting on The REP’s 2017 Christmas offering, Tessa Walker said: “I’m delighted to be bringing to life the magic of The Hundred And One Dalmatians in our unforgettable production, which features wonderful puppets and new music. Debbie’s adaptation is packed with enchantment and humour, and brings a thrilling new sense of adventure to the story, making it fun for families and friends of all ages.”

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas mac, Birmingham, Thurs 30 November Sat 30 December

Raymond Briggs is best known for his story about a little boy who makes friends with a snowman - but talented theatre company Pins And Needles are doing plenty to promote two of the author’s other less-famous tales.

Having last Christmas presented an adaptation of his picture book, The Bear, they’re this month returning to mac with an equally wellreceived version of another of his stories.

Suitable for children aged three and older, Father Christmas features songs, live music, playful puppetry, secret doors, hidden hatches and plenty of trademark Briggs humour. Expect your children to be suitably enchanted.

Aladdin Lichfield Garrick, Thurs 30 November Sat 6 January

A perfect story for an evening of family entertainment finds street youth Aladdin trying against all odds to win the hand of the beautiful princess - and being helped in his efforts by the mystical genie of the lamp... CBeebies Cat Sandion stars in this latest version of the classic Arabian Nights tale. She’s joined in the show by Sam Rabone (as Dame Widow Twankey) and Ben Thornton (as Wishy Washy), both of whom scored a massive festive hit in the Garrick’s Christmas 2016 adaptation of Sleeping Beauty.

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 29 November - Sun 7 January

Everybody knows the story. The nasty old queen is less than keen on her younger and more beautiful stepdaughter, who takes refuge from her royal evilness by holing up in the deep, dark forest with a household of small but splendidly friendly miners...

The fact that Snow White is a 24-carat classic of a fairytale means that a pantomime version is always a surefire winner. Expect all the usual elements, including a rouged-up Dame in colourful costumes, oodles of thighslapping, singalongs aplenty, slapstick comedy and even a few naughty jokes to make sure the grown-ups don't feel too left out of things. Shropshire's ‘favourite Dame’, Brad Fitt, once more dons the dress (and probably steals the show!). whatsonlive.co.uk 35

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Festive shows and attractions opening in November Alice In Wonderland The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 20 November Sat 30 December

A timeless classic telling the magical and decidedly topsyturvy story of a little girl who falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a weird world, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland first made its way onto the stage during its author Lewis Carroll’s lifetime; in 1886, to be precise.

It’s since been adapted for the theatre countless times and in all manner of ways, including as a ballet, a musical, an opera and a traditional pantomime.

With its cast of nonsensical and amusing characters, including the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, it invariably makes for a great Christmas show.

Treasure Island The New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Sat 18 November - Sat 27 January

Robert Louis Stevenson’s high-seas adventure has delighted generations of bookworms, theatrelovers and movie-goers. So there’s every reason to assume this latest incarnation will prove just as popular as any version that’s gone before.

When salty old seadog Billy Bones brings his papers to the Admiral Benbow Inn, he draws young Gem into the adventure of a lifetime, one which will see her not only setting sail in search of buried treasure, but also spending time in the company of a one-legged pirate with murder in mind...

This brand new show, featuring swashbuckling sword fights, live music and puppetry, is adapted and helmed by the New Vic’s Artistic Director, Theresa Heskins.

Cinderella Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 22 November - Sat 13 January

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wed 29 November - Sun 7 January

Suitable for children aged twoplus, this latest adaptation of Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s popular picture book follows the exciting adventures of a family as they head out on an intrepid quest to find a bear.

Catchy songs and interactive scenes are combined with no shortage of swishy swashy grass and oozy, squelchy mud, in a high-energy show that seems certain to keep youngsters well and truly entertained.

Christmas

A Christmas Carol Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Mon 27 November - Sun 4 February

With its comical Ugly Sisters, matchmaking fairy godmother, drop-dead-gorgeous Prince Charming, super-cute mice and fits-one-foot-only glass slipper, Cinderella can justifiably lay claim to being the most popular of all pantomimes.

This year’s Belgrade Theatre version of the famous fairytale features all the usual panto elements, including slapstick comedy, audience participation, stunning sets, breathtaking costumes and plenty of singing and dancing.

And also very much as usual, the show has been written and directed by Mr Coventry Panto himself, the inimitable Iain Lauchlan.

Phil Davis has form when it comes to playing grumpy old men - so the role of Ebenezer Scrooge should fit him like a proverbial glove. In 2008, Davis starred in a critically acclaimed television play about the making of long-running BBC sitcom Steptoe And Son. The 64-year-old actor took the role of Wilfred Brambell, who’d played the part of irascible pensioner Albert Steptoe in the popular comedy series.

Whether there’s a whiff or several of Old Man Steptoe in Davis’s interpretation of Dickens’ legendary character remains to be seen. What does already seem certain, though, is that this RSC version of the famous cautionary tale will prove to be an absolute cracker of a Christmas show.

As well as having the brilliant Davis taking the lead role, the production also sees the greatly admired Rachel Kavanaugh returning to the director’s chair.

And as if that’s not enough, the adaptation has been written by one of the country’s foremost playwrights, David Edgar, whose previous work for the RSC includes his multi-award-winning adaptation of Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby. whatsonlive.co.uk 37

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Festive shows and attractions opening in November Magic Lantern Festival Kings Heath Park, Birmingham, Fri 24 November - Mon 1 January

As ‘illuminating’ Christmas experiences go, this one scored a major hit when it debuted last year.

The lakes, woodlands, gardens and pathways of Kings Heath Park provide the perfect backdrop against which to enjoy a trail of life-sized and largerthan-life lanterns, including a giant recreation of Birmingham’s iconic library. A food & drink area, a bar, Santa's Grotto and a handful of fairground rides also feature.

Tiny Tots Trail of Treats Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge, Shropshire, Wed 22 November Thurs 21 December

Now here’s a big attraction for a tiny tot to tackle... Blists Hill Victorian Town has created an ‘enchanting’ festive trail for the under-fives, complete with all manner of entertainment to enjoy along the way.

Highlights include a storytelling session with Mrs Claus and a toy-making workshop. Visitors can also decorate a tree, stir a pudding and say a cheery hello to Father Christmas in his festive grotto.

Christmas

Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham City Centre, Thurs 16 November - Sun 24 December

This is the largest outdoor Christmas market in the country and sits at the centre of Birmingham’s festive celebrations. | Drawing crowds from across the city and further afield, the Frankfurt Markets feature a wide range of traditional handmade toys, artwork and items from across the world.

There’s plenty of food and drink to sample too, including mulled wine, grilled sausages, vegetarian options, pretzels and German beer. Carol singers, live music and a carousel further enhance the festive magic.

Illuminated Trail Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Wed 29 November - Mon 1 January

Santa’s Winter Wonderland

Santa Hunts

SnowDome, Tamworth, Fri 17 November - Sun 31 December

Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 25 November - Sun 24 December

This year’s all-new Santa Show sees Mrs Claus, Francine the Foxtrotting Fairy, Elvis the Penguin and Santa's very own Jingle Belles Band looking to spread festive cheer by creating ‘the best Christmas song ever’.

Suitable for all age groups, the show is just one element of the festive fun on offer at Tamworth’s snowy indoor attraction. Visitors can also explore Santa’s Christmas snow trail, take a walk through the enchanted forest, enjoy a game of snowballs and hitch a ride on a sledge.

The less adventurous will be able to observe all the action as they amble along the promenade walkway.

There’s even an animal village to visit, where you can meet Santa’s reindeer and say hi to some of his furry friends.

The rumour that’s flying like a magic reindeer around the region is that Santa has been spotted at the Black Country Living Museum. He seems to be a little limelight-shy, mind - which is why young visitors to the venue are being invited to join festive costumed guides in a ‘fun-filled’ search to find him. Along the way, kids can solve magical clues, sprinkle dust on reindeer shoes and even send letters up the chimney to Santa’s workshop. A surprise gift awaits anybody who succeeds in finding the jolly-faced bearded one...

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is this month being transformed into a ‘winter wonderland’, thanks to a Christmas light trail.

Glittering trees, giant crystals, a carol-singing cedar coppice and a flickering fire garden all feature on a jewel-coloured trail set to seasonal music.

Other festive attractions for visitors to enjoy at the Gardens include vintage fairground rides, a larger-than-life Christmas tree and a chance to meet Santa and his elves. The trail is designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.

Switching on the Christmas lights...

Here are just a few of the festive light switch-ons taking place across the region. For more, visit whatsonlive.co.uk BIRMINGHAM Thurs 16 Nov, Victoria Square COVENTRY Wed 22 Nov, Broadgate SHREWSBURY Wed 15 Nov, The Square STAFFORD Sat 18 Nov, Market Square WORCESTER Thurs 23 Nov, Worcester High Street WOLVERHAMPTON Wed 22 Nov, Dudley Street

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Film

Justice League CERT tbc Starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, JK Simmons, Amber Heard, Jesse Eisenberg Directed by Zack Snyder (USA)

The very fate of the world is in the balance with the emergence of the immortal and really nasty Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds).

So Batman (Affleck) turns to Wonder Woman (Gadot) to assemble a posse of metahumans to help save the day.

After the commercial and critical disappointment of DC Films' Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016), the enormous success of Wonder Woman this year could give this Metahumans Assemble a viable box-office chance. After all, in the last decade movies about women have grossed $45.5million more on average than films about men. And there’s also Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Amber Heard as Mera, the wife of Aquaman, to inject a bit of distaff excitement. In 3D and IMAX. Released Fri 17 November

CRITIC’S CHOICE

Film highlights released in November...

A Bad Moms Christmas CERT tbc

Starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Cheryl Hines, Christine Baranski, Susan Sarandon Directed by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas (USA)

’Tis the season to be merry, drunk and really off your face. Following on from the successful and braindead sitcom Bad Moms (2016), this sequel pitches the maternal rebels into the face of the most demanding domestic festive war zone of all - and to top it off, the girls all have their own mothers arriving for Krimble.

Released Fri 3 November

78/52 CERT 15 (92mins) Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (USA)

The title refers to the 78 set-ups and 52 cuts that make up the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). It is one of the most famous sequences in cinema history, and the documentarian Alexandre O Philippe brings a wealth of fresh detail to what even cineastes thought they knew backwards.

Released Fri 3 November

Murder On The Orient Express CERT tbc Starring Kenneth Branagh, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley Directed by Kenneth Branagh (USA)

There’s a murder on a train and Belgian ’tec Hercule Poirot has to work out who did it before the killer strikes again. Branagh plays Poirot, which should be interesting, and the cast is to die for, so to speak…

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Film highlights released in November...

Suburbicon CERT 15 (104 mins) Starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, Oscar Isaac, Noah Jupe, Glenn Fleshler Directed by George Clooney (USA)

Pitched as “a great place to raise a family,” Suburbicon is a residential utopia for middle-class America in the 1950s. Panic immediately sets in as we admire the manicured lawns, the identical driveways and the mailman smiling like the cat that got the cream. It feels like Pleasantville with a David Lynch mean streak. Without wishing to give too much away, Suburbicon

is a devilishly stylish black comedy that plugs directly into the heart of 1950s’ paranoia. Furthermore, one doesn’t know where it’s going to take you, except up the garden path, over the fence and into the deepest recesses of a deranged Burtonesque neighbourhood. This is how black comedy should be played - with a straight face and a broad subversive leer. No surprises, then, that George Clooney and Grant Heslov collaborated on a screenplay by Joel and Ethan Coen.

Released Fri 24 November

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer CERT tbc Starring Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Barry Keoghan, Raffey Cassidy, Sunny Suljic, Alicia Silverstone Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Ireland/UK/USA)

Something of a talking point at Cannes this year, this psychological thriller-cum-horror film is the second English-speaking feature from the Greek enfant terrible Yorgos Lanthimos. Colin Farrell plays a cardiothoracic surgeon who takes a paternal interest in a troubled teenage boy, leading to all sorts of anguish. The critics loved it.

Released Fri 3 November

CRITIC’S CHOICE

The Son Of Bigfoot

Only The Brave

Paddington 2 CERT tbc

CERT PG (92 mins)

CERT 12a (133 mins)

Directed by Ben Stassen and Jeremy Degruson (France/Belgium)

Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch, Jennifer Connelly Directed by Joseph Kosinski (USA)

Starring Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Hugh Grant Directed by Paul King (UK/France)

From the Belgian company that brought us A Turtle's Tale (2010), this comic cartoon follows the quest of a young lad to find his father. What the boy didn’t expect to discover was that his dad is none other than a famous big ape. Released Fri 3 November

The brave in question are the firefighters who battled a particularly ferocious inferno in Arizona in June of 2013. Today, Arizonians still recoil at the memory of the Yarnell Hill Fire, the most deadly incident involving American firemen since 9/11.

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Following the phenomenal box-office success of the first film, the world’s second most popular bear returns for another outing.

This time Paddington is determined to find the thief who stole the present he had procured for his Aunt Lucy (voiced by Imelda Staunton). Released Fri 10 November

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Film

Professor Marston And The Wonder Women CERT 15 (108 mins)

Starring Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcote, JJ Field, Oliver Platt, Connie Britton Directed by Angela Robinson (USA)

First we had the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, now we have the creator of Wonder Woman.

