Nov 2012 - View Online - Whats On Live

THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE 

www.whatsonlive.co.uk £1.80 ISSUE 323 NOVEMBER 2012 

gets ready to rock and shock.... 

EMELI SANDE 

BRIT AWARD-WINNER 

BACK IN THE REGION 

INSIDE 

Ben Richards 

working 9 To 5 in the Midlands 

interview inside 

Dan Ryan 

Skins actor clocks on 

for his latest role 


Neal Foster 

Birmingham Stage Company 

celebrates twenty years... 


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MAGAZINE GROUP 

November 2012 

9 To 5 The Musical - read the interview with Ben Richards on page 6 

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INSIDE: 

The Ladykillers 

West End show arrives 

in the Midlands p29 

Dan Ryan 

interview inside p8 

Kevin Bridges 

Scottish stand-up back in 

the region p26 

Emeli Sande 

returns to Birmingham p13 


M T W T F S S 

1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

26 27 28 29 30

NewsA 

ROUND-UP OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS 

Graduates and guest 

exhibitors announced for 

Centrepiece 2012 

Organisers of one of the Midlands’ finest 

showcases of contemporary jewellery have 

announced that this year’s event is to feature 

work from six new graduates and five guest 

exhibitors. Centrepiece 2012 brings together 

the collective talents of thirty designer-makers. 

Designers Andrea Korsgen and Isabella 

Hart will be returning to the Midlands just in 

time for the event following a visit to 

Southern India to share their skills - establishing 

a jewellery partnership with Mercy 

Mission welfare society in the process. 

An annual event at Birmingham’s Symphony 

Hall, Centrepiece offers visitors an opportunity 

to purchase a range of unique, locally 

designed items, and this year runs from 14 

November to 23 December. 

LG Arena scoops top award 

Birmingham’s LG Arena has added yet 

another accolade to its collection, scooping 

Live Music Business Awards’ ‘Best Venue 

Teamwork - Arena’ gong at a recent awards 

ceremony in London. This follows hot on the 

heels of the venue achieving seventh position 

in Pollstars list of the Top 100 arenas 

worldwide. Guy Dunstan, General Manager 

of the Arena, said of the Live Music Business 

Awards success: “We’re thrilled with our 

achievement. Just being two out of the three 

finalists is a massive coup, but actually winning 

the award is the icing on the cake. And 

what’s more humbling is to know we’ve been 

voted for by industry peers - so they’re 

telling us we’re the best in the UK!” 

4 www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

Marcus Collins to star in Hairspray 

X Factor star Marcus Collins is to join the cast of Hairspray when it embarks on a second UK tour 

next year. Marcus will play Seaweed Stubbs - the son of DJ Motormouth Maybelle and love interest 

of Penny Pingleton - when the production stops off at the Birmingham Hippodrome in May. He 

will be joined by Waterloo Rd actor Mark Benton, who’ll assume the role of the larger-than-life 

Edna Turnblad. Ex-EastEnder Lucy Benjamin stars as the scheming Velma Von Tussle, while newcomer 

Freya Sutton takes the role of big-haired teenager Tracy Turnblad. Of his forthcoming role, 

Marcus said: “I can’t express how thrilled I am to be joining the tour of Hairspray. It’s been a pretty 

amazing year for me, and now to be cast in my dream role feels like a new part of the adventure! 

Having trained in musical theatre since my early teens, I’m really itching to get into rehearsals, and 

so excited to be working with Mark, Lucy and the rest of the company.” 

Domestic Goddess in Brum 

Celebrity chef, journalist and ‘Domestic 

Goddess’ Nigella Lawson makes an appearance 

at Waterstones book store in 

Birmingham’s New 

Street late this 

month. Nigella’s in 

town on 27 

November to promote 

her latest cookbook, 

Nigellissima, 

which features over 

one hundred Italian 

recipes. 

New director announced 

Birmingham’s Barber Institute has 

announced that Nicola Kalinsky has been 

appointed as the venue’s new director. 

Nicola, who is currently Deputy Director and 

Chief Curator at the Scottish National Portrait 

Gallery, National Galleries of Scotland, will 

take up her new post on 14 January - just in 

time to play a major role in the Barber’s 

eightieth anniversary programme. 

Culture and shopping... 

Visiting Birmingham’s top museums and art 

galleries is being made easier early next 

month courtesy of the return of the ever-popular 

Art Bus. On Saturday 1 December, the 

tour bus will once again be visiting six of the 

city’s galleries - Ikon, the Barber Institute of 

Fine Arts, mac, Birmingham Museum & Art 

Gallery, RBSA Gallery and Eastside Projects. 

Ikon will be offering special discounts for Art 

Bus users and a four-course menu in Cafe 

Ikon for just £25.

Spoken Word artist to share 

his near-death experience 

This month sees West Midlands-born poet 

and writer Richard Tyrone Jones bring his 

Big Heart to his home city of 

Wolverhampton. In 2010, the former 

Wolverhampton Grammar School pupil 

received a very unwelcome thirtieth birthday 

present - heart failure. Having battled back 

from the brink of death, Richard - armed 

with a pen and pacemaker - started writing 

about the experience of living with a condition 

that will ‘almost certainly kill him’. The 

resulting work of theatre, Richard Tyrone 

Jones’s Big Heart, received much critical 

acclaim when it appeared at the 2012 

Edinburgh Fringe, and shows at the Arena 

Theatre, Wolverhampton, on 28 November 

as part of a UK-wide tour. 

Staffordshire craft show 

back on course... 

The Shire Hall Gallery’s annual 

Contemporary Craft Fair makes a welcome 

return this month. Entitled Handmade, the 

fair showcases works by artists from across 

the region and beyond, and offers visitors 

the opportunity to buy original and handcrafted 

items. The event takes place on 2 & 

3 November. 

Arts funding awarded to 

community art agency 

Midlands-based community art agency 

Multistory has announced that it’s been 

awarded more than £300,000 funding by the 

Arts Council for its Open For Business project. 

The award will allow the organisation to 

forge ahead with its plan to promote the 

untold story of British manufacturing and 

industry through the lenses of the world’s 

greatest photographers. The overall objective 

of the project is to create an exhibition 

which, as well as being staged locally, will 

also be relevant to a larger-scale show. 

Michael Jackson in Birmingham... 

Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour is to visit Birmingham next year 

following an acclaimed run at the O2 in London. The production, which is primarily aimed at 

Jackson’s army of long-standing fans, has been described by our What’s On reviewer as ‘a 

visual delight’, with ‘the troupe stunning the audience with their synchronicity, aerial acrobatics, 

animal impersonations and light fantastic firework display’. 

Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour stops off at the National Indoor Arena on Tuesday 

26 March, with tickets, starting at £40, now available. Read the full review of the O2 show at 

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

IN BRIEF 

Classic meets 

contemporary for 

calendar shoot 

Worcester’s The Hive 

has proved to be a 

perfect model of contemporary 

design in 

more ways than one. 

The building, which 

was officially opened 

by HRH The Queen in 

July, was recently 

selected as the backdrop 

for a photo shoot 

for MOG magazine’s 

calendar for 2013. 

MOG magazine is a 

new publication aimed 

at Morgan owners and 

enthusiasts across the 

world, while The Hive 

is becoming globally 

recognised and was 

recently shortlisted in 

the World Architectural 

Festival 2012. 

Shropshire venue completes first phase of 

multi-million pound refurbishment 

Shropshire’s Telford Ice Rink - which is home to the town’s two 

hockey teams, the Telford Tigers and Telford Titans - is being 

given its first facelift since 1984, with the initial phase of a £4million 

refurbishment programme now complete. The majority of the 

money is being spent on improving the venue’s general appearance 

and providing a new barrier to meet hockey regulations. The 

second phase of the refurbishment, due for completion by 

26 November, sees the introduction of Telford Soft Play in the 

building’s new 

extension. A newlook 

reception and 

bar area, which 

will be leased to 

an external company 

some time in 

the near future, 

will be built in the 

final phase of the 

overhaul. 

Professional Association of Alexander Teachers 

Recreational Course in the Alexander Technique 

Starting Early January 2013 

If you have had lessons in the Alexander Technique for about a 

year or attended an Introductory Evening Class, or a module in the 

Alexander Technique at a university or equivalent then you are eligible 

to join the PAAT Recreational Course. The Recreational Course will 

offer guidance in deepening your understanding, knowledge and 

application of the Technique – and you get to do it in company. 

The 12-week course is held in Birmingham. 

For an application form, please contact the PAAT Secretary 

on 01743 241478 or email rec@paat.org.uk 

www.paat.org.uk 

www.whatsonlive.co.uk 5

“ It’s 

been 

incredible. 

Standing 

ovations and lots 

of laughter. We 

couldn’t ask for 

more. 

” 

Ben Richards 

talks about working 9 To 5 in the Midlands... 

6 www.whatsonlive.co.uk

The last twelve months have presented 

you with very tough physical and 

emotional challenges beyond your 

control. But rather than choosing to take it 

somewhat easier, you’re embarking on a 

demanding tour. Where do you get your 

energy and motivation from? 

I had two choices; either beat this or die, and 

I wanted to beat it. The alternative wasn’t an 

option. I surrounded myself with positivity 

and just got through it. My family and best 

mate were amazing, I had a great bunch of 

chemotherapy and radiotherapy nurses 

around me, and a fantastic oncologist and 

surgeon. 

It’s not been easy, and at times I’ve been to 

some very dark places. But I’m very 

fortunate to have come out the other end, 

and by Christmas I should have finished all 

my chemo treatment. I’ve got a job that I 

love. I’m working with an amazing company 

doing an exciting new show and playing a 

really great role. 

How did starring in 9 To 5 The Musical 

come about? 

I was in a hospital bed when my agent called 

to tell me I’d got the role. It was perfect 

timing. It gave me something to look forward 

to and get fit for, so it was absolutely 

fantastic. 

9 To 5 has now opened in Manchester. 

What’s the reaction been like so far? 

It’s been incredible. Standing ovations and 

lots of laughter. We couldn’t ask for more. 

Are you a big Dolly Parton fan? 

Yeah, who doesn’t love her? 

What’s your favourite Dolly Parton song? 

I love the song that I sing in the musical, 

Here For You; it’s just beautiful. I also defy 

you not to love Shine Like The Sun. It’s such 

a great end to Act One. The show is just 

filled with great songs. Dolly’s so talented, 

it’s ridiculous. 

How hands-on has she been with the 

production? 

She’s very involved creatively with the show 

and speaks to the directors. She’s constantly 

tweaking it to get it right, and has added new 

songs to the production. The show has 

changed an awful lot since the American 

tour, and it’s just perfect now. It’s the right 

length and there are no dull moments, so it’s 

just full speed ahead from the first song 

onwards. It’s a fun-filled, action-packed two 

hours. We should have seat belts on those 

seats! 

Did you have to learn any new disciplines 

for this role? 

I wouldn’t say I had to learn any new 

disciplines, but I did have to find the nasty 

side of me and really explore that. My 

character is horrible! 

Do you have anything in common with 

your character, Franklin Hart Jr? 

I think all men have the ability to look at a 

woman and be distracted. A gentleman 

wouldn’t look, but we’ve all probably had a 

good peek! So we have the ability to display 

certain Franklin J Hart characteristics. The 

difference with Franklin is that he loves all 

that. But I like to think I’m a modern, 

Noughties man who behaves in a fairly 

gentlemanly manner. 

Who’s been the worst boss you’ve ever 

had to work for? 

I worked in a champagne and oyster bar 

where the boss had his head firmly up his 

rectum. He was so rude and demanding. A 

‘please’ and ‘thank you’ doesn’t go amiss! 

What’s proving to be the most challenging 

aspect of performing in 9 To 5? 

Getting the balance right with this character - 

so that he’s horrible but believable - has 

been tricky, but it’s been fun to tap into that 

dark side of the personality and savour it. 

That and the fact that it’s very physically 

demanding. I’m trussed up, lifted up, beaten 

up and tied up. And I even throw Bonnie 

Langford around the stage at one point. 

Do you have a favourite scene? 

I personally enjoy singing Here For You; it’s 

a lot of fun. Natalie’s song Get Out And Stay 

Out is really beautiful, although I think my 

favourite moment is Change It. 

Do you have a particular routine that you 

perform before you go on stage? 

Apart from making sure I’m vocally and 

physically warmed up, checking my water at 

the side of the stage, and also making sure 

my hair and make-up is done, I’m ready to 

go. 

And how do you wind down postperformance? 

I find a nice glass of rioja does the trick! 

When did you realise you wanted to be an 

actor? 

I’ve always known I wanted to perform. 

When I used to watch my sisters dance, I 

wanted to join in. I was like Billy Elliott at the 

back of the class. 

So was dance your first love? 

Absolutely; the singing and acting came 

later. 

Can you remember your first professional 

role? 