However, unlike AA Milne, the private life of the psychologist William Moulton Marston was anything but conventional, particularly as his mistress had a thing for his wife…

Released Fri 10 November

Ingrid Goes West

Daddy’s Home 2 CERT tbc

CERT 15 (85mins)

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell, John Lithgow, Mel Gibson, Linda Cardellini, John Cena Directed by Sean Anders (USA)

Starring Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, Billy Magnussen, Wyatt Russell, Pom Klementieff, O'Shea Jackson Jr Directed by Matt Spicer (USA)

Beware the glare of Instagram. Ingrid Thorburn (Plaza) is a mentally unstable young woman obsessed with social media. When she gets a nonchalant response from Instagram star Taylor Sloane (Olsen), Ingrid Goes West to befriend her. OMG! Released Fri 17 November

Thank You For Your Service CERT 15 (108 mins)

Good Time CERT 15 (102 mins) Starring Robert Pattinson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ben Safdie, Barkhad Abdi Directed by Ben Safdie and Josh Safdie (USA)

Starring Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Joe Cole, Amy Schumer, Beulah Koale, Keisha CastleHughes Directed by Jason Hall (USA)

You can’t have enough heists. This one, inevitably, goes awry and one of the robbers, who is mentally challenged, is taken into custody. So his brother sets off to free him.

The critics loved it.

Based on the non-fiction work by David Finkel, this drama follows the lives of three American soldiers as they try to adjust to civilian life after Iraq. Look out for the London-born Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders) as Will, an actor building an enormous professional momentum.

Released Fri 17 November

Released Fri 10 November

Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool CERT 15 (106 mins) Starring Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters, Kenneth Cranham, Stephen Graham Directed by Paul McGuigan (UK)

The Oscar buzz is deafening for this British drama in which a young actor (Bell) falls for an older woman, albeit a glamorous Hollywood star called Gloria Grahame (Bening).

Could this really be Ms Bening's turn to take home the little gold man? She's already been nominated four times.

Released Fri 17 November

Trophy CERT 15 (107 mins) Directed by Christina Clusiau and Shaul Schwarz (UK/Namibia/South Africa/Zimbabwe/USA)

Beware the 15 certificate. This is a documentary that explores the intricacies of the wildlife hunting industry. And it isn’t all as straightforward as we’d like to think.

Critically acclaimed, the film features the latest technology, including high-definition, lightweight cameras attached to drones, and asks many probing, painful questions.

Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell in a sequel?

Who would have thought. Here, the chalkand-cheese pops must confront their own irritating fathers when they turn up for the festive season. Cf. A Bad Moms Christmas.

Released Wed 22 November

The Star CERT tbc With the voices of Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Kristin Chenoweth, Oprah Winfrey Directed by Timothy Reckart (USA)

The Nativity is not often portrayed from the viewpoint of an animal, but then this is a cartoon. The KoreanAmerican actor Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) is the voice of Bo, a donkey who finds himself in a stable in December… In 3D. Released Fri 24 November

Battle Of The Sexes CERT 12a (121 mins)

Starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Andrea Riseborough, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Elisabeth Shue Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (USA)

Fresh from her Oscar for playing Mia Dolan in La La Land, Emma Stone is now in the frame for another golden man for playing Billie Jean King. The latter was the World Number One of professional tennis, who won no less than 39 grand slams. But, wondered the male tennis champ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), could she compete in a man’s world? So he lured her into a match that was to make sporting history. The husband-and-wife team of Dayton and Faris previously brought us Little Miss Sunshine and Ruby Sparks. But which is the better director?

Released Fri 24 November

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Visual Arts previews from around the region

Crafts Of The Punjab Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sun 21 January

An exhibition specially created for the Herbert and featuring items from the impressive collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, Crafts Of The Punjab celebrates the delicate and detailed artistry of craftspeople from the region.

The display boasts an extensive range of arts and crafts from the second to the 19th century, and includes a number of never-before-exhibited works.

Among the featured items are examples of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain sculpture, delicately carved ivories, elaborate musical instruments and gold-inlaid steel artefacts.

An undoubted highlight of the show is the Golden Throne, made by a Muslim craftsman in Lahore for Ranjit Singh, the first Sikh Maharaja of the Punjab.

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Visual Arts

Samurai: Warriors Of Japan Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 21 January

Oscar-nominated costumes from the 2003 Tom Cruise movie The Last Samurai are one of the highlights of this touring exhibition, stopping off in Shrewsbury until the new year.

Bringing to life the story of the Samurai and their fall from power in Japan, the display also features a real suit of Samurai armour and a range of intriguing artefacts.

Commenting on the show, Phil Scoggins, Interpretation Officer at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, said: “Whether you appreciate Japanese history and culture, are curious to explore the world of the Samurai for the first time or are a fan of Tom Cruise movies, this exhibition holds something of interest for all.”

Knights Of The Raj Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 7 January

The histories of Birmingham’s famous curry houses are explored in this new exhibition, which traces the origins of the city’s curry trade right back to the 1940s.

The display includes furnished interiors, images, films and recorded histories. One of the stand-out artefacts is a booth from the interior of Koh-i-Noor, a restaurant which opened on Birmingham’s Horse Fair in the 1960s, making it one of the city’s oldest curry houses.

Commenting on the exhibition, Rebecca Bridgman, Curator of Islamic & South Asian Art at Birmingham Museums Trust, said: “The curry house institution, and the balti dish in particular, are profoundly rooted in Birmingham’s history. As the first wave of these restaurants are vanishing or being demolished, it’s vitally important that their story is preserved. We’re thrilled that the Koh-i-Noor restaurant booth will become a permanent part of the city’s history.”

Warhol To Walker: Nine American Prints From Pop To Today Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, Sat 4 November - Sat 6 January

Works by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Jim Dine are among the highlights of this exploration of great American printmaking. Covering the period from the Pop Art era of the 1960s to the present day, the display features nine key works from the British Museum’s collection. Pieces from the Worcester City Collection are also included, highlighting the ways in which artists have pushed the boundaries of printmaking while exploring subjects as diverse as the Vietnam War, Bing Crosby, picnics and the universe.

Michael Lyons: Full Circle Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Sat 4 November - Sun 28 January

The title of Michael Lyons’ first major exhibition in the Midlands reflects the fact that he’s come ‘full circle’, returning to Wolverhampton half a century after studying at the city’s College of Art. Nowadays an artist of international renown, Michael has continued to explore the eclectic range of subjects that interested him back in his student days in the Black Country - namely, the figure, mechanical objects, the stars, landscapes, history and mythology.

As well as sculpture and drawings, the show also includes a new film in which Michael discusses a career that has seen him create work in China, Canada and Mexico.

Image credit: Andy Warhol, Campbell’s green pea soup, 1968, Colour screenprint, 1981,0620.37 © The Trustees of the British Museum

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Events previews from around the region

Events

MCM Comic Con Birmingham NEC, Birmingham, Sat 18 - Sun 19 November

This well-established event is an absolute must for anybody with an interest in movies, gaming, comics, anime, cult television shows, gadgets, clothing and toys.

It also has an impressive track record when it comes to celebrity appearances. On this occasion, famous faces on show include Keith Allen - who starred in recently released movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Veronica Taylor, best known for Pokemon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Slayers.

“The Midlands holds a special place in our hearts,” says MCM Expo Group CEO Bryan Cooney. “Our company is based here, and we plan on providing an awesome show for the region's enthusiastic audience of sci-fi, comic book and film fans.”

Birmingham International Tattoo 2017

Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre

Arena Birmingham, Sat 25 - Sun 26 November

Ludlow Castle, Shropshire, Sat 25 - Sun 26 November

Marching bands from Poland and the Netherlands here join the Band of the Household Cavalry and the Band of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, in what promises to be one of the Tattoo’s best ever line-ups.

The event culminates in a ‘spectacular grand finale’ featuring the Massed Bands and vocal soloist Captain Gary Chilton.

The Royal Air Force Cosford Queen’s Colour and Escort then round things off with performances of Land Of Hope And Glory, The Evening Hymn and The Lone Piper.

Sword-fighting soldiers, puppets aplenty and a medley of medieval musicians all play their part in this ever-popular event, which also features 100 stall holders selling food, drink and seasonal wares.

Other attractions at this year’s fayre include storytelling, carol singing, falconry displays, a one-act nativity play, hands-on activities including medieval word games and skittles, and the chance to visit St Nicholas in his festive den.

Festive Gift Fair NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 16 - Sun 19 November

If you generally find yourself in a present-purchasing predicament at this time of year, a trip to the Festive Gift Fair might provide just the inspiration you’re looking for.

Taking place over four days, the fair features hundreds of stalls offering an eclectic selection of affordable gifts.

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Events

Antiques For Everyone Winter Fair

Remember, Remember the 5th of November...

NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 November

With more than 200 dealers showcasing their wares, Antiques For Everyone is one of the largest events of its kind in the UK, featuring items ranging in price from as little as £10 right up to £100,000.

Visitors to this latest edition of the long-running show - and who happen to have £3,500 to spare - can check out an eyecatching model of an owl. Actually a jar and cover, it was made at the Doulton Lambeth works in the late 19th century.

For smaller budgets, an art deco-style silver Champagne bucket - designed for the Park Hotel, Grenoble, 1968 Winter Olympics - is up for grabs at £498.

If you want to find out a bit more about collecting, be sure to catch one or more of the celebrity talks. Two of the country’s most respected authorities on antiques, Judith Millar and Will Farmer, are in attendance to offer their advice.

There's also a special exhibition featuring examples from the production lines of all three Derby porcelain factories, from the middle of the 18th century to the present day.

THE VALE FIREWORKS Thurs 2 Nov, from 7pm, University of Birmingham SIXWAYS BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY Sat 4 Nov, from 5pm, Sixways Stadium, Worcester

Half Price Ticket Offer visit antiquesforeveryone.co.uk

quote WINW017 or call

0844 581 0827

WORCESTER BONFIRE & FIREWORKS Sat 4 Nov, from 5.30pm, Pitchcroft Racecourse, Worcester WARWICK TOWN BONFIRE & FIREWORKS Sat 4 Nov, from 5pm, Warwickshire Racecourse BONFIRE & FIREWORKS GALA Sat 4 Nov, from 5.30pm, Kenilworth Castle SHREWSBURY’S CHARITY FIREWORKS AND BONFIRE SPECTACULAR Sat 4 Nov, from 5.30pm, West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury

Gorgeous Christmas Craft Fair Enginuity, Ironbridge, Sat 18 - Sun 19 November

BLISTS HILL FIREWORKS NIGHT Sat 4 Nov, from 6pm, Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge

Held in association with the Shropshire Guild of Contemporary Craft, this popular event provides a showcase for the region’s creative talent. This year’s exhibitors include: Robert Shelton, who combines traditional design with a contemporary twist to create furniture of real character; Sarah Piper Heap, working in silver and other natural materials to create jewellery and tableware; and Caroline Bennett, whose unique figurative and free-flowing sculptures are created to enhance both house and garden.

CONKERS FIREWORKS AND LASER SHOW Sat 4 Nov, from 5pm, Conkers, Rawdon Road, Moira WOLVERHAMPTON BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS NIGHT Sat 4 Nov, from 5pm, Wolverhampton Racecourse SOLIHULL FIREWORKS Sat 4 Nov, from 5.30pm, Tudor Grange, Solihull

Mind Body Spirit Wellbeing Festival NEC, Birmingham, Fri 3 - Sun 5 November

The Wellbeing Festival makes a welcome return to Birmingham, with the organisation behind the show, Mind Body Spirit, this year celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The three-day event offers ‘spiritual seekers’ a safe place in which to commune and share their ideas, beliefs and philosophies.

Attractions at this month’s show include a workshop programme presenting new ideas on relationships, awakening, inspired living, NLP, yoga, meditation, science and angels.

New for this year is the Ceremony Space, an area in which visitors can focus on intimate ceremony-based experiences.

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EDGBASTON FIREWORKS Sat 4 Nov, from 5pm, Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham

HIMLEY BONFIRE & FIREWORKS Sat 4 Nov, from 4.30pm, Himley Hall, Dudley TAMWORTH'S FREE FIREWORK EXTRAVAGANZA Sat 4 Nov, from 6pm, Tamworth Castle Pleasure Grounds, Tamworth ALTON TOWERS RESORT ULTIMATE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Sat 4 & Sun 5 Nov, shows start at 7pm, Alton Towers Theme Park, Staffordshire WESTON PARK BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS Sat 4 Nov, from 5.30pm, Weston Park, Shifnal

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Events previews from around the region

The Frost Fair Ragley Hall, Alcester, Fri 24 - Sun 26 November

Ticket Offer

Save 20% quote

BBC Good Food Show

PAR10

NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 30 November - Sun 3 December

A long-time favourite on the UK’s culinary events calendar, the BBC Good Food Show brings a packed programme of inspiration and entertainment to the NEC. Continuing to attract the crème de la crème of TV personalities, this year’s show features, among others, Mary Berry, The Hairy Bikers, Raymond Blanc, Tom Kerridge, Michael Roux Jr, James Mar-

Lanternory Tamworth Castle, Sat 18 November

This brand new event follows the exploits of a young thief named Raike as he attempts to acquire treasures from the castle. His story unfolds as visitors are treated to a lantern-lit tour

tin and Nadiya Hussain, all of whom will be cooking up a tastebud-tantalising treat or several.

Add into the mix oodles of tastings and hundreds of exhibitors showcasing their wares - plus the brand new Big Family Cooking Showdown Live event - and you’ve got yourself the makings of a delicious day out.

of the popular visitor attraction...

Lanternory takes place both early in the evening and later on at night. Slots from 5pm to 7.30pm feature content suitable for younger visitors.

By contrast, the 8pm to 9.30pm shows are aimed at an adult audience, providing a somewhat scarier twist on the tale!

A new addition to the region’s everexpanding list of great Christmasshopping events, the Frost Fair features a carefully selected array of crafts, gifts, unique and original presents and fine foods.

There’s plenty of entertainment to enjoy too as you busily search for that perfect present for your elderly Aunty Maud. Choirs, roving musicians, a magician and Father Christmas himself all play their part in generating a suitably festive atmosphere.