I think it was probably panto, somewhere. Or 

it could have been as a dancer in Paignton. 

What's been your favourite role to date? 

I’ve been lucky in the sense that all the roles 

I’ve played have been so much fun and a 

challenge in their own right. It would 

probably have to be Saturday Night Fever, as 

interview... 

Probably best recognised for playing Bruno Milligan in Footballers’ Wives, and more recently 

PC Nate Roberts in The Bill, Ben Richards has also made numerous appearances in the West 

End - including an acclaimed turn as Sky Masterson in Guys And Dolls. Having recently battled 

with cancer, Ben’s back and fighting fit, appearing as egotistical boss Franklyn Hart in Dolly 

Parton’s 9 To 5 The Musical. What’s On’s Alev Dervish recently met up with him to find out 

about his latest role... 

it’s the show that launched me. Since then 

I’ve played a footballer, a physio, a gambler, 

an unemployed stripper and a drag queen! 

Very varied! 

Are there any roles that you’d rather 

forget? 

Yes! There’s some stuff that I’ve done on TV 

which has been really cheesy, and some 

performances on film that I’ve not been at all 

happy with. 

Have you ever turned down a role and 

later regretted it? 

No, my gut reaction has always been right. 

Is there a particular musical in which 

you'd really like to perform in the future? 

If they ever did a musical of Baz Luhrmann’s 

Moulin Rouge, I’d love to be in that. 

What have you got planned for the near 

future? 

I’m in a film called Chakara, which should be 

out soon. We shot that in India and Spain 

and it was a great experience. Then I’m off to 

LA in February to audition for some pilots. 

I’ve been wanting to go for a while. I was 

meant to go last year, but became ill. So I’ll 

definitely get out there this time... 

Finally, what’s the most important lesson 

you’ve learned from the events of the past 

ten months? 

Be honest with yourself. This is not a 

rehearsal, so enjoy life! 

Ben Richards stars in 9 To 5 The Musical at 

the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from 

Mon 19 to Sat 24 November, and at the New 

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, 

from Mon 17 December to Sat 5 January. 


Dan Ryan 

on why clocking on in Stratford is like coming home... 

Although his name’s not instantly recognisable, Dan Ryan is nonetheless an actor whose CV 

boasts a vast and eclectic array of TV, film and stage work, including Skins, The Street, Linda 

Green and, more recently, Mount Pleasant. This month sees Dan returning to Stratford-upon- 

Avon and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre - the venue where he started his career over twenty 

years ago - to don whiskers and a tail for the RSC’s Christmas production of The Mouse And His 

Child. What’s On caught up with him to find out what audiences can expect...... 

The Royal Shakespeare Company has 

produced some great Christmas classics 

in the past, not least among which is the 

multi-award-winning Matilda. So how will 

this year’s show compare? 

No pressure there, eh?! But, as with Matilda, 

The Mouse And His Child is one of those 

great epic productions. It’s huge-scale, and 

is a journeying play about a clockwork 

mouse and his child who get left on a 

rubbish dump where all the rats live. One of 

the main rats, Manny rat, becomes obsessed 

with them and they end up going on this 

huge voyage which sees them trying to find 

their way back to the toy shop. There’s so 

much to the story - it’s very funny, it’s got 

singing, has absolutely beautiful music and 

is also very moving at times. I think it’s 


classically Christmas and classically a family 

show. There have been very few things that 

I’ve done that my kids have been able to 

come and see, but I’m thrilled that they’ll be 

able to come and see this. For one of them, 

it’ll be the first thing he’s ever seen me in... 

So have your kids given you any tips on 

how you should approach the role? 

Well, they sort of creep up on me when I’m 

learning lines at home and ask: “is that how 

you’re going to do it, dad?”. My fourteenyear-old 

thinks he’s a bit smart, and he’s 

commented that he’s not sure this is really 

for him. But I’ve assured him that he’s going 

to be absolutely captivated by it. I really do 

think it has something very special, and I 

don’t think there’s an age group that it 

“ 

There have 

been very few 

things that I’ve 

done that my 

kids have been 

able to come 

and see, but 

I’m thrilled that 

they’ll be able 

to come and 

see this. 

” 

wouldn’t appeal to. Tamsin (Oglesby) has 

come up with a great adaptation. Also, we’ve 

got the benefit of the genius of Paul Hunter 

(Co-Artistic Director), who I think is an 

extraordinary deviser of this kind of work. 

Is it a story that you were familiar with as 

a child? 

No, I didn’t know it at all. It’s funny, I’ve 

spoken to a lot of people about this and I 

don’t know how well it travelled from the 

States to over here, being an American 

book. I know for sure that people will be 

going out and buying the book after they’ve 

seen this, because it’s just one of those 

perfect bedtime stories. I remember when 

Harry Potter came out and I was reading my 

kids the story; when they dropped off, I’d be

absolutely furious, because I needed to get 

to the end of the chapter. So I’d carry on 

sitting there reading the story out loud, doing 

all the voices. When I first read this, I 

remember thinking it had the same sort of 

feel to it. It’s the sort of story where you want 

to get to the end of each chapter and find 

out what happens next. For adults, there are 

some great themes that we can relate to, 

and it’s all beautifully portrayed in the book. 

So what was the initial appeal of 

appearing as a clockwork mouse? 

I was offered another play somewhere else 

at the same time, but what this clarified for 

me - when I was approached for the role - 

was that I wanted a different sort of 

challenge. A lot of the plays which I’ve done 

have been fairly political or to do with race. 

They’ve all been brilliant productions but 

Posh, which has just been in the West End, I 

did originally at The Royal Court, and 

Number Eleven and Fallout, which I did at 

the Donmar - are all quite challenging pieces 

for an audience to watch. What I decided 

here was that I wanted a challenge for me, 

and when this came up, it felt like exactly the 

right thing to do. The other piece that I was 

offered was very similar to something I’d 

done before, and I’d gotten to the point, at 

forty-four, where I’d started thinking ‘what’s 

next?... What do I want to do next?’. I haven’t 

sung on stage for probably twenty years, 

and I realised it was something that I wanted 

to do. I wanted to be involved in something 

where people left the theatre feeling upbeat, 

and this will certainly put audiences in the 

Christmas spirit. 

So have there been any new disciplines 

that you’ve had to master for the role? 

Well, there’s dancing. I’m not a great mover, 

but that’s part of the challenge. I’m loving 

the singing and I’m loving the dancing. 

We’re just working on the finale piece at the 

moment, and it’s all very exciting... 

Is it a fully costumed role, or is it a case 

of just donning some ears and painting 

some whiskers on your face? 