Warley National Model Railway Exhibition NEC, Birmingham, Sat 25 - Sun 26 November

The organisers of this long-running event - this month’s exhibition is the 50th edition of the show - have certainly and very sensibly got an eye to the future, ensuring there’s plenty for youngsters to enjoy across the two days.

The show features more than 90 layouts, numerous modelling demonstrations, 150-plus trade stands and a Decauville replica narrow gauge loco. The exhibition’s centrepiece is a 14xx class 1450 from the Severn Valley Railway.

Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre

The Classic Motor Show

Worcester City Centre, Thurs 30 November - Sun 3 December

NEC, Birmingham, Fri 10 - Sun 12 November

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Worcester’s hugely popular festive celebration.

The annual event is regarded as the leading themed street market in the West Midlands, attracting in excess of 100,000 visitors.

In addition to the 200 stalls which grace Worcester’s historic streets selling crafts, gifts and speciality foods - the ever-popular fayre also features an array of period entertainment, from choirs and stiltwalkers to a period carousel and barrel organ music.

The biggest event of its kind, the Classic Motor Show this year boasts more than 2,500 vehicles covering an area of over one million square feet; or, to put it another way, a space the size of approximately 12 football pitches!

Attractions at the three-day get-together include a dedicated classic motorbike show, the always-popular autojumble - complete with a range of mouthwatering 'show only' offers - and one of the most high-profile classic car auctions in the UK. Numerous motoring celebrities, including Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, also contribute.

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MARGARET CHO

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Bisexual comedian, actor and activist Margaret Cho visits Birmingham this month as part of her Fresh Off The Bloat tour. Here, she tells What’s On about her inspiration, explains why the LGBT community is so important to her and outlines the numerous challenges that it still faces...

When did you first discover that you were funny?

I’m still trying to figure that one out! I don’t really know. I think that it wasn’t a need to be funny or not be funny, it was just me wanting to be a bit like Joan Rivers. I saw her when I was a kid and just really fell for her. I wanted to be just like her. I was really young; it was right after I’d decided to be Wonder Woman.

When that didn’t seem likely, I decided to be a comedian just like Joan instead.

How did you first get into standup comedy?

I just started doing shows in San Francisco, where I’m from, and doing these different AIDS fundraising events in the early ’90s. So that connected me very closely with the gay community. There were so many different kinds of things that I was doing, but I was really lucky because I was different in comedy. There weren’t many Asian-American women doing comedy then, so it felt like I had a very special experience.

Where do you find inspiration for your material?

Everywhere. Right now it’s pretty crazy - a lot about Donald Trump and even the Harvey Weinstein scandal. We all have these varied memories of sexual assault. I’ve talked about it a lot in my standup. Whenever something like that occurs, which I guess is a rare thing, but whenever people are coming forward like with Bill Cosby or Jimmy Savile - you realise a very public figure has been protected. It’s very disheartening and brings back a lot of bad memories of your own experiences. There’s a lot of that in what I’m doing in my shows. I’ve been talking about rape, abuse and healing in my work for a long time, so this has more of a topic to wrap around.

What’s been your best show ever?

It was great to play at Radio City Music Hall.

I’ve done it many times in different capacities. I’ve also been kicked out of Radio City Music Hall for smoking pot up there.

Apparently you’re not supposed to do that! I was with someone very famous, much more famous than me, and both she and I got busted. I thought that because she was so famous we were going to get away with it, but no. I got to do my show there, but couldn’t use a dressing room because I got kicked out.

How do you deal with hecklers?

I think you have to try and figure out how to

use their own words against them and trip them up. It’s a little unfair on them because you have a microphone and you’re going to be louder than them. I think people get intimidated by me because I can come off as pretty ferocious, so I haven’t had that bad a time with hecklers. They get shutdown pretty quickly, I think.

You’re bringing your tour to Birmingham this month. What can audiences expect?

It’s a very topical show. It’s very much about the bloated nature of our crazy politics. I don’t even know if it’s called politics anymore because it’s so insane! There’s a lot about Trump, the global impact he’s having, the craziness of it all. A lot of stuff about Hollywood and how to be an Asian-American in a not-diverse world there. There’s a lot of stuff about rape, about sexuality, gay rights.

There are so many things to revisit that I’ve talked about in my standup before. It needs to be expanded.

The last time you performed in the UK was in 2015. Are you excited to be making a return visit?

Yeah, I love it. I have a great time here. The audiences are far more sophisticated because they’re used to the best comedians doing a different show every year. So everyone comes back with new material. It’s always very exciting. My favourite people are Stephen K Amos and Paul Foot. I really enjoy seeing them. They really typify the excellence of British comedy.

Is there a difference between UK and American audiences?

I think there is, because everybody is very familiar with their comedians. They see them over and over, and in different ways across the years, so they get to know them better.

There’s a kind of familiarity with their comedians. So I come in and I’m different.

It’s really challenging, but I love it.

Which other comedians do you most admire?

There are lots. People like Sarah Silverman, who’s a good friend of mine. Kathy Griffin’s also a good friend. There are so many great comedians now who are very drilled. I love it.

You’re not only a comedian but an actor too. How did that come about?

I was always doing little things over the years. I had my own TV show for a while in the ’90s. So there was always something.

Lately there’s been more that’s centred around my comedy. There are things that have been developed from my standup. I’ve just developed a show called Highland. We just wrapped up the pilot recently. We’ll see what’s going to happen with it, but it’s very good. It’s very true to life, and features a very different kind of Asian family that we haven’t seen before.

Is there a dream role or show you’d like to act in?

I just want to focus on Highland. I’d like to complete the trajectory of the story. That’s something I would love to do.

A significant element of your material addresses LGBT issues. Why are those issues so important to you?

Well, I’m part of the community. I’m bisexual and we’re the forgotten sector of the LGBT community. They don’t really pay attention to us, but we’re here! That’s funny to me - the lack of understanding of the bisexual community from both sides, both gay and straight. Also, I grew up in the gay community. I always knew that I would be political. It’s part of my life and part of my upbringing. It’s a very safe place for me to be, and a place I understand well.

What do you feel still needs to be achieved in terms of the LGBT community across the world?

Well, there’s got to be a stop to bans on transgender people in the military. And this idea that you can somehow ban an entire community from using a bathroom. There are so many crazy ideas that conservatives have about the transgender community - ideas that it’s dangerous for people to believe.

There’s been so much progress, but also a lot of ignorance and fear about who we are.

Do you see yourself as a role model for the community?

I don’t want to say that I’m a role model, but I try. I’d like to be. That would be great.

Ultimately I’m just trying to be one small voice of reason, trying to make a difference and hopefully bring about change.

Margaret Cho brings her Fresh Off The Bloat comedy tour to Birmingham’s Glee Club on Wednesday 29 November.

Tickets are now available at livenation.co.uk

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Your Y Yo ur weekb by -week by-week llistings li isti is t ng ngs gs gu gguide ide d de

November ovember 2017

Rag’n’Bone Man at Civic Hall, Wolverhampton - Mon 27 November

Music I Comedy I Theatre I Dance I Film I Events I Visual Arts I

What’s On

and more!

Wed 1 to Sun 12 November

Mon 13 to Sun 19 November

Mon 20 to Sun 26 November

Mon 27 to Thurs 30 November

Lee Nelson at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Cilla The Musical at Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

Paul Zerdin at The Place, Oakengates Theatre

The Nutcracker at Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent

Fri 3 November

Tues 14 - Sat 18 November

Wed 22 November

Wed 29 November

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THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER

Visual Arts Bilston Craft Gallery FOSSIL FUELLED Exhibition featuring objects from many of the town’s industries, including cut steel jewellery, bicycles and the world famous Bilston Enamels, until Sun 31 Dec

New Art Gallery - Walsall BARBARA NICHOLLS - SEDIMENTARY FLOW Barbara Nicholls’ monumental watercolour works emerge by manipulating the behaviour of pigment in ever-increasing quantities of water, until Sun 19 Nov SEVEN KINDS OF MAGIC Exhibition comprising original illustrations by Quentin Blake for seven books in which magic appears in different forms, including The Witches by Roald Dahl, until Sun 10 Dec ADAM GRÜNING Adam works with installation, photography and video to explore the relationship between authentic and inauthentic experience and notions of value and spectacle, until Sun 17 Dec LEGACIES: JMW TURNER AND CONTEMPORARY ART PRACTICE Exhibition considering the ongoing legacy of JMW Turner through the lens of contemporary art, highlighting the enduring relevance of his work for artists practising today, until Sun 14 Jan PEOPLE'S CHOICE Featuring the voting public’s favourite works from the Permanent Collection, until Sun 25 Feb 2018

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery - Stoke-On-Trent EMILIE TAYLOR - EDGELANDS Touring exhibition, featuring the work of contemporary ceramics artist Emilie Taylor, that explores the lives of young women who exist on the edge of society and womanhood, until Sun 12 Nov HEARTBEAT Installation promoting Warli culture and including more than 30 Warli paintings alongside film works, sculptural pieces, clay and ceramic materials, objects and sound works. A collaboration between artists, artisans and craftspeople from India and the UK, the show is presented in partnership with the British Ceramics Biennial, until Sun 12 Nov

Wolverhampton Art Gallery RECENT ACQUISITIONS Exhibition featuring: A series of colourful collages by Sonia Boyce which explore the politics of black hair and black identity; Silver Self Portrait by US artist Glenn Ligon, made from coal dust; and Go West Young Man by Keith Piper, until Sun 19 Nov

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WOLVERHAMPTON SOCIETY OF ARTISTS EXHIBITION 2017 Annual exhibition of work featuring a diverse range of styles, media and subject matter, until Sun 19 Nov

Other VISUAL ARTS LIVING MOMENTS An exhibition of paintings, textiles and ceramics by Margaret Brothwell and Anne Mychalkiw.

Using moments in their day-to-day lives as inspiration, until Sun 5 Nov, Newcastle Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme MADE IN THE MIDDLE Recurring touring exhibition showcasing some of the Midlands’ best contemporary craft and applied art, until Sat 25 Nov, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent AGEING OF BRITISH GERONTOLOGY EXHIBITION Featuring photographic portraits of people who have led research and practice in the field of gerontology over the past 50 years. Created by artist, photographer and gerontologist Sukey Parnell, until Fri 17 Nov, Keele University. Staffordshire FUNNY THINGS: CLICKING COMEDIANS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION Steve Best’s many years on the comedy circuit have allowed him to build trust with some of the funniest people on earth.

This exclusive access has given him an opportunity to take hundreds of intimate, deeply moving images - from backstage to front of stage, from very new comedians and seasoned professionals to the downright famous, until Sun 5 Nov, Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton ANTHONY HAMMOND Exhibition of work by the North Staffordshire-based artist, sculptor and craftsman, who works predominantly on large-scale public art projects and is skilled in a number of green wood disciplines, until Mon 8 Jan, Newcastle Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme NEW CHRISTMAS ARTS AND CRAFTS EXHIBITION Exhibition of local arts, crafts and gifts, Thurs 9 Nov - Sat 23 Dec, Qube Gallery, Oswestry NEW B(U)Y ME! FOR CHRISTMAS Christmas craft exhibition, Sat 11 Nov - Mon 8 Jan, Newcastle Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme NEW DOCUMENTS, ALTERNATIVES (#1) An experimental group exhibition exploring temporality, fixed-ness, transience and changeability, Fri 17 Nov - Sat 16 Dec, AirSpace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent NEW PICTURE THIS EXHIBITION Combined arts project integrating photography and life-writing, empowering young people to consider how they might achieve their ambitions in the future, Thurs 23 Nov - Thurs 14 Dec, Keele University, Staffordshire

Gigs

FLEETWOOD BAC Fri 3 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

MOUNT KIMBIE Wed 1 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

JACK LUKEMAN Fri 3 Nov, mac, Birmingham

BELLA HARDY Wed 1 Nov, mac, Birmingham JANE WEAVER Wed 1 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent BEN POOLE Wed 1 Nov, The Robin, Bilston ANTI CLONE Wed 1 Nov, The Asylum, B’ham SWITCHFOOT Wed 1 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

GLASVILLE Fri 3 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham FREE AT LAST Fri 3 Nov, Route 44, Birmingham THE MANC LADS Fri 3 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent IDLE FRETS Fri 3 Nov, The Flapper, B’ham KING KONG COMPANY Fri 3 Nov, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham

Hounds, Birmingham MARTIN BARRE Sun 5 Nov, The Robin, Bilston SOCIAL REPOSE Sun 5 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham CRAIG DAVID PRESENTS TS5 Sun 5 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham TALON Sun 5 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury ALEC DANKWORTH QUARTET Sun 5 Nov, The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury

WILWOOD KIN Wed 1 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Fri 3 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

THE PAPERBOYS Sun 5 Nov, Lichfield Guildhall

RISE AGAINST Wed 1 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

CLEAN BANDIT Fri 3 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SIMON MCBRIDE Mon 6 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

THE STYLISTICS Thurs 2 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

THE SPITFIRES Fri 3 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

RORY MCLEOD Mon 6 Nov, Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham

ITCH Thurs 2 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

THE WILLOWS Fri 3 Nov, Lichfield Guildhal

SYLVAN ESSO Mon 6 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

ERIC GALES Thurs 2 Nov, The Robin, Bilston FRANCOBOLLO Thurs 2 Nov, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham LOGIC Thurs 2 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

ASHLEY BEEDLE, K KLASS, MICKY FINN AND THE FREESTYLERS Fri 3 - Sat 4 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birminghaml JAMIROQUAI Sat 4 Nov, Arena Birmingham THE SLOW READERS CLUB Sat 4 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

KALA Sun 5 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

GOLDFRAPP Mon 6 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham ABC Mon 6 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham THE KILLERS Mon 6 Tues 7 Nov, Genting Arena, Birmingham

OH WONDER Sat 4 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham

EMBRACE Tues 7 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

JOE BROWN Sat 4 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

IGORRR Tues 7 Nov, The Flapper, B’ham

AJ TRACEY Thurs 2 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE COUNTERFEIT STONES Sat 4 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

BIBLEGIRL Tues 7 Nov, Mama Roux’s, B’ham

BIGFOOT Thurs 2 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent

THE REGULARS Sat 4 Nov, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

A CELEBRATION OF JOHN DENVER Thurs 2 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford

EXOWAVES Sat 4 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham

THE WINTER PASSING Wed 8 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

INTO THE SHADOWS Sat 4 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

EMPLOYED TO SERVE Wed 8 Nov, The Flapper, Birmingham

ROMEO'S DAUGHTER Sat 4 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent

SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK Wed 8 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

MIDGE URE, THE CHRISTIANS & ALTERED IMAGES - TOGETHER IN CONCERT Thurs 2 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

AN EVENING WITH ERNIE HALTER, JAVIER COLON & MATT CUSSON Fri 3 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury KASAI MASAI Fri 3 Nov, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme BURY TOMORROW Fri 3 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent U2 V SIMPLE MINDS Fri 3 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

CRADLE OF FILTH Sat 4 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham KALEO Sat 4 Nov, O2 Academy, B’ham MIDLANDS CALLING Sat 4 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton LOBSTER SHACK 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Sat 4 Sun 5 Nov, Hare &

BOYCE AVENUE Tues 7 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

SEAN PAUL Wed 8 Nov, Arena Birmingham BRIX & THE EXTRICATED Wed 8 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, W’hampton BLACK STAR RIDERS Wed 8 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton ISLAND Wed 8 Nov,

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Wednesday 1 - Sunday 12 November The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

OUR LAST NIGHT Wed 8 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

LITTLE STEVEN & THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL Fri 10 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SHALAMAR & SUPPORT FRIENDS 35TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Wed 8 Nov, The Robin, Bilston RIDE Wed 8 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham ARCANE ROOTS Wed 8 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

THE UNDERTONES Thurs 9 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham ALISON MOYET Thurs 9 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham LYNCH MOB Thurs 9 Nov,The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton THE CARPENTERS STORY Thurs 9 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT Thurs 9 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent THE PAT MCMANUS BAND Thurs 9 Nov, The Robin, Bilston HOLY MOLY AND THE CRACKERS Thurs 9 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SAMPA THE GREAT Thurs 9 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SOUND OF THE SIRENS Thurs 9 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham J HUS Thurs 9 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SECRET AFFAIR + THE CHORDS Sat 11 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

KAGOULE Fri 10 Nov, The Actress & Bishop, Birmingham

WEST COAST EAGLES Sat 11 Nov, The Roadhouse, Birmingham

THE MARLEY EXPERIENCE Fri 10 Nov, The Roadhouse, B’ham

HOTTER THAN HELL Sat 11 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent

KING PARROT Fri 10 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent

DARKSIDE - THE PINK FLOYD SHOW Sat 11 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

SPEAK, BROTHER Wed 8 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham PETER KNIGHT'S GIGSPANNER Wed 8 Nov, The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham

THE ICICLE WORKS Sat 11 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

QUADROPHENIA NIGHT Sat 11 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford GRAVE PLEASURES Fri 10 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton LIONS OF DISSENT Fri 10 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION Fri 10 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL X HARE & HOUNDS Fri 10 Sat 11 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham THOMAS RHETT Sat 11 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham BILLY BRAGG BRIDGES NOT WALLS Sat 11 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall JOHN ROSSALL’S THE GLITTERBAND Sat 11 Nov, The Slade Rooms, W’hampton BLOODY KNEES Sat 11 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent NEWTON FAULKNER Sat 11 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

UK FOO FIGHTERS Sat 11 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham THE STRAY BIRDS Sun 12 Nov, The Wightman Theatre, Shrewsbury ISLANDS IN THE STREAM Sun 12 Nov, Regent Theatre, Stoke-onTrent FLO AKA FLOACIST OF FLOETRY Sun 12 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton HAWKLORDS Sun 12 Nov, The Robin, Bilston DUKE SPECIAL Sun 12 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham NAKED SIX Sun 12 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton KYROS Sun 12 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT Sun 12 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

GORDON HENDRICKS THE ULTIMATE ELVIS TRIBUTE Fri 10 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford

RICHTER ENSEMBLE: BEETHOVEN QUARTETS Programme includes works by Beethoven & Biber, Wed 1 Nov, Lichfield Garrick REFORMATION SYMPHONY Featuring Jérémie Rhorer (conductor), & Francesco Piemontesi (piano), Wed 1 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Michael Seal (conductor). Programme includes works by Smetana & Janáček, Wed 1 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham COLLABRO plus Philippa Hanna (support) & Carly Paoli (special guest), Thurs 2 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: STAR WARS Featuring Michael Seal (conductor) & the CBSO Chorus, Fri 3 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham DUDLEY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION Featuring Michael Seal (conductor) & Dudley International Competition Finalists, Sat 4 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham MOZART FESTIIVAL ORCHESTRA: MOZART’S REQUIEM Sun 5 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham MARIA JOÃO PIRES (PIANO) Programme includes works by Schubert & Mozart, Mon 6 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall PIRES AND POPOVIC - PIANO DUOS Featuring Maria João Pires & Miloš Popović. Programme incudes works

by Schubert & Beethoven, Tues 7 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: RUSSIAN CLASSICS Wed 8 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ENGLISH CORNETT & SACKBUT ENSEMBLE: I FAGIOLINI - THE OTHER VESPERS Featuring Robert Hollingworth (conductor). Programme includes works

by Viadana, Monteverdi & Giovanno Gabrieli, Thurs 9 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall GOLDBERG STRING TRIO Featuring Matthew Truscott (violin), Robin Ireland (viola) & Richard Lester (cello).

Programme comprises JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations arranged for string trio, Thurs 9 Nov, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

PANIC ROOM Fri 10 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Featuring Diego Matheuz (conductor).

Programme includes works by Bruch, Rossini & Tchaikovsky, Fri 10 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

ALEXANDER O’NEAL Fri 10 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury BAD TOUCH Fri 10 Nov, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs MOSTACK Fri 10 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham SURGEON Fri 10 Nov,

Classical Music

Panic Room - The Robin, Bilston

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: SPECTACULAR CLASSICS Featuring Anthony Inglis (conductor), Ilona Domnich (soprano), David Butt

Philip (tenor) & Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin), Sat 11 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham HALESOWEN CHORAL SOCIETY: AUTUMN CONCERT Programme comprises Mozart’s Coronation Mass & Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Sat 11 Nov, St Margaret’s Church, Hasbury, Halesowen THE LUDLOW ORCHESTRA Featuring Thomas Payne (conductor) & Claire Tocknell (leader). Programme includes works by Butterworth & Vaughan Williams, Sat 11 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire SHREWSBURY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Annual St Cecilia Weekend Concert which also features Shrewsbury Community Choir, Shrewsbury Chapel Choir & Shrewsbury Wind Orchestra, Sat 11 - Sun 12 Nov, Alington Hall, Shrewsbury School GRAND ORGAN GALA Featuring Stephen Bell (conductor) & Darius Battiwalla (organ). Programme includes works by Saint-Saens, Bach, Faure, Walton, Elgar, Handel, Strauss, Mascagni, Mozart, Widor & Parry, Sun 12 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham AVISON ENSEMBLE: ITALIAN CONNECTIONS Programme includes works by Matthew Locke, Purcell, Pasquini, Corelli, Avison, Gabrielli, Geminiani, Veracini & Handel, Sun 12 Nov, Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury

Comedy JIM DAVIDSON: 40 YEARS ON Wed 1 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre MARLON DAVIS, TOM LUCY & MC LAURA LEXX Wed 1 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury ANGELOS & BARRY - THE NEW POWER GENERATION Wed 1 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton MARLON DAVIS & DAVID HADINGHAM FEATURING COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 2 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham JONNY AWSUM, STEVE SHANYASKI FEATURING ADAM RILEY, TOM SHORT & BETHANY BLACK Thurs 2 Nov, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Staffordshire CHRISTIAN REILLY, TOM WRIGGLESWORTH, SIMON WOZNAIK & SCOTT BENNETT Thurs 2 Nov, The George Hotel, Lichfield DUNCAN OAKLEY, LINDSEY SANTORO, TONY JAMESON & DAN SMITH (MC) Thurs 2 Nov, Stourbridge Town Hall RICH HALL - HOEDOWN Thurs 2 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton JASON BYRNE - THE MAN WITH THREE BRAINS Fri 3 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall JOHN LYNN, TIM FITZHIGHAM & PAUL

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MYREHAUG Fri 3 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham JIMMY CARR - THE BEST OF, ULTIMATE GOLD, GREATEST HITS TOUR Fri 3 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton AURIE STYLA Fri 3 - Sat 4 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

JONNY AWSUM, GUZ KHAN, PETE OTWAY & COMIC TBC Fri 3 - Sun 5 Nov, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham NINA CONTI: IN YOUR FACE Fri 3 Nov, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent JEREMY HARDY Fri 3 Nov, Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, North Shropshire LEE NELSON - SERIOUS JOKER Fri 3 Nov Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton PHILL JUPITUS - JUPLICITY Sat 4 Nov, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs PATRICK LIVE AT THE SANDY HOLES HOTEL Sat 4 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre STEPHEN K AMOS - BREAD AND CIRCUSES Sat 4 Nov, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham JOHN LYNN, TIM FITZHIGHAM & PAUL MYREHAUG Sat 4 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham MARLON DAVIS, DAVID HADINGHAM, JOHN SCOTT & COMIC TBC Sat 4 Nov, The Glee Club, B’ham JEREMY HARDY Sat 4 Nov, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Sat 4 Nov, The Old Post Office, Burton-uponTrent MILTON JONES Sat 4 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

Glee Club, Birmingham

DANE BAPTISTE, RIK CARRANZA FEATURING MIKE NEWALL & CHRIS PURCHASE Fri 10 Nov, Lichfield Garrick JO ENRIGHT - ERDINGTON GIRL Fri 10 Nov, Arena Theatre, W’hampton PHIL NICHOL, DALISO CHAPONDA, ANDY ASKINS & TOBIAS PERSSON Fri 10 Nov, The Glee Club, B’ham

PHIL NICHOL, DALISO CHAPONDA, ANDY ASKINS & TOBIAS PERSSON Sat 11 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

CHARLES DICKENS' GHOST STORIES Featuring two of Dickens’ most chilling tales of the supernatural - The Signalman & The Haunted Man, Tues 31 Oct - Sat 11 Nov, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham MACBETH The Crescent Theatre Company presents its version of Shakespeare’s bloodiest tale, until Sat 4 Nov, Crescent Theatre, B’ham

FUNNY THINGS COMEDY CLUB FEAT. BARBARA NICE, ORCHESTRA OF CHAOS & THE JOKE EXCHANGE Sun 5 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

MAGIC CIRCLE Brother Wolf present a sinister two-handed mystery play, Wed 1 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

JOSH PUGH, TANYA LEE DAVIS FEATURING NIGE & DAN NIGHTINGALE Sun 5 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

STORIES TO TELL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT A live late-night radio show for those who can’t sleep, Wed 1 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

ROB BRYDON: I AM STANDING UP Sun 5 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

CINDERELLA Amateur staging presented by Get Your Wigle On, Wed 1 - Sat 4 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

PATRICK MONAHAN, NICK PAGE & DANNY WARD Fri 10 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham MAE MARTIN - DOPE Fri 10 Nov, The

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SCROOGE A West Bromwich Operatic Society Youtheatre production, Wed 1 - Sat 4 Nov, Lichfield Garrick STRICTLY WEST END PRESENTED BY Brownhills Musical Theatre Company, Wed 1 - Sat 4 Nov, Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock

SHARK IN THE PARK! All three of Nick Sharratt’s Shark In The Park! books, adapted for the stage, Sat 4 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

UN-TAMED Quirky new play exploring the trials and tribulations of female relationships, Mon 6 Nov, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

HENNING WEHN - WESTPHALIA IS NOT AN OPTION Sun 12 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE Amateur staging presented by United National Theatre, Tues 31 Oct - Sat 4 Nov, Stoke On Trent Repertory Theatre

WUTHERING HEIGHTS Hotbuckle Productions presents a new staging of Emily Bronte’s gothic classic Sat 4 Nov, Ellesmere College Arts Centre, North Shropshire

THE VAUDEVILLIANS: JINKX MONSOON & MAJOR SCALES RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon stars in ‘a bawdy, rowdy musical comedy’, Sun 5 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

RUDI LICKWOOD, SCOTT BENNETT, GERRETT MILLERICK & PHIL ELLIS Sat 11 Nov, The Comedy Loft, B’ham

Theatre

Birmingham Hippodrome

PEPPA PIG - LIVE! Join the fun with Peppa, George, Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and Emily Elephant, Sat 4 - Sun 5 Nov, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

STEVE SHANYASKI, DARIUS DAVIES & RUSSELL HICKS Sat 11 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham

WNO - DIE FLEDERMAUS A story of mistaken identity, complete with posh frocks and masks, Wed 1 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome

JOHN BISHOP - WINGING IT Tues 7 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

FINDING JOY Fully masked theatre company Vamos present a life-affirming story of lost memories and discovered love, Thurs 2 - Fri 3 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

JOHN BISHOP - WINGING IT Fri 10 - Sun 12 Nov, Arena Birmingham

NATIVITY! THE MUSICAL Major new stage adaptation based on the hit movie, until Sun 12 Nov, The REP, Birmingham