The amount of characters that everyone is 

playing is extraordinary, so there are quick 

changes galore going on, because you’ve 

got rats, you’ve got shrews and probably 

about six different types of birds depicted in 

the show. A lot of it is done symbolically, and 

you have no doubt as to what the characters 

are, but it’s not going to have that Beatrix 

Potter sort of look. When we started 

rehearsals we had racks and racks of ex- 

RSC costumes around and hundreds of 

props, so the way that it’s been brought 

together is very organic. The costume 

design has come very much from what feels 

right - the shrews are all at war, so they’ve 

got army fatigues on, but you’ll know that 

they’re shrews and you’ll know that the rats 

are rats. Myself and Bettrys Jones, who 

plays the child, have certainly got very 

challenging costumes, being clockwork toys. 

I had my first fitting yesterday and thought, 

‘well that’s going to be rather warm for two 

hours a night’. 

It’s twelve years since you last performed 

in Stratford. What does it mean to you to 

be back working for the RSC? 

My very first time on the stage was at 

Stratford, and me wanting to become an 

actor came from visiting Stratford on a school 

trip. I’ve done Richard III there, which toured 

and then returned, and I also played Bottom 

in A Midsummer Night’s Dream there, which 

is still one of my favourite on-stage 

memories. So it really does feel like a home 

to me, and I’m so pleased to be coming to 

the new theatre, and trying to make my mark 

there. So much has happened in the last 

twelve years, both personally and 

professionally, and I’ve always been gutted 

not to be asked back, but hopefully this will 

be the first return of many. 

Your repertoire includes stage, TV and 

film. How easy is it to adapt from one to 

the other? 

Friends who aren’t actors often ask which I 

prefer, but I find it very difficult to say, 

because they each involve different 

disciplines. For me, what drags me from one 

to the other is the writing. In terms of the 

skills involved, I don’t really think about 

going from one to the other. That said, if I go 

onto the telly after doing this, I’ll probably be 

asked, “can you stop doing that ridiculous 

walk”, or, “can you stop twitching your nose, 

and make your ears a bit smaller”. 

You’ve played both lighthearted and 

darker roles during your career, so is it 

always just about the script? 

I suppose I’m very lucky regarding the 

variety of stuff that comes my way. I guess 

there are certain casting directors who think 

of me as ‘nice dad’, or as ‘the nice bloke 

who lives up the road’. And then there’s 

another group who think of me as this 

horrible murdering person. And then there 

are those who think, ‘Dan Ryan, oh he’s 

funny’. So I guess I’m in the middle of this 

and get taken along in different directions. I 

certainly think that I’m very lucky to be able 

to do that. 

Professionally, where do you see yourself 

long-term? 

I’ve never really held any strong ambitions, 

apart from wanting to play King Lear, which 

is something I’ve wanted to do since leaving 

drama school at twenty-one. That text had a 

huge impact on me when I was younger, and 

it’s just gone on from there. Generally, I like 

being taken wherever the wind blows me, 

and I’m fortunate that it keeps blowing me to 

really nice places. 

You say, apart from King Lear, there aren’t 

any roles that you’ve hankered after. But 

isn’t it true that you once begged Russell 

T Davies for a part in Doctor Who? 

Yes, I pretty much did. It was when my boys 

were little - both were at the perfect age for 

watching Doctor Who, and they were both 

absolutely obsessed with it. I went to an 

awards thing in Monte Carlo and the 

producer, who I knew, was there, so I said, 

“if you don’t get me in this show, I will haunt 

you”. I’d worked with both Russell and Phil 

Collinson, the producer, before. Three of my 

best friends had already appeared in the 

series, and I saw my involvement as a way of 

earning the respect I deserved from my kids. 

Then, when I did get a part, they were all 

“great, dad, what are you playing? Are you 

playing an alien?”. When I said, “no, I’m just 

a human”, they were, “oh, that’s a bit 

disappointing”. You can’t win, can you? 

How did your role in Mount Pleasant, 

currently being screened on Sky, come 

about? 

When I first got approached, Sally Lindsay 

had already been cast and they were looking 

for the Dan character. Originally it was a half- 

interview... 

hour sitcom which we had to take to the 

BBC in order to do a table read - that’s 

basically where the powers-that-be come in 

and have a listen. They really liked the 

essence of it, and they really liked the 

relationship, but they didn’t think it was BBC 

One material. They weren’t sure if it was 

BBC Two material either, and they didn’t 

think it was suitable for BBC Three. In the 

end they decided not to take it. At that point, 

BBC’s head of comedy got offered the job of 

head of comedy at Sky, and it was the first 

thing she commissioned, because she loved 

it so much. However, she thought it needed 

a different format. It took two years to get 

from that first table read to us finishing the 

first series. But I’m really proud to be part of 

it. It’s got a great cast - I love working with 

Pauline Collins and Bobby Ball - and it’s got 

a great heart. It’s not strictly a family show, 

but it’s got a hugely loyal following who love 

the relationships in it. I don’t think there’s 

been a show like it since Cold Feet; a show 

in which people are so drawn to the 

characters, and interested in what’s going to 

happen to them next. 

Are there plans for any more? 

We hope to do more, but there’s been no 

decision made by Sky yet. They’re so prolific 

with what they’re making at the moment. 

There’s so much new stuff all the time, but I 

do think they could be swayed by the diehard 

Mount Pleasant fans who are constantly 

on at me on Twitter to see if there’s going to 

be a new series. Truth is, I really don’t know. 

What have you got lined up when The 

Mouse And His Child finishes its Stratford 

run early next year? 

In an ideal world we’d see Mount Pleasant 

start filming in February. It would be great to 

finish this, have a few weeks off, and then go 

on and shoot another series. I’m under 

option to do it, but at the moment the diary 

is blank. But it could just as easily end up 

being full. 

Do you find it unnerving that you don’t 

have anything lined up? 

Not really. I guess it’s all part and parcel of 

being an actor. It’s funny, because I do seem 

to be someone who works an awful lot, but I 

often finish a job with nothing to start. That’s 

normally the way it works. With TV these 

days, you audition on the Tuesday and the 

show starts shooting on the Sunday. It’s a 

very quick turnaround. I’ve got to the point 

now where I finish a job and think, ‘right, 

what’s next?’. I’m not one of those actors 

who has jobs lined up. I probably had the 

worst year I’ve ever had about five years 

ago, when nothing was coming in. Suddenly, 

you think, ‘wow, what have I done wrong?’, 

but it’s just the nature of the business. I 

guess one of the things about not being 

placed in a particular box is that it means 

you’re never the obvious choice. So you 

may end up being out of work for a little 

while. It may look like I’m working constantly, 

but it’s certainly not the case. 