PAUL CHOWDHRY: LIVE INNIT Mon 6 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

WNO - FROM THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD Collage of stories told by the inmates of a claustrophobic Siberian prison, Thurs 2 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Thurs 2 - Sat 4 Nov, The Little Theatre Donnington, Telford TWELFTH NIGHT Shakespeare's tale of unrequited love, Thurs 2 Nov - Sat 24 Feb, Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon WNO - EUGENE ONEGIN Tchaikovsky’s best-loved opera, showcasing the battle between the yearnings of the heart and social convention, Fri 3 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome BEYOND THE BARRICADE A cast of past principal performers from Les Miserables recreate original West End/Broadway numbers, Fri 3 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire BIN LADEN The world’s most notorious terrorist tells his provocative story, Fri 3 Nov, Lichfield Garrick PAUL ZERDIN: ALL MOUTH Join Paul, Sam, Albert, Baby and two brand new characters for an evening of stand-up comedy and ventriloquism, Wed 3 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre NEXT THING YOU KNOW Four New Yorkers wake up from their invincible 20s to confront adulthood in ‘the city that never sleeps’, Fri 3 - Sat 4 Nov, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham MATA HARI - FEMALE SPY Story of the most notorious female spy in history, inspired by her own words, Fri 3 - Sat 4 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre BARNUM Cabaret Theatre Company present the story of Phineas Taylor Barnum, widely regarded as ‘the greatest showman on earth’, Fri 3 Sat 4 Nov, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent WNO - DIE FLEDERMAUS A story of mistaken identity, complete with posh frocks and masks, Sat 4 Nov,

DOREEN: THE RISE OF THE YAM YAM Comedy Queen of the Black Country Doreen Tipton sets out to challenge Darwin with her very own Theory of Evolution, Mon 6 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre DEATHTRAP Paul Bradley (Holby City) & Jessie Wallace (EastEnders) star in a new staging of the longest-running thriller in Broadway history, Tues 7 Sat 11 Nov, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham SOUTH PACIFIC A Lichfield Operatic Society production, Tues 7 - Sat 11 Nov, Lichfield Garrick FOR LOVE OR MONEY Northern Broadsides present a new adaptation of 18th century comedy Tucaret, Tues 7 - Sat 11 Nov, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme BREAKING THE CODE Stafford Players present the story of Alan Turing, Tues 7 - Sat 11 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre ANTIGONE Actors Of Dionysus present a new adaptation of Sophocles’ tragedy, reimagined in a dystopian landscape, Tues 7 Nov, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent PSYCHIC SALLY An evening of mediumship, Tues 7 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Shropshire BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Olivier Award-winning West End show telling the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, Tues 7 - Sat 11 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome LIZ WEIR - ACROSS THE WATER TALES FROM IRELAND AND BEYOND Storytelling night for grown-ups, Wed 8 Nov, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent THE VALUE OF NOTHING More like an event than a play, this Laid Bare show invites the audience to ‘interact, be active and take part’, Wed 8 Nov,

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Wednesday 1 - Sunday 12 November Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham

PEPPA PIG - LIVE! Join the fun with Peppa, George, Suzy Sheep, Danny Dog and Emily Elephant, Wed 8 Thurs 9 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime, Sat 11 Nov, Lichfield Garrick

BEDROOM FARCE Shropshire Drama Company present Alan Ayckbourn’s lighthearted comedy, Wed 8 - Sat 11 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury FORBIDDEN NIGHTS Circus artists present ‘an electric fusion of daring routines, acrobatics and provocative choreography’, Thurs 9 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford, Shropshire TEAM VIKING Tangram Theatre Company’s critically acclaimed comic ode to death and friendship, told through storytelling, comic theatre and live music, Thurs 9 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Dance

MADE IN DAGENHAM THE MUSICAL Presented by Back Street Theatre Company, Thurs 9 - Sat 11 Nov, Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock

FREEFALLING FOR 15 YEARS Birmingham Royal Ballet's Freefall Dance Company celebrates 15 years of performance, Thurs 9 Nov, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome

MEDUSA The story of a woman who exacts her revenge on the men that destroyed her and the gods that cursed her, Fri 10 Nov, mac, B’ham ME Little Angel fuse puppetry, music and theatre for younger audiences in a touching tale about a baby penguin finding her feet, Fri 10 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton KINGS CROSS (REMIX) One-man show weaving together the hidden histories of LGBT communities in London during the 1980s, Fri 10 Nov, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS: VOODOO VAUDEVIL ‘Bizarre, brave and beautiful acts’, all woven into a sensational shock/horror story, Fri 10 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre THE ADDAMS FAMILY Presented by Curtain Call, Fri 10 - Sun 12 Nov, The Wightman Theatre, Shrewsbury HOBSON'S CHOICE Presented by All & Sundry, Sat 11 - Sat 25 Nov, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham MACBLAIR The story of Tony Blair, told as a Shakespearean tragicomedy via verse, rap and comedy, Sat 11 Nov,

AN EVENING WITH TERRY WAITE The humanitarian and author talks about his life, Wed 8 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire

FIREWORK FESTIVAL Sat 4 - Sun 5 Nov, West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley

GOK WAN: NAKED AND BARING ALL Gok talks candidly about his rise to stardom, Sun 12 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

DIWALI UTSAV - SITARON KE SANG Presented by Jaivant Patel Dance and Arena Theatre, Sat 11 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Talks AN AUDIENCE WITH KATIE PRICE Wed 1 Nov, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham AN AUDIENCE WITH MARTIN KEMP The Spandau Ballet star talks about his private and professional life, Fri 3 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham VOICES FOR THE VOICELESS Errollyn Wallen provides an insight into her career, Sat 4 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome BACK IN TIME Kath Reynolds presents a series of talks which reflect a personal interest in people and social history. Tues 7 Nov, Middleport Pottery, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent RAY MEARS: BORN TO BE WILD Join the intrepid explorer as he takes audiences on a journey into the wilderness, Tues 7 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall JOHN MOTSON An audience with one of the UK’s best-known sports commentators, Tues 7 Nov, Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire STEPHEN FRY LIVE! IN MYTHOS Event marking the launch of Stephen’s latest book, in which he brings to life

THE NATIONAL PET SHOW Sat 4 - Sun 5 Nov, NEC, Birmingham ULTIMATE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR A last chance to experience the venue’s rides and attractions before the 2017 season comes to an end, Sat 4 - Sun 5 Nov, Alton Towers, Staffordshire HERITAGE WEEKEND Take a stroll around beautiful Bournville Village as you’re guided through the history of Cadbury's home town, Sat 4 - Sun 5 Nov, Cadbury World, Birmingham

A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Relive the passion, indulge in the romance and celebrate the greatest movie soundtrack of all time, Sat 4 Nov, The Place, Oakengates, Telford THE NUTCRACKER Russian Ballet & Opera House bring to life the story of Clara and her adventures on Christmas Eve, Thurs 2 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre

TEAM VIKING Tangram Theatre Company’s critically acclaimed comic ode to death and friendship, told through storytelling, comic theatre and live music, Fri 10 Nov, Quatt Village Hall, Nr Bridgnorth, South Shropshire

BONFIRE NIGHT Visit Tamworth Castle after dark for a ‘breathtaking’ firework display, Sat 4 Nov, Tamworth Castle

THE HEAD WRAP DIARIES Uchenna Dance explore issues of femininity, beauty, culture and, most importantly, hair, Thurs 2 Nov, DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome

ALADDIN Birmingham Youth Theatre celebrate their 30th anniversary with a pantomime for all the family, Thurs 9 - Sat 11 Nov, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham

MY DEAREST GIRLS - THE LETTERS BOOK Francesca Millican Slater’s warm and witty storytelling features live music and a touch of cabaret, Fri 10 Nov, Bitterley Village Hall, Ludlow, South Shropshire

the gods, monsters and mortals of Ancient Greece, Tues 7 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

AUTUMN FLAVOURS DINE & STAY Savour the warm and comforting flavours of autumn with this food lovers dine-and-stay weekend, Sat 4 Sun 5 Nov, Weston Park, Nr Shifnal ULTIMATE STANCE One-day indoor event displaying slammed and stanced vehicles from across the UK, Sun 5 Nov, Telford International Centre, Shropshire

Events THE STITCHING, SEWING & HOBBYCRAFT SHOW Includes free entry to Crafts For Christmas, Art Materials Live and Cake International, Thurs 2 - Sun 5 Nov, NEC, Birmingham SIMPLY CHRISTMAS Those who love a handmade Christmas will delight in everything this show has to offer, Thurs 2 - Sun 5 Nov, NEC, B’ham CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS Includes free entry to Art Materials Live, The Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show and Cake International, Thurs 2 - Sun 5 Nov, NEC, Birmingham ART MATERIALS LIVE Includes free entry to Crafts For Christmas, The Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show and Cake International, Thurs 2 - Sun 5 Nov, NEC, Birmingham THE MIND BODY SPIRIT WELLBEING FESTIVAL A celebration of self-exploration and self-expression featuring music, yoga, meditation and lifechanging workshops, Fri 3 - Sun 5 Nov, NEC, Birmingham CAKE INTERNATIONAL Includes free entry to Crafts For Christmas, The Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show, and Art Materials Live, Fri 3 Sun 5 Nov, NEC, Birmingham HIMLEY BONFIRE & FIREWORKS The largest local-authority fireworks display in the country, set to this year’s theme of Girl Power, Sat 4 Nov, Himley Hall & Park, Dudley FIREWORKS NIGHT The townsfolk mark Guy Fawkes’ foiled Gunpowder Plot with a family fireworks display, Sat 4 Nov, Blists Hill, Telford

BONFIRE & FIREWORKS Sun 5 Nov, Weston Park, Nr Shifnal MODEL RAILEX The seventh Burton Annual Model Railex Exhibition, organised by the Burton Railway Society, Sun 5 Nov, National Brewery Centre, Burton upon Trent WWE LIVE Tues 7 Nov, Arena B’ham TRAM-DRIVING EXPERIENCE DAY Join the expert team to learn all about the history and workings of the trams in the collection, once seen in every town of the Black Country, Tues 7 Nov, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley LANCASTER INSURANCE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW The biggest and best event of its kind in the UK, Fri 10 Sun 12 Nov, NEC, Birmingham CHARACTER WEEKEND Cadbury's most colourful characters appear at regular intervals across the day!, Sat 11 Sun 12 Nov, Cadbury World, B’ham SUNNYCROFT AT NIGHT Enjoy the house lit by candlelight, Sat 11 - Sun 12 Nov, Sunnycroft, Wellington, Shropshire SCALE MODELWORLD Features competitions and kit swaps, Sat 11 - Sun 12 Nov, Telford International Centre, Shropshire BWIN GRAND SLAM OF DARTS Sat 11 Sun 19 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton SANTA SAFARI A four-mile self-drive safari and a visit to Santa, Sat 11 Nov Sun 24 Dec, West Midland Safari and Leisure Park, Bewdley DINO DAY The T-Rex and Velociraptor are on the prowl, Sun 12 Nov, National Forest Adventure Farm, Burton Upon Trent

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LUCIE SILVAS Wed 15 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

MARTINE MCCUTCHEON Mon 13 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

ANDREW W.K. Wed 15 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

BROKEN WITT REBELS Mon 13 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

ROY WOOD Wed 15 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

VAN MORRISON Mon 13 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham DECAPITATED Mon 13 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent THE MAGIC BAND: FAREWELL TOUR Mon 13 Nov, The Robin, Bilston CHINA CRISIS Mon 13 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury BLONDIE Mon 13 Nov, Arena Birmingham THE LEMON TWIGS Mon 13 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham THE STYLISTICS Tues 14 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury NEWTON FAULKNER Tues 14 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton RUN THE JEWELS Tues 14 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham DAN OWEN Tues 14 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury SHAWN KLUSH - THE ELVIS WORLD TOUR Tues 14 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham TRUEHEIGHT Tues 14 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham KIRVANA & PEARL SCAM Tues 14 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton ALICE COOPER Tues 14 Nov, Arena B’ham JON BODEN Tues 14 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire NELLY Wed 15 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham SOMEONE LIKE YOU THE ADELE SONGBOOK Wed 15 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre JOHN SMITH Wed 15 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury

SOFT MACHINE Wed 15 Nov, The Robin, Bilston TOSELAND Wed 15 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent PURPLE RAIN Thurs 16 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury WOLF ALICE Thurs 16 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham KING PARROT Thurs 16 Nov, The Slade Rooms, W’hampton PENETRATION Thurs 16 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham THE RED SHOES - OUR KATE BUSH STORY! Thurs 16 Nov, The Robin, Bilston MAREN MORRIS Fri 17 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham CARDBOARD FOX Fri 17 Nov, The Hive, Shrewsbury 999 Fri 17 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent T'PAU Fri 17 Nov, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury PEARL JAM TRIBUTE Fri 17 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham DEEP PURPLE Fri 17 Nov, Arena B’ham THE REAL THING Fri 17 Nov, The Robin, Bilston LITTLE MIX Fri 17 Nov, Genting Arena, B’ham H.E.A.T Fri 17 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton WILD BOYS Fri 17 Nov, Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton LUVSTEP Fri 17 - Sat 18 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham INSANE CLOWN POSSE Sat 18 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham PLANET DURAN Sat 18 Nov, Route 44, Birmingham

Monday 13 - Sunday 19 November CAJUN DANCE NIGHT WITH ELVIS FONTENOT Sat 18 Nov, Lichfield Guildhall ABSOLUTE BOWIE Sat 18 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham THE DOORS ALIVE Sat 18 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham VIPER - THE SOUND OF DRUM & BASS Sat 18 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham TINNED ASTRONAUT Sat 18 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham DEMON Sat 18 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent LITTLE MIX Sat 18 Nov, Genting Arena, Birmingham

Classical Music EHNES PLAYS BACH Wed 15 Nov, The Barber Institute, Birmingham

Comedy EDDIE KADI Mon 13 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham RUSSELL BRAND Tues 14 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: BEETHOVEN & ELGAR Featuring Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor), Vilde Frang (violin).

Programme includes works by Messiaen, Elgar & Beethoven, Thurs 16 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - BEETHOVEN'S THIRD Featuring IIan Volkov (conductor), Ilya Gringolts (violin) & Juliet Fraser (voice). Programme includes works by Cassandra Miller, Salvatore Sciarrino, John Croft & Beethoven, Fri 17 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

JOE LYCETT: WORK IN PROGRESS Tues 14 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN NERD Wed 15 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall MARK THOMAS: A SHOW THAT GAMBLES ON THE FUTURE Thurs 16 Nov, mac, Birmingham

ROYAL BLOOD Sat 18 Nov, Arena B’ham COVENANT Sat 18 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham

GEOFF NORCOTT, PAUL TONKINSON FEATURING COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 16 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

DREADZONE Sat 18 Nov, The Robin, Bilston CHAOS IN THE CBD Sat 18 - Sun 19 Nov, Hare & Hounds, B’ham

FUNNY WOMAN WITH NOREEN KHAN, ISMA ALMAS, SINDHU VEE & SHAZIA MIRZA Thurs 16 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

AN EVENING WITH LAU Sun 19 Nov, Wem Town Hall, Shropshire

JAMES COOK IN TOO MANY JAMESES FEATURING SPECIAL GUESTS Fri 17 Nov, MAC, Birmingham

JAMES HICKMAN & DAN CASSIDY Sun 19 Nov, Tamworth Assembly Rooms FRANK IERO & THE PATIENCE Sun 19 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton FROM THE JAM Sun 19 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham STILLMARILLION Sun 19 Nov, The Robin, Bilston DEPECHE MODE Sun 19 Nov, Arena B’ham JACQUI DANKWORTH & CHARLIE WOOD Sun 19 Nov, Lichfield Guildhall RHIANNON GIDDENS Sun 19 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall JAKE BUGG Sun 19 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

LOCRIAN ENSEMBLE: VIVALDI BY CANDLELIGHT Fri 17 Nov, Lichfield Garrick BAUDELAIRE IN SONG LECTURE RECITAL Featuring Mary Bevan (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano) & Professor Helen Abbott. Programme includes works by Rollinat, Debussy, Duparc & Bréville, Fri 17 Nov, The Barber Institute, Birmingham SIR ANDRÁS SCHIFF - PIANO Programme includes works by Mendelssohn, Brahms & Bach, Sat 18 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall EXPLORING BROOKMEYER AND HOLLENBECK: BIG BAND Sat 18 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham ORGAN PROMS Sat 18 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent LUDLOW CHORAL SOCIETY: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Featuring Steve Dunachie (piano) & Patrick Larley (conductor). Programme includes works by Monteverdi, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Larley & Tavener, Sat 18 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: BACH’S B MINOR MASS Sat 18 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral BRASS BAND & CHAMBER CHOIRS Sun 19 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham

ED BYRNE - SPOILER ALERT Fri 17 Nov Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury GEOFF NORCOTT, PAUL TONKINSON, MICKY P KERR & FUNMBI OMOTAYO Fri 17 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham LEE NELSON - SERIOUS JOKER Fri 17 Nov, Forest Arts Centre, Walsall PHILL JUPITUS - JUPLICITY Sat 18 Nov, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire ALISTAIR BARRIE, MICKEY SHARMA & DIANE SPENCER Sat 18 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham STEVE HARRIS, BRENNAN REECE, LARRY DEAN & DAMION LARKIN Sat 18 Nov, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent GEOFF NORCOTT, PAUL TONKINSON, MICKY P KERR & FUNMBI OMOTAYO Sat 18 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham CHRIS MCCAUSLAND, LAUREN PATTISON, LAURA LEXX & JOHN LYNN Sat 18 Nov, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY CLUB Sat 18 Nov, Wolverhampton Art Gallery JIMMY CARR - THE BEST OF, ULTIMATE GOLD, GREATEST HITS TOUR Sat 18 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Every Saturday four comedians to tickle your funny bone! Sat 18 Nov, The Old Post Office, Burton-upon-Trent

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Feb, The Swan Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? BARBARA BROWNSKIRT Featuring the bittersweet world of prolific-but-failing ‘poet of the people’ Barbara Brownskirt, Thurs 16 Nov, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham MATT MONRO - THE SINGER'S SINGER Matt’s daughter Michele and son Matt Jnr tell the story of their father’s life, Thurs 16 Nov, Dudley Town Hall FREEZIN' Fizzog Productions present a Black Country panto set in 1910, Thurs 16 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre WAKE UP & DEIRDREALIZE A ‘ridiculous, outlandish, improvised, character romp, guaranteed to take you on a thrilling rollercoaster ride’, Fri 17 Nov, Old Joint Stock Theatre, B’ham Sunset Boulevard - Birmingham Hippodrome

DANIEL SLOSS - NOW Sun 19 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton JAMES ACASTER Sun 19 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

Theatre TANJA ‘Dramatic’ exploration of immigration detention centres, starring Emily Ntshangase-Wood, a former Yarl’s Wood detainee, Mon 13 Nov, mac, Birmingham AND THE REST OF ME FLOATS New show all about the messy business of gender. Presented by Outbox Theatre, Mon 13 - Tues 14 Nov, The REP, Birmingham THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE A ‘thrilling’ adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark psychological fantasy, Mon 13 - Tues 14 Nov, Lichfield Garrick SUNSET BOULEVARD Compelling story of romance and obsession, based on Billy Wilder’s legendary film. Ria Jones stars, Mon 13 - Sat 18 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome BETTY BLUE EYES Alan Bennett’s A Private Function gets the musical comedy treatment in this touching tale of 1940s Britain. Presented by Little Theatre Company, Mon 13 - Sat 18 Nov, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent TIME CRITICAL Stan’s Cafe take a look at 25 years of history, both the world’s and their own, Tues 14 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton CILLA THE MUSICAL Musical celebration of the Liverpool teenager who went on to become one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers, Tues 14 - Sat 18 Nov, Regent Theatre, Stoke-onTrent

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MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET Birmingham & Midland Operatic Society present an amateur staging of the festive classic, Tues 14 - Sat 18 Nov New Alexandra Theatre, B’ham GUYS AND DOLLS The Arcadians present their version of one of the greatest musicals of all time, Tues 14 - Sat 18 Nov, Crescent Theatre, B’ham 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL Amateur staging presented by Cradley Heath Amateur Operatic Society, Tues 14 - Sat 18 Nov, Stourbridge Town Hall AMERICAN IDIOT Amateur staging of Green Day’s rock opera, Wed 15 Nov, The Wightman Theatre, Shrewsbury TONY STOCKWELL Evening of psychic mediumship, Wed 15 Nov, Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, North Shropshire A CHRISTMAS CAROL Presented by European Arts Company, Wed 15 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury PENGUIN BY LONG NOSE PUPPETS Stage version of Polly Dunbar's award-winning book for children, Wed 15 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton LUKE JERMAY Critically acclaimed show from the man who can ‘read your mind’, Wed 15 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Shropshire THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE Blackeyed Theatre Company present a ‘thrilling’ adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s dark psychological fantasy, Wed 15 - Fri 17 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton ME... Presented by Little Angel Theatre and featuring live puppetry, Wed 15 - Thurs 30 Nov, mac, Birmingham IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART 1 CONSPIRATOR A story of power-politics in the ancient Rome of Robert Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. Gregory Doran directs. Thurs 16 Nov - Sat 10

ROB GEE: FORGET ME NOT - THE ALZHEIMER’S WHODUNNIT Thoughtprovoking one-man comedy/poetry show which explores how we treat and perceive people with dementia, Fri 17 Nov, Habberley Village Hall, Stiperstones, Nr Shrewsbury WUTHERING HEIGHTS Hotbuckle Productions presents a new staging of Emily Bronte’s gothic classic, Fri 17 Nov, SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle, Shropshire MEDEA, WRITTEN IN RAGE Contemporary reimagining of the ancient Greek legend of passion and revenge. Performed as part of SHOUT Festival, Fri 17 - Sat 18 Nov, The REP, B’ham

Dance PHOENIX DANCE THEATRE Three diverse, emotional and sassy dances in one ‘thrilling and thought-provoking’ performance, Tues 14 Nov, Malvern Theatre ZERO Humanhood present a visually and sonically mesmerising performance of immersive sound, hypnotising lights and virtuosic movement, Thurs 16 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome BALLETBOYZ: FOURTEEN DAYS Four brand new works and the return of an audience favourite, Sat 18 Nov, Lichfield Garrick THE NUTCRACKER Vienna Festival ballet bring to life the story of Clara and her adventures on Christmas Eve, Sat 18 Nov, Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire

Talks A ROPE OF WORDS Dr Rona Cran takes a look at the woman at the heart of the movie Sunset Boulevard, and explores the transition from silent cinema to the talkies, Wed 15 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome ERASMUS DARWIN MEMORIAL LECTURE 2017 Presented by Lichfield Science & Engineering Society, Thurs 16 Nov, Lichfield Garrick

ROB GEE: FORGET ME NOT - THE ALZHEIMER’S WHODUNNIT Thoughtprovoking one-man comedy/poetry show which explores how we treat and perceive people with dementia, Sat 18 Nov, Stoke St Milborough Village Hall, Ludlow, South Shropshire

DELUSIONS & OBSESSIVE LOVE An exploration of the Billy Wilder film, Sunset Boulevard. Presented as part of the SHOUT Festival, Thurs 16 Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome

WHERE’S MY IGLOO GONE? Journey into a dazzling Arctic world of soaring snow geese, husky dogs and starry nights, Sat 18 Nov, Longner Village Hall, Nr Shrewsbury

AN EVENING WITH GERVAISE PHINN Gervaise tells tales from his life as a teacher and school inspector, Sat 18 Nov, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs

TREASURE ISLAND A journey across the high seas, filled with larger-thanlife characters and swashbuckling sword fights, Sat 18 Nov - Sat 27 Jan, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-underLyme STAR STORM RSM Stage Academy presents its annual showcase, Sun 19 Nov, Crescent Theatre, B’ham

Film INDEPENDENT LISTINGS:

THAT’LL BE THE DAY Featuring a newline-up of smash hits spanning the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s & ’80s, Sun 19 Nov, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

FLATLINERS (15) Horror/Sci-Fi. Starring Ellen Page, Diego Luna. Festival Drayton Centre, North Shropshire, Mon 13 Nov

DOREEN: THE RISE OF THE YAM YAM Comedy Queen of the Black Country Doreen Tipton sets out to challenge Darwin with her very own Theory of Evolution, Sun 19 - Mon 20 Nov, Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock

THEIR FINEST (12a) Comedy/Drama.

Starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Mon 13 Nov LOVING VINCENT (15) Animation/Biography. With the voices of Douglas Booth, Chris O'Dowd. Stoke Film

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Monday 13 - Sunday 19 November Theatre, Tues 14 Nov

Hall, Shrewsbury, Fri 17 - Thu 23 Nov

BASE (15) Action/Drama. Starring Alexander Polli. Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Tues 14 Nov

BLADE RUNNER 2049 (15) Sci-Fi/Thriller.

Starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford.

Festival Drayton Centre, North Shropshire, Sat 18 Nov

AFTER THE STORM (PG) Drama. Starring Hiroshi Abe, Yôko Maki. Foreign language, subtitled. Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Tues 14 Nov INTO THE WOODS (PG) Adventure/Comedy. Starring Anna Kendrick, Meryl Streep. The Hive, Shrewsbury, Wed 15 Nov THE EXORCIST (18) Horror. Starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow. Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 16 Nov BORN FREE (U) Adventure/Drama.

Starring Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers. The Hive, Shrewsbury, Thurs 16 Nov BRIMSTONE (18) Thriller/Western. Starring Kit Harington, Dakota Fanning.

Stoke Film Theatre, Thurs 16 Nov THE PARTY (15) Comedy/Drama. Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall. Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 17 - Sat 18 Nov MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (12a) Crime/Drama. Starring Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfeiffer. Old Market

Events TRAM DRIVING EXPERIENCE DAY Join the expert team to learn all about the history and workings of the trams in the collection, once seen in every town of the Black Country, Mon 13 Nov, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley NIMROD TOURS Climb on board the Nimrod and learn about its intelligence-gathering role in the Royal Air Force, Mon 13 - Sat 18 Nov, RAF Cosford, Shifnal CANDLELIT TOURS OF THE BACK TO BACKS Thurs 16 Nov, Birmingham Back to Backs BIRMINGHAM FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET Thurs 16 Nov - Sun 24 Dec, Birmingham City Centre SANTA'S WINTER WONDERLAND Fri 17

Nov - Sun 31 Dec, The Snowdome, Tamworth

Sun 26 Nov, NEC, Birmingham

LANTERNORY Brand new storytelling concept that follows the exploits of Raike, a young thief, as he attempts to acquire treasures from the castle.