Dan Ryan appears in The Mouse And His 

Child at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, 

Stratford-upon-Avon, from Saturday 17 

November to Saturday 12 January 2013 


Neal Foster 

twenty years on and still going strong... 

From small acorns... Back in 1992, Neal Foster had a theatre company but nowhere to house it. 

Two decades on, Neal’s Birmingham Stage Company (BSC) has become so successful that it’s 

never short of a place to call home, with theatres across the world eager to stage one of its many 

highly rated productions. What’s On caught up with Birmingham-born Neal to find out how BSC 

is intending to celebrate twenty glorious years... 

Next month is Birmingham Stage 

Company’s twentieth birthday. How does 

the company plan to celebrate? 

Good question. We’re so busy we haven’t 

actually planned a party yet, but I think we’ll 

have more cause for celebration if we can 

get through all the shows we’ve got planned 

for this autumn. We’ve actually got five 

shows on for Christmas. In terms of big 

events, we’re looking more towards our 

twenty-first anniversary next year. 

So how are you planning to mark that 

momentous occasion? 

We’ll be bringing a special production of 

Horrible Histories to Birmingham, to the Old 

Rep, and we’ll probably plan an office 

celebration around that. 


The cast of James And The Giant Peach 

How did the creation of Birmingham Stage 

Company come about? 

I had a small theatre company and was 

looking for a base in which to reside. I 

looked at different theatres which weren’t 

being used around the country and came 

across the Old Rep theatre in Birmingham. It 

was a coincidence that I was from 

Birmingham, but I didn’t know about the Old 

Rep theatre - a lot of people, even now, still 

don’t know about it. It was this wonderful 

auditorium in pristine condition, but it was 

only being used for about five months of the 

year, by amateur societies - some of which 

are still using it today. It took a year for me to 

persuade the City Council to let me base my 

company at the theatre. Finally, they agreed, 

and we launched our first show in 1992. 

They agreed on the basis that there would 

be no funding and no support. In fact, they 

charged me to rent the theatre, and the 

amateurs charged me to hire the lighting. I 

have no idea how I did it, but here we are 

some twenty years later! 

And you’re still completely independent, 

surviving entirely on box office sales... 

Yes, we’re one hundred percent reliant on 

box office sales. I suppose it would be an 

achievement just to have survived, but I’m 

pleased to say that we have, in fact, 

flourished. I suppose it took a while for me to 

realise that actually not having any public 

funding was quite liberating - being able to 

do what we wanted, how we wanted, and to 

take risks. We’ve always been able to do the

kind of work that we wanted to do without 

having someone looking over our shoulder 

saying, ‘should you really be doing that, 

shouldn’t you be doing this?’. Eventually, that 

became an enjoyable thing, but in the 

beginning it was quite tough-going - although 

we were lucky in that we had some very big 

successes early on from a commercial point 

of view. Our first Christmas show, The 

Fantastic Mr Fox - which was the first 

professional Christmas production to be 

shown at the Old Rep for twenty years - 

actually had seventeen-and-a-half thousand 

people come to see it. That shows how 

important Roald Dahl has always been to us 

as a company. The theatre only has three 

hundred-and-seventy-six seats, and we had 

all those thousands of people come through 

the doors to see that show. Artistically, our 

first anniversary production, Cat On A Hot Tin 

Roof, was considered by most people to be 

the best production in Birmingham for about 

twenty years. So from a commercial and 

artistic point of view, we made quite an 

impact early on, and I would say that those 

two productions were crucial to the future 

success of the company. It wasn’t long 

afterwards that Richard Dreyfuss came over 

from America to direct Hamlet, and Jonathan 

Church directed The Crucible for us. He’s 

now running Chichester, and also ran the 

Birmingham Rep, so big things happened 

quite quickly. 

Is your role now purely managerial? 

No, I’m still acting in the Horrible Histories 

show in the West End. I’m an actor who runs 

a theatre company. Most companies are run 

by a director; this company is the other way 

round. 

Do you personally decide which shows 

you’re going to produce? 

Yes, generally I tend to decide what we’re 

doing. I’ve got a fantastic team. There are just 

four of us who run the whole outfit, which, by 

comparison with companies like the 

Birmingham Rep or the RSC, is an extremely 

small number, yet I think we may actually 

produce more shows. 

What is it about Roald Dahl’s stories that 

make them so appealing to adapt for the 

stage? 

Well, he was a genius. I also think his key 

feature was that he didn’t patronise children 

at all. He takes you on such amazing 

adventures, a lot of which writers nowadays 

would have to be very brave to write. For 

example, George’s Marvellous Medicine is 

about a boy who goes around the house 

finding all the liquids he can to mix into a 

potion to give to his grandma. A lot of writers 

would think twice about writing that today, 

worried that a child might go off and do it, 

but children absolutely know fantasy from 

reality, and they love the adventures he 

creates. He’s also incredibly funny in a really 

genuine and clever way, and he creates 

some extraordinary characters. I think it’s 

great writing, and I have no doubt that 

people will still be reading his books in a 

hundred years time. I think they must have 

been classics the moment he put pen to 

paper. 

So is there a particular Dahl story that you 

favour? 

I think our forthcoming Christmas show, 

James And The Giant Peach, is one that’s 

always appealed to us. It was his first story, 

so it’s got all the initial ingredients that you 

saw expanded on in later stories. What I love 

about it is it’s epic. It starts quite domestically, 

then the peach ends up flying into the air, 

sailing over the ocean and eventually landing 

in New York. It’s got a great epic appeal, and 

that’s always a great challenge for us as 

producers. 

There are obviously some great props 

needed in the production. Who’s 

responsible for those? 

I have a fantastic creative team. We’ve got 

Colin Richmond, who’s a very experienced 

designer - he’s created the most fantastic set. 

We’re just working out how we can afford it at 

the moment - it’s expensive but it’s absolutely 

genius, and if we can put everything on stage 

that he’s created in this beautiful model that’s 

sitting in our office, then it’s going to be 

sensational. 

You first presented James And The Giant 

Peach more than ten years ago. How will 

this latest incarnation differ? 

I think it will be very different. As a company, 

we’re ten years further on. We’ve got much 

more experience and expertise, and we also 

have far greater resources. As a company 

we’ve come on leaps and bounds, so there 

are a lot more possibilities open to us. 

So what would you say has been the 

highlight in the company’s twenty-year 

history? 

There have been a lot, which has been 

interesting. I would say we’ve had something 

wonderful happen every year. From the point 

of view of children’s shows, it would have to 

be The BFG, The Jungle Book and Horrible 

Histories - at the moment we’re having a 

tremendous amount of fun with that. Then 

you’ve got Skellig and The Firework Maker’s 

Daughter. In fact, I think everything we’ve 

ever done has been a highlight. It’s all been 

very special. 

So how long does it take to get a show to 

the stage? 

Normally, I would say eighteen months. 

That’s a lot of work, especially when 

you’ve got so many productions showing 

at any given time... 

Yeah, I don’t really know how we do it. What 

we like to do is forward-plan as much as 

possible, to avoid getting caught out. We 

always try to be ahead of ourselves. As a 

company we’ve got quite a good reputation 

with the theatres that we tour to, because 

we’re always ahead of ourselves and we’re 

always the first with the marketing. Every year 

we have a theatre phone us asking, “can you 

help us out, we don’t know what to do for 

Christmas. Can you do something for us?”. 

Maybe we’ve hit upon something by having 

such a small team. Although it seems so few 

of us are doing so much, there’s something 

to be said for sitting around a small office 

and working together, because we’re 

constantly checking up on and knowing what 

we’re all doing. Again, I also think it’s a virtue 

of having no funding. There’s no safety net; 

no one to bail us out if anything goes wrong. 

Twenty years in, how would you 

summarise the secret of your success? 

I would like to think it’s because we produce 

very good productions, and that when our 

audiences put their hard-earned cash on the 

counter to purchase a ticket for one of our 

shows, they know they’re going to get 

something special. My major aim is for 

interview... 

people to leave the theatre feeling different; 

either happier or more reflective, or having a 

better understanding of themselves, or 

knowing something that they hadn’t known 

two hours earlier when they walked in. 

Do you think the public are now more 

switched on about what they want to see? 

The only thing we’ve found over the last few 

years is that people are more inclined to go 

and see what they really know well, rather 

than take a risk on things they don’t know so 

well. It’s a shame, as there’s a lot of 

wonderful stuff out there which isn’t 

necessarily well known, but I think because 

of the recession, people are taking fewer 

risks in terms of what they choose to see. 

Which is the company’s most toured 

production? 

It has to be George’s Marvellous Medicine, 

which we’ve been doing since 1995. I think 

we’ve done about eight or nine productions, 

and it never fails to delight. It’s such a 

fantastic story, and we never get bored of it. 

In fact, we’re doing it in Cambridge this 

Christmas, and we just know it’s going to be 

a fantastic experience. It’s just a faultless 

piece of theatre. 

How do you personally select pieces to 

perform? 

I choose the play first, and if I think there’s a 

great part for me, I choose to be in it. I 

choose plays very much on the basis of what 

I think it will do to the audience. Will it take 

them on a journey that’s worth going on? Will 

they have felt that they’ve ‘gone somewhere’ 

by the end of the show? My test for knowing 

whether a theatre production has worked is 

whether the audience felt they had left the 

theatre and journeyed into the world they 

saw before them. 

So looking ahead, what have you got 

planned for 2013? 

Horrible Histories and James And The Giant 

Peach continue to tour, and Barmy Britain will 

continue in the West End. Then we’ll have 

some new programming towards the end of 

the year. We’ve also got a few international 

dates, with Horrible Histories going to Hong 

Kong and Singapore, Australia and maybe 

New Zealand. 

How does it travel? 

Brilliantly. They absolutely love it, and I love 

foreign audiences. They’re so engaged, have 

such a great time and are always willing to 

take part. We’re also about to take Horrible 

Histories to Dubai, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, 

and I kind of know already that it’s going to 

be fantastic. 

You’re very well travelled as a company - 

both internationally and throughout the UK 

- so how does the Midlands compare as a 

theatre destination? 

Very well. I think we’re nicely spoilt in the 

Midlands with what we’ve got, and 

Birmingham is still the theatre that I most 

enjoy coming back to. It’s still our home. 

Birmingham Stage Company present James 

And The Giant Peach at The Old Rep, 

Birmingham from Wednesday 14 November 

to Saturday 2 February 2013 


Music 

Bat For Lashes 

HMV Institute, Birmingham, Thurs 1 November 

Making a mark with her unique sartorial and musical 

style, Natasha Khan has been singing about 

love, loss and suffering since the release of debut 

album Fur And Gold in 2006. Having followed it up 

with the more commercially successful Two Suns in 

2009, she’s now back from a three-year hiatus and 

boasting a more sophisticated sound. Posing nude 

for the cover of The Haunted Man, Khan has said 

she chose a "specifically unsexy pose" to make a 

point about the music industry's treatment of female 

artists. 

Rizzle Kicks 

O2 Academy, Birmingham, 

Sat 17 - Sun 18 November 

Having the dubious honour of being the second 

most illegally downloaded act in the UK (behind Ed 

Sheeran), youngsters Jordan ‘Rizzle’ Stephens and 

Harley ‘Sylvester’ Alexander-Sule are on the road 

again. Playing two Birmingham dates on a tour that 

takes them across the UK and Europe, the Mama 

Do The Hump stars have recently recorded a comedy 

track with DJ Chris Moyles. Spending eight 

weeks in the top-twenty with their hit single Down 

With The Trumpets and scooping three MOBO 

nominations, the twenty-year-olds have had a busy 

year. 

The Wedding Present 

O2 Academy, Birmingham, Thurs 15 November; 

The Assembly, Leamington Spa, Tues 20 November 

British indie rock group The Wedding Present have 

been gigging since 1985, when the group was 

formed following the demise of the Lost Pandas. 

With influences including The Fall, Buzzcocks and 

Gang Of Four, the band is best known for playing 

fast-paced indie rock. There’ve been numerous 

line-up changes down the years, with vocalist and 

guitarist David Gedge having been the band's only 

constant member. 

Elbow 

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Wed 28 November 

British band Elbow have played together since 1990, picking up the 2008 Mercury Music 

Prize for their album The Seldom Seen Kid. In 2012, the group released First Steps, the 

BBC theme for the London Olympics. Originally called Mr Soft, their music embraces various 

genres, including indie rock, art rock, new prog, post-Britpop and, most evidently, alternative 

rock. 