The story is revealed in parts, as visitor’s tour through the venue by lantern light, Sat 18 Nov, Tamworth Castle SHREWSBURY CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL Celebration of chocolate featuring exhibitors, children's activities, demonstrations and music, Sat 18 - Sun 19 Nov, St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury CRAFT & CHRISTMAS FAYRE Featuring 50-plus stalls, including crafts, gifts and food exhibitors, Sat 18 - Sun 19 Nov, Himley Hall & Park, Dudley CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR Featuring more than 70 local artists, food producers and talented craftspeople, Sat 18 - Sun 19 Nov, Dudmaston Estate, Bridgnorth, South Shropshire MCM BIRMINGHAM COMIC CON Another ‘fun-filled celebration of geeky goodness’, Sat 18 - Sun 19 Nov, NEC, Birmingham MOTORCYCLE LIVE 2017 The UK’s biggest motorcycle show, Sat 18 -

DRAYTON'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS Featuring live shows, carols, presents, light shows, festive food, Father Christmas and a daily ‘magnificent fireworks display’, Sat 18 Nov - Sun 31 Dec, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tamworth CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL The Red House Glass Cone's first Christmas Tree Festival, raising money for Dudley Mind, the YMCA and Dudley Alzheimer's Society, Sat 18 Nov - Sun 7 Jan, Red House Glass Cone, Wordsley, Stourbridge XMAS ART & CRAFT GIFT MARKET Featuring an eclectic selection of original art and craft items by local artists and makers, Sun 19 Nov, Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton

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COMING SOON...

7th Nov, 7.30pm Actors of Dionysus: Antigone Tickets: £12, £10 conc, £5 student

8th Nov, 7pm Liz Weir: Across the Water

Tales from Ireland and Beyond

Tickets: £6 adv, £8 otd

13th - 18th Nov, 7.30pm

Sat Mat 2.30pm

Little Theatre Company:

Betty Blue Eyes Tickets: £12, £10 conc

16th Nov, 7-9pm Made in the Middle:

Ceramics Workshop with Zoe Hillyard Tickets: £15 including materials

22nd Nov, 7pm Zest Theatre and Half Moon:

What Once Was Ours Tickets: £8, £5 conc

24th Nov, 7.30pm Into The Shadows

The Unique Sound of The Shadows

Tickets: £12

25th Nov, 8pm Burton Town Hall

Motown 60s & 70s Club Soul

SatotdMat £10 £12, Tickets: Tickets: £7adv , £10

25th Nov, 8pm George Egg: DIY Chef Tickets: £12, £10 conc

29th Nov, 7pm

Vienna Festival Ballet presents

The Nutcracker

Tickets: £18, £16 conc

Box office: 01283 508100 BOOK ONLINE AT

www.brewhouse.co.uk

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

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Monday 20 - Sunday 26 November Civic Hall, Wolverhampton LES MCKEOWN BAY CITY ROLLERS Fri 24 Nov, The Robin, Bilston BRYSON TILLER Fri 24 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham SCRATCH PERVERTS Fri 24 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

Duke Special - Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury

Gigs THE LAFONTAINES Mon 20 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

QUEEN Wed 22 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham SAMANTHA FISH Wed 22 Nov, The Robin, Bilston BRY Wed 22 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR Mon 20 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham

ALDOUS HARDING Wed 22 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN Mon 20 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

JOHN BRAMWELL Wed 22 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

ROBERT PLANT AND THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS Mon 20 Nov, Wolverhampton Civic Hall

JIM MORAY Wed 22 Nov, The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham

BLACK LIPS Mon 20 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham JAMES BLUNT Tues 21 Nov, Arena Birmingham SKERRYVORE Tues 21 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham LUCY ROSE Tues 21 Nov, The Glee Club, B’ham WILL VARLEY Tues 21 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham OMD Tues 21 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham OYSTERBAND Tues 21 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall TYGERS OF PAN TANG Tues 21 Nov, The Robin, Bilston GRAHAM BONNET BAND Tues 21 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent DUKE SPECIAL Wed 22 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury

OPETH Wed 22 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham AS LIONS Wed 22 Nov, The Sugarmill, Stokeon-Trent RICK WAKEMAN Wed 22 Nov, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme

JAGGED LITTLE PILL - A TRIBUTE TO ALANIS MORISSETTE Fri 24 Nov, O2 Academy, B’ham LIZZIE AND THE BANSHEES Fri 24 Nov, The Roadhouse, B’ham KEITH JAMES Fri 24 Nov, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek ENTER SHIKARI Fri 24 Nov, Arena Birmingham SHAM 69 Fri 24 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton THE DIVINE COMEDY Fri 24 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham PURE PURPLE Fri 24 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent MIKE GARSON PLAYS DAVID BOWIE'S ALADDIN SANE Sat 25 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham BETSY Sat 25 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

BANANARAMA Thurs 23 Nov, Arena Birmingham

LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Sat 25 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

EMILY BARKER Thurs 23 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury

JAMES ARTHUR Sat 25 Nov, Genting Arena, Birmingham

ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION Thurs 23 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

MAGIC - A KIND OF QUEEN Sat 25 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent

SARKODIE Thurs 23 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham

HOWARD JONES Sat 25 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

MR BIG PLUS THE ANSWER & FASTER PUSSYCAT Thurs 23 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton YUNGEN Thurs 23 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham THE MOUSE OUTFIT Thurs 23 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ABBOTT Sat 25 Nov, Wolverhampton Civic Hall THE SCOPYONS Sat 25 Nov, Eleven, Sandyford, Stoke on Trent TOM CLARKE Sun 26 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

BRY Wed 22 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

THE TRAVELLING BAND Thurs 23 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

MORBID ANGEL Wed 22 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

GOLDIE Thurs 23 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

EMILY BARKER Sun 26 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

BRYSON TILLER Wed 22 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

PVRIS Thurs 23 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

SIXTIES GOLD Sun 26 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO

FLEET FOXES Fri 24 Nov,

CHINA CRISIS Sun 26 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

Classical Music

Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

THOMAS TROTTER LUNCHTIME CONCERT Programme includes works by N. de Grigny, J. P. Sweelinck, W. Herschel, L. Vierné, Wagner (arr. E. H. Lemare) & Holst (arr. T. Trotter), Mon 20 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

MICK FERRY, CARL DONNELLEY & COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON Thurs 23 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

DNA: DELYTH & ANGARAD JENKINS Traditional & new Welsh music on harp & fiddle, Mon 20 Nov, The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury TAMSIN WALEY-COHEN PLAYS MOZART Featuring Orchestra Of The Swan & David Curtis (conductor). Programme includes works by Haydn, Grieg & Mozart, Wed 22 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall THE RAF IN CONCERT 2017 Wed 22 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham CECIL ARONOWITZ ORCHESTRA Programme includes works by Bartók, Hindemith & Walton, Fri 24 Nov, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire FODEN BRASS BAND WITH MATT FORD: MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS Fri 24 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral NDR RADIOPHILHARMONIE HANOVER BEETHOVEN AND BRAHMS Featuring Andrew Manze (conductor) & Igor Levit (piano), Sat 25 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham NOTORIOUS AT 20 - FAURE REQUIEM AND RUTTER MAGNIFICAT Sat 25 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Daniele Rosina (conductor).Programme includes works by Sibelius & Grieg, Sat 25 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham PETRO FRESA PIANO RECITAL Programme includes works by Debussy, Beethoven & Schumann, Sat 25 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire MILITARY WIVES: HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Sat 25 Nov, Lichfield Cathedral WIND BAND & SAXOPHONE CHOIR Sun 26 Nov, The Bramall, Birmingham

Comedy TOADALLY FREE COMEDY! Members of Box of Frogs present their own inimitable brand of high-octane improvised nonsense from audience suggestions, Mon 20 Nov, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham CHRIS KENT & ANDREW RYAN Wed 22 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham JIMMY CARR - THE BEST OF, ULTIMATE GOLD, GREATEST HITS TOUR Wed 22 Nov, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent SEAN LOCK - KEEP IT LIGHT Wed 22 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton ANDREW RYAN & CHRIS KENT Wed 22

ED GAMBLE - MAMMOTH Thurs 23 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

MICK FERRY, CARL DONNELLEY, GUZ KHAN & SEAN MCLOUGHLIN Fri 24 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham COMEDY WITH INGRID DAHLE & BRENDAN BURNS COMPERED BY CHRIS PURCHASE Fri 24 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre MITCH BENN Fri 24 Nov, mac, B’ham GARY DELANEY Fri 24 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford KERRY GODLIMAN - STICK OR TWIST Fri 24 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham ALEX BOARDMAN & JONNY AWSUM Fri 24 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Club, Birmingham PAUL CHOWDHURY Fri 24 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton JONNY AWSUM & NICK PAGE Sat 25 Nov, Jongleurs Comedy Club, B‘ham MICK FERRY, CARL DONNELLEY, GUZ KHAN & SEAN MCLOUGHLIN Sat 25 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, KEVIN GILDEA, MIKE NEWALL & STEVE HARRIS Sat 25 Nov, The Comedy Loft, Birmingham ROFL! COMEDY CLUB Every Saturday four comedians to tickle your funny bone! Sat 25 Nov, The Old Post Office, Burton-upon-Trent KERRY GODLIMAN - STICK OR TWIST Sat 25 Nov, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire MATT RICHARDSON Sun 26 Nov, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury

Theatre IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART 1 CONSPIRATOR A story of power-politics in the ancient Rome of Robert Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. Gregory Doran directs. until Sat 10 Feb, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon ALICE IN WONDERLAND Mon 20 Nov Sat 30 Dec, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham A CHRISTMAS CAROL Amateur staging presented by Bilston Operatic Company, Tues 21 - Sat 25 Nov, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre UP 'N' UNDER John Godber’s story of an inept pub team who reluctantly accept the help of a female coach, Tues 21 - Sun 26 Nov, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham CATS Amateur staging of the Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Tues 21 - Sat 25 Nov, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

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Friday 3 November, 7.30pm

BEYOND THE BARRICADE

Sunday 5 November, 3pm

GRIMETHORPE COLLIERY BAND

Tuesday 7 November, 7.30pm

PSYCHIC SALLY

Thursday 9 November, 7.30pm

FORBIDDEN NIGHTS

Saturday 11 November, 7.30pm

QUADROPHENIA NIGHT

Wednesday 15 November, 7.30pm

LUKE JERMAY

Thursday 16 November, 7.30pm

A NEW FLAME

Wednesday 22 November, 8pm

PAUL ZERDIN: ALL MOUTH Friday 24 November, 8pm

GARY DELANEY: THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT GARY

TWC GP 01224

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thelist WHAT ONCE WAS OURS Immersive new show about identity and belonging, Wed 22 Nov, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent BRILLIANCE Celebration of progress and change in a bright new world, Wed 22 Nov, Talbot Theatre, Whitchurch, North Shropshire

PAUL ZERDIN: ALL MOUTH Join Paul, Sam, Albert, Baby and two brand new characters for an evening of stand-up comedy and ventriloquism, Wed 22 Nov, The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford

Monday 20 - Sunday 26 November

Dance

GAMECHANGER Morph Dance Company present an evening of thoughtprovoking work that explores personal experiences and social issues, Wed 22 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANCING Relive the passion, indulge in the romance and celebrate the greatest movie soundtrack of all time, Thurs 23 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire THE NUTCRACKER Performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Fri 24 Nov Wed 13 Dec, Birmingham Hippodrome

Talks THE DREAMBOYS Thurs 23 Nov, Prince Of Wales Centre, Cannock NEXUS WHISPERS Vexed Theatre explore the familiar conventions of Terror in film, live on stage, Thurs 23 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton BEDROOM FARCE Amateur staging of Alan Ayckbourn’s light-hearted comedy, Thurs 23 - Sat 25 Nov, Bayston Hill Memorial Hall, Shrewsbury FORCED ENTERTAINMENT - REAL MAGIC Physical theatre performance taking audiences on ‘a hallucinatory journey’, Wed 22 - Fri 24 Nov, MAC, Birmingham THE PUSS IN BOOTS Presented by Masque Theatre Company, Thurs 23 - Fri 24 Nov, Mitchell Arts Centre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent IMPERIUM PART II: DICTATOR A story of power-politics in the ancient Rome of Robert Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. Gregory Doran directs Richard McCabe in the epic title role, Thurs 23 Nov - Sat 10 Feb, Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon MONOLOGUESLAM A selection of actors go head-to-head to perform for a panel of industry professionals, including agents, casting directors and directors, Fri 24 Nov, The REP, B’ham SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN UGLY B******S Adult panto promising to be ‘lewd, rude, crude, full of filth, sexual innuendo, smut and bad language’, Fri 24 Nov, Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire

GOK WAN: NAKED AND BEARING ALL Gok talks candidly about his rise to stardom, Mon 20 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre SABA DOUGLAS-HAMILTON: A LIFE WITH ELEPHANTS The wildlife TV presenter shares animal stories and behind-thescenes tales of life in Kenya, Wed 22 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall DOUG SCOTT & SIR CHRIS BONINGTON: CRAWLING OFF THE OGRE A must for all adventure fans, Thurs 23 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall MATT HAIG: FATHER CHRISTMAS AND ME The bestselling author presents an interactive family event for children aged seven-plus, Sat 25 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

Film INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: HAMPSTEAD (12a) Comedy/Drama.

Starring Brendan Gleeson, Diane Keaton. Stourbridge Town Hall, Mon 20 Nov TAWAI (U) Documentary. Starring Bruce Parry, Ingrid Lewis. Foreign language, subtitled. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Shropshire, Mon 20 Nov ANOTHER MOTHERS SON (12a) Drama.

Starring Jenny Seagrove, John Hannah. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, Mon 20 Nov

MEEK'S CUTOFF (PG) Drama/Western.

Starring Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood. The Hive, Shrewsbury, Wed 22 Nov PAN’S LABYRINTH (15) Drama/Fantasy.