Emeli Sandé 

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thurs 8 November 

If you’re not ‘in the know’ about Emeli Sandé, the fact that she performed at both the 

opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics offers excellent evidence 

of her current high standing in the music industry. The Scottish recording artist and songwriter 

first came to public attention in 2009 when she featured on rapper Chipmunk’s Diamond 

Rings track, after which she contributed to rapper Wiley’s Never Be Your Woman 

before finally releasing her first solo single, Heaven, in August 2011. As well as her career 

as a singer, Emeli has also written for numerous artists (including Cher Lloyd, Susan 

Boyle, Gabrielle, Leona Lewis, Alesha Dixon, Cheryl Cole and Tinie Tempah) and has 

even been called “my favourite songwriter” by no less a Godlike entity than Mr Simon 

Cowell. Expect ever-greater things from Ms Sandé in the years to come... 


Music PREVIEWS 

Madina Lake 

Kasbah, Coventry, Sat 24 November; 

HMV Institute, Birmingham, Fri 30 November 

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, this highly 

rated quartet was formed by identical twin 

brothers Nathan and Matthew Leone. Creating 

first band The Blank Theory in 1998, the 

brothers then won US TV show Fear Factor, 

the $50,000 prize money from which helped 

them set up Madina Lake. This seven-date 

Trilogy Finale Tour sees the band playing 

their From Them, Through Us, To You album 

from start to finish, as well as a range of other 

material. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus supports. 

Terri Walker 

The Drum, Birmingham, Sun 25 November 

Born Chanelle Gstettenbauer but thankfully 

changing her name to the more easily pronounceable 

Terri Walker, this highly rated 

singer-songwriter specialises in R&B, soul, 

neo soul, hip-hop soul and UK garage. Releasing 

her debut album, Untitled, in 2003 to 

great critical acclaim, Walker has since gone 

on to cut three more albums, 2005’s L.O.V.E, 

2006’s I Am, and last year’s Walk With Me, as 

well as providing the majority of the vocals for 

Shanks & Bigfoot's debut album Swings & 

Roundabouts. 

Ben Howard 

O2 Academy, Birmingham, Sat 24 November 

Raised by musical parents in picturesque 

Devon, Ben Howard is strongly influenced by 

artists from the 1960s and ’70s, including 

Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. Unusually quiet 

when it comes to the media and interviews, 

almost all of his success has come from constant 

touring, word 

of mouth and a 

hardworking street 

team. Ben is 

closely associated 

with the surfing 

scene, and believes 

the travelling 

nature of surflovers 

has played 

an important role in 

spreading the 

word. 

Evanescence 

Spiritualized 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, 

Sunday 4 November 

Formed in Rugby by Jason Pierce, aka 

J.Spaceman, after the fall of his previous 

band Spaceman 3, Spiritualized has been 

playing psychedelic trance music since 1990. 

Recently released seventh album Sweet 

Heart And Sweet Light made the UK toptwenty, 

and has been described as ‘bruised 

and tender, yet genuinely radiant’. Having 

played festivals including 

Wilderness and Bestival this 

summer, the band returns 

to the touring circuit with six 

UK gigs. Support on the 

night comes from Roy and 

the Devil’s Motorcycle. 

The Staves 

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, 

Wednesday 28 November 

Acoustic folk rock group The Staves comprise 

three sisters from Watford - Emily, Jessica 

and Camilla. The trio appeared on Tom 

Jones’ 2010 album Praise And Blame and 

then on Fionn Regan's third album, 100 Acres 

Of Sycamore. Other career highlights have 

included supporting Bon Iver on their 2012 

tour of the US and Canada, and performing 

with The Civil Wars - a gig which brought 

them to public attention in America for the 

first time. 

WIN 

TICKETS 


to enter 

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Thursday 8 November 

Founded in Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody, rock band 

Evanescence enjoyed a staggering success with their debut album Fallen (from which came 

best-known hit Bring Me To Life), racking up no fewer than seventeen million sales worldwide 

and winning a pair of Grammy Awards into the bargain. The band have undergone numerous 

line-up changes since that initial success, but continue to strike all the right ‘dark rock’ chords 

with their dedicated legion of fans. They’re joined for their Birmingham gig by Utah-based 

band The Used. 

Martyn Joseph 

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 7 November; 

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 29 

November 

Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph is 

best known for his lyrics of protest and social 

lament, presented against a backdrop of 

Celtic and folk music. "I can’t decide whether 

I’m primarily a musician or an activist,” says 

Joseph. “I guess it’s all part and parcel of the 

same thing for me.” Independently releasing 

his first studio album, I'm Only Beginning, in 

1983, his career has not only spanned thirtyodd 

years but also three different labels - 

Sony, Grapevine and his own Pipe Records. 

He continues to tour extensively, both in the 

UK and abroad. 

Ian Parker 

The Jam House, Birmingham, 

Tuesday 6 November; The Robin, Bilston, 

Sun 16 December 

Boasting a distinctive bitter-sweet vocal delivery 

and a penchant for writing brutally honest 

lyrics, Ian Parker was born in Birmingham 

and brought up in Stourbridge. Ian began 

playing the guitar at the age of eight, having 

been inspired by The Beatles, and released 

his debut album, Inside, in 2003 (at the age 

of twenty-seven). His musical genres include 

blue-eyed soul, folk rock, blues-rock and 

acoustic rock. 



Music PREVIEWS 

The Civil Wars 


Thursday 8 November 

Spellbinding singer-songwriters Joy Williams 

and John Paul White are fairly new to the 

game of being, er, spellbinding singer-songwriters, 

but they’ve wasted no time in creating 

a great big splash in the rough, tough 

world of the music industry. The talented USborn 

pair have bagged not only one but two 

coveted Grammy Awards, picking up the 

2012 gongs for Best Folk Album and Best 

Country Duo/Group Performance. Debut 

album Barton Hollow has garnered plenty of 

praise, and with Joy and John’s stated interest 

being in writing and performing songs 

about ‘the good, the bad and the ugly of relationships’, 

it looks like the duo have got more 

than enough left in their locker to ensure that 

they’ll continue to cause a significant stir in 

the months and years ahead. 

Steel Panther 

Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Tues 6 November 

Profane and humorous lyrics are the name of 

the game as far as Steel Panther are concerned, 

although they’re pretty heavily into 

presenting exaggerated on-stage personas 

too, reimagining and parodying the glam 

metal music and lifestyle of the 1980s. The 

band hails from Los Angeles and, at the time 

of writing, have released three albums. 