Starring Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil. Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Thurs 23 Nov THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS (12) Drama/Romance. Starring Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander. Forest Arts Centre, Walsall, Thurs 23 Nov THE EXCEPTION (15) Drama/War. Starring Lily James, Jai Courtney. Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, South Shropshire, Fri 24 - Sat 25 Nov THE DEATH OF STALIN (15) Biography/Comedy. Starring Jason Isaacs, Andrea Riseborough. Stoke Film Theatre, Fri 24 - Sat 25 Nov FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (tbc) Biography/Drama. Starring Jamie Bell, Annette Bening. Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Fri 24 - Thurs 30 Nov VICTORIA & ABDUL (PG) Biography/Drama. Starring Judi Dench, Adeel Akhtar. Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov

Events BIRMINGHAM FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET Thurs 16 Nov - Sun 24 Dec, Birmingham City Centre SANTA'S WINTER WONDERLAND Fri 17 Nov - Sun 31 Dec, The Snowdome, Tamworth TINY TOTS TRAIL OF TREATS Unlock the secrets to a ‘magical trail’ around the Victorian Town, Wed 22 - Thurs 23 Nov, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, Shropshire ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE WINTER FAIR The largest vetted art, antiques and interiors fair outside of London, bringing together more than 200 specialist dealers exhibiting the finest pieces, Thurs 23 - Sun 26 Nov, NEC, B’ham COURTYARD LIGHTS SWITCH ON Gather in the Victorian factory courtyard to light the giant tree and celebrate the countdown to Christmas with carols and mince pies. Great offers and latenight shopping also feature, Fri 24 Nov, Emma Bridgewater Pottery Factory Outlet, Hanley, Stoke-onTrent

STAR STORM RSM Stage Academy presents its annual showcase, Sat 25 Nov, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

CHURCHILL (PG) Biography/Drama.

Starring Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson. Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Tues 21 Nov

SHREWSBURY FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE Including contributions from international authors, poets, storytellers and historians, Fri 24 - Sun 26 Nov, Various Locations around Shrewsbury

SHOW ME THE MONEY Playful investigation of making art in a time of austerity, Sat 25 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

DAPHNE (PG) Comedy/Drama. Starring Emily Beecham, Geraldine James.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Tues 21 - Wed 22 Nov

MAGICAL LANTERN FESTIVAL Christmas-themed event featuring artistic sculptures, Fri 24 Nov - Mon 1 Jan, Kings Heath Park, Birmingham

APLEY FARM SHOP CRAFT FAIR Featuring local Shropshire crafters selling handmade crafts, including stationery, artwork, photographs, jewellery and kitchenware, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Apley Farm Shop, Norton, Nr Shifnal WARLEY NATIONAL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION The UK's premier model railway event, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, NEC, Birmingham SANTA BOAT TRIPS Visit Santa by boat in his underground grotto, deep in the caverns, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust NORTH POLE ADVENTURE Two-hour family journey to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas and his friends, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, National Forest Adventure Farm, Burton Upon Trent SANTA EXPERIENCE Enjoy a very special visit to Santa, complete with ‘a generous present’, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Park Hall Farm, Oswestry, North Shropshire LUDLOW MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS FAYRE Bone-crunching knights, giant puppets and a medley of medieval musicians all play their part in this ever-popular event - as do more than 100 stall holders selling food, drink and seasonal wares, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Ludlow Castle, Shropshire SANTA HUNTS Enjoy a ‘fun-filled’ search for Santa alongside the museum’s festive costumed guides, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley CHRISTMAS IN THE HOME Step back in time and take part in some seasonal activities, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL TATTOO Annual event featuring marching bands and impressive displays, and culminating in a spectacular ‘grand finale’ including all the performers, Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Arena Birmingham FATHER CHRISTMAS IN HIS GROTTO Sat 25 - Sun 26 Nov, Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool, Powys MEET SANTA In an experience unique to Birmingham this festive season, visitors are invited to go to the North Pole of the city in the Antarctic Grotto, meet the man himself and enjoy the cheeky Gentoo penguins in the exclusive setting of the ever-sochilly Ice Adventure area, Sat 25 Nov - Sat 23 Dec, National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham SANTA'S SLEEPOVERS Experience ‘a magical festive sleepover’ at one Alton Tower's themed hotels, Sun 26 Nov, Alton Towers, Staffordshire STIR UP SUNDAY The traditional day for everyone in the family to take a turn at stirring the Christmas pudding and making a wish, Sun 26 Nov, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

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From the company that brought you THE GRUFFALO & THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE

#####

“The perfect Christmas Show”

Time Out Three Weeks The List

The Stage

For ages 3+

TUE 19 DEC - SUN 7 JAN 0844 338 5000* birminghamhippodrome.com

Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome *Calls cost 4.5p per min plus your phone company's access charge.

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thelist

Monday 27 - Thursday 30 November

Classical Music

BEC HILL, SOL BERNSTIEN, ANDY ROBINSON & JARLATH REGAN Thurs 30 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

VEROMIKA TABAKOVA (PIANO) Also featuring Ella de Villiers (flute), Joanne Sealey (piano) & Paul Lamstaes (saxophone). Programme includes works

by Ibert, Karg-Elert & Swerts, Mon 27 Nov, Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire

JON RICHARDSON - OLD MAN Thurs 30 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

JOHN WILSON & THE JOHN WILSON ORCHESTRA: 'A CELEBRATION OF THE MGM FILM MUSICALS' Featuring Louise Dearman (special guest) & Matt Ford, Tues 28 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham SHREWSBURY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring soloist Vincent Barrella.

Programme includes works by Rachmaninov, Beethoven & Verdi, Wed 29 Nov, Alington Hall, Shrewsbury Rag’n’Bone Man - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

Gigs

NORTHLANE Tues 28 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

LP Mon 27 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

JW JONES Tues 28 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

COLIN BLUNSTONE WITH HIS FULL BAND Mon 27 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

NATTY Tues 28 Nov, Hare & Hounds, B’ham

ROYAL THUNDER Mon 27 Nov, Mama Roux’s, Birmingham RAG'N'BONE MAN Mon 27 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton EVERY TIME I DIE AND COMEBACK KID Mon 27 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham JESCA HOOP Mon 27 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham CHRIS REA Mon 27 Wed 29 Nov, Symphony Hall, B’ham BEANS ON TOAST AND SKINNY LISTER Tues 28 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham THE SOLID GOLD ROCK 'N' ROLL SHOW 2017 Tues 28 Nov, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Cafe, Birmingham JANE WEAVER Wed 29 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham IAN FELICE Wed 29 Nov, Hare & Hounds, B’ham

SLEEPTALKING Tues 28 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

BRUCE MOLSKY'S MOUNTAIN DRIFTERS Wed 29 Nov, The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham

SINACH WAYMAKER Tues 28 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Wed 29 Nov, Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

ROB HERON & THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRABRAVE SONS OF ELIJAH PERRY Tues 28 Nov, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

MARK LANEGAN BAND Wed 29 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

STONE SOUR Wed 29 Nov, Arena Birmingham TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS Wed 29 Nov, The Robin, Bilston ELECTRIC BOYS Wed 29 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton LOTTO BOYZZ Wed 29 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham NASHVILLE SOUNDS IN THE ROUND Wed 29 Nov, Kitchen Garden

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT Thurs 30 Nov, Arena Birmingham BROKEN WITT REBELS Thurs 30 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham KOBRA AND THE LOTUS Wed 29 Nov, The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton CADET Thurs 30 Nov, O2 Institute, B’ham STILLIA Thurs 30 Nov, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: BEETHOVEN’S PASTORAL Featuring Mirga Gražinyte -Tyla (conductor) & Rafał Blechacz (piano).

Programme includes works by Mozart, Chopin & Beethoven, Thurs 30 Nov, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR: J S BACH – MASS IN B MINOR Also featuring London Baroque Sinfonia, Paul Spicer (conductor), Sarah Fox (soprano), James Laing (countertenor,) Rob (bass-baritone), Thurs 30 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

Comedy JOE LYCETT: WORK IN PROGRESS Mon 27 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham

Kobra And The Lotus The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

ERIC OF DOCK GREEN IN MIDWINTER MURDERS A murder, a Christmas party, a comedy, Eric - and 20 of the 1960s’ greatest hits, Mon 27 Nov Sat 9 Dec, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme THE LION IN WINTER The Nonentities present an amateur staging of James Goldman’s historical drama, Mon 27 Nov - Sat 2 Dec, The Rose Theatre Kidderminster GREASE The original high school musical, starring Danielle Hope as Sandy, Tom Parker as Danny and Louisa Lytton as Rizzo, Mon 27 Nov Sat 2 Dec, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

THE BAND: TAKE THAT’S NEW MUSICAL Tim Firth’s hit boyband musical, Tues 28 Nov - Sat 9 Dec, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

JAMESON RAID Thurs 30 Nov, The Asylum, Hockley

URBAN INTRO Thurs 30 Nov, The Roadhouse, Birmingham

IMPERIUM: THE CICERO PLAYS, PART 1 CONSPIRATOR A story of power-politics in the ancient Rome of Robert Harris’ best-selling Cicero trilogy. Gregory Doran directs. until Sat 10 Feb, The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

WINTER TALE Regional Voice present three spinetingling tales of the supernatural, including Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Tues 28 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

THINK FLOYD Thurs 30 Nov, The Robin, Bilston

DAVE Thurs 30 Nov, O2 Institute, Birmingham

ALICE IN WONDERLAND until Sat 30 Dec, The Old Rep Theatre, B’ham

THE HIRED MAN Classic musical taking audiences on an early-20th century journey from the hard farmlands of the north to the war-torn trenches of the Great War, Mon 27 Nov - Sat 2 Dec, Blue Orange Theatre, B’ham

BLAENAVON Thurs 30 Nov, Mama Roux’s, Birmingham

ELECTRIC SIX Thurs 30 Nov, O2 Academy, Birmingham

Theatre

ROY 'CHUBBY' BROWN Wed 29 Nov, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham MARGARET CHO Wed 29 Nov, The Glee Club, Birmingham SNAP COMEDY FEATURING ISZI LAWRENCE, JOSH PUGH & DOUG SEGAL Thurs 30 Nov, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham

WILLIAM WALTON’S THE BEAR Mid Wales Opera ‘Small-Stages’ presents its first ever micro-chamber performance, Wed 29 Nov, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS Brad Fitt returns as the Dame in this festive family favourite, Wed 29 Nov Sun 7 Jan, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

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thelist ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS Richard Bean’s adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s comedy, Servant Of Two Masters, Wed 29 Nov - Sat 16 Dec, Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham ALADDIN Fun-filled family pantomime starring CBeebies’ Cat Sandion as Princess Jasmine, Sam Rabone as Dame Widow Twankey and Ben Thornton as Wishy Washy, Thurs 30 Nov - Sat 6 Jan, Lichfield Garrick

THE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS Dodie Smith’s delightful tale, adapted for the stage by Nativity! writer Debbie Isitt, Thurs 30 Nov - Sat 13 Jan, The REP, Birmingham

Monday 27 - Thursday 30 November

to life, Thurs 30 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

Dance THE NUTCRACKER Performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet, Fri 24 Nov Wed 13 Dec, Birmingham Hippodrome

NO SUCH THING AS A FISH Dan Schreiber, Andrew Hunter Murray, Anna Ptaszynski and James Harkin serve up their pick of ‘the most bizarre, extraordinary and hilarious facts known to man’, Thurs 30 Nov, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

BBC Good Food Show - NEC, Birmingham

Talks

FATHER CHRISTMAS Pins & Needles present Raymond Briggs’ classic festive tale, Thurs 30 Nov - Sat 30 Dec, Mac, Birmingham CHRIS EUBANK'S ONE-MAN SHOW Thurs 30 Nov, Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton A CHRISTMAS CAROL Guy Masterson brings Dickens’ classic festive fable

YAATRA Presented by Jaivant Patel Dance, Wed 29 Nov, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton

AN EVENING WITH SIR MICHAEL PARKINSON Sir Michael talks about a career during which he’s interviewed more than 2,000 famous people, Mon 27 Nov, Birmingham Town Hall

Sun 31 Dec, The Snowdome, Tamworth MAGICAL LANTERN FESTIVAL Christmas-themed event featuring artistic sculptures, until Mon 1 Jan, Kings Heath Park, Birmingham

Film INDEPENDENT LISTINGS: THE LOST CITY OF Z (12a) Adventure/Biography. Starring Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson. The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Mon 27 Nov EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT (12a) Adventure/Drama. Starring Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet. The Hive, Shrewsbury, Tues 28 Nov FENCES (12A) Drama. Starring Denzel Washington, Viola Davis. Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs, Tues 28 Nov

ENGLAND ROSES FACE MALAWI QUEENS International netball, as England face Malawi, Wed 29 Nov, Genting Arena, Birmingham TINY TOTS TRAIL OF TREATS Unlock the secrets of a magical trail around the Victorian town. Join Mrs Claus at the fireside for milk & cookies (hot chocolate for the grown-ups), a festive story and a stocking filled with chocolate coins, Wed 29 - Thurs 30 Nov, Blists Hill, Telford, Shropshire

Events BIRMINGHAM FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET until Sun 24 Dec, Birmingham City Centre SANTA'S WINTER WONDERLAND until

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CHRISTMAS AT THE BOTANICS The trees and glasshouses are ‘playfully lit and all aglow’, with a sparkling path winding its way through the gardens to create ‘a magical after-dark experience’, Wed 29 Nov - Mon 1 Jan, Birmingham Botanical Gardens BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW Featuring top UK chefs cooking live, and a huge range of independent producers and big brands, Thurs 30 Nov - Sun 3 Dec, NEC, Birmingham

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