Megson 

The Hive, Shrewsbury, Sun 11 November 

Since releasing first album On The Side in 

2004, husband-and-wife team Stu and Debbie 

Hanna have gone on to develop an enviable 

reputation on the English folk music 

circuit. The duo have been hailed as both 

fresh and innovative (a description which is 

hardly surprising given that Debbie is classically 

trained and Stu’s a former punk!) and 

specialise in self-composed melodies which 

bring together intimate harmony singing and 

multi-instrumental acoustic playing. 

Marilyn Manson National Indoor Arena, Thurs 29 November 

A double dose of shock rock is on the menu when the self-proclaimed God Of F*** joins 

forces with Rob Zombie for this Midlands gig. Christened with the far-from-shock-rock name of 

Brian, Marilyn Manson’s name-change saw him juxtaposing the names of 1960s American cultural 

icons Marilyn Monroe and serial killer Charles Manson. He also decided to juxtapose outrageous 

visual and vocal styles, his celebrity then being further enhanced by his penchant for 

controversial lyrics (not to mention by the aforementioned decision to dub himself the God Of 

F***, a title that’s always likely to cause a bit of a stir!). 

Trampled By Turtles 

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, 

Sunday 18 November 

Hailing from Duluth, Minnesota, this indie folk 

band is most famous for both their fast-paced 

songs and plaintive ballads. Notorious for 

playing high-energy concerts, they’ve cited 

Townes Van Zant, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and 

Ralph Stanley as inspirations. The multi-instrumentalists’ 

genre-defying songs explore 

love, life and the everyday, and feature both 

old-time and orchestral harmonies, as well as 

plenty of banjo frolics. Following on from a 

summer show at Lollapalooza, they appear in 

Birmingham as part of their first ever UK and 

Ireland tour. 

Spector 

The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent, 

Sat 3 November; HMV Institute, Birmingham, 

Wed 7 November; Kasbah, Coventry, Sat 15 

December 

London-formed five-piece indie rock band 

Spector have been described as "somewhere 

between Roxy Music and the Strokes, The 

Killers and Kanye West, Pulp and Frank Sinatra". 

It’s also been said that they’re "reminiscent 

of The Walkmen mainlined into The 

Killers’ chugga-train drive". The band's debut 

album, Enjoy It While It Lasts, reached number 

twelve in the UK albums chart, going to 

number one on the Official Record Store 

Chart during the week of its release. 

Yashin 

The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, 

Thurs 15 November 

When school friends Paul Travers (guitarist) 

and Andrew McShane (bassist) discovered 

that they had similar music tastes to Andrew’s 

university pal Michael Rice (vocalist), 

it seemed sensible for the three of them to 

think about forming a band. Drummer David 

Beaton was added to the musical mix and 

Glaswegian post-hardcore band Yashin was 

formed. The boys quickly built up a considerable 

following, thanks in the main to their 

time on tour with fellow Scottish band Flood 

Of Red, and followed up with two EPs in 2008 

- Pay To Play and Miles Away But Getting 

Closer. Rice opted out in the autumn of that 

year, and was replaced by Harry Radford and 

Kevin Miles, after which the group released 

its debut album Put Your Hands Where I Can 

See Them. 

Dreadzone 

The Robin, Bilston, Fri 23 November 

Presenting an eclectic fusion of dub, reggae, 

techno, folk and rock music, Dreadzone 

formed in 1993, during their early years employing 

backing vocalists who included 

Melanie Blatt, Denise van Outen and Alison 

Goldfrapp. Their second album, 1994’s Second 

Light, was championed by the legendary 

John Peel, who cited it as one of his favourite 

albums of all time. 



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www.duellingpianobars.co.uk 

0121 695 9206. 

email: info@duellingpianobars.co.uk 

Regency Wharf, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2DS 

DuellingPianoBars @Duelling_Pianos 

THEATRE ON THE 

STEPS, BRIDGNORTH 

TICKETS : £17* 

Fri 7 & Sat 8 Dec 

01746 763257 

www.theatreonthesteps.co.uk 

* booking charges may apply 

LICHFIELD GUILDHALL 

NOVEMBER 

Fri 2nd to Sun 4th Nov 

LICHFIELD ROOTS & 

FOLK FESTIVAL 

featuring Aly Bain/Kieran 

Goss/Jack McNeil & Charlie 

Heys/Lucy Ward/The Lock 

In - Pint Size with Damien Barber 

...plus much more! 

Tickets: Full festival (including workshops) 

£48/£45 concessions/£41 members/£30 

students, Friday evening 

£12/£11 concessions/£10 members/£8 

students, Saturday afternoon FREE, 

Saturday evening £18/£17 concessions/£16 

members/£11 students, Sunday 

evening £22/£21 concessions/£20 

members/£14 students, Sunday full 

day (including workshops) £28/£27 

concessions/£26 members/£17 students 

Sun 11th Nov, 8.00pm 

PAUL COX & 

CHARLIE FABERT 

Tickets: £12/£11 concs 

/£10 members/ £7 students 

Sat 17th Nov, 7.30pm 

GARRICK THEATRE 

THE LOCK IN 

TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE 

SHOW FEATURING 

DAMIEN BARBER 

Tickets: £14/£13 concs 

/£12 members/ £7 students 

Sun 18th Nov, 8.00pm 

LAURA ZAKIAN 

Tickets: £12/£11 concs/£10 members/£7 

students 

Fri 23rd Nov, 8.30pm 

THE MONSTER 

CEILIDH BAND 

Tickets: £10/£9 concs/ 

£8 members/£6 students 

Sat 24th Nov, 8.00pm 

THE PRODUCERS 

Tickets: £12/£11 concs/£10 members/£7 

students 

For a programme or further information contact: 

Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield. WS13 6LU 

BOX OFFICE 01543 262223 

www.lichfieldarts.org.uk 

You can now book on-line www.lichfieldarts.org.uk

Music GIG REVIEWS 

For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

Ultravox 

Symphony Hall, Birmingham 

To compliment the release of Brilliant 

earlier this year - the first new album for 

nearly two decades from messrs Ure, 

Cann, Currie and Cross - and the release 

of their similarly titled new single, 

Ultravox last month played the Midlands 

to the obvious delight of their fans. Kicking 

straight off with the new single, they 

then performed the track New Euro- Midge Ure 

peans from the Vienna album. The set 

included such classics as Vienna, Hymn, Dancing With Tears In My 

Eyes and Reap The Wild Wind, as well as seven tracks from the new 

album. All were greeted with great enthusiasm by the audience - although 

the band’s interaction with their fans was far less in evidence 

than during their gigs on previous tours. Closing track Contact 

seemed a curious choice with which to finish, feeling somewhat out 

of context with the rest of the more-upbeat selection of songs, but all 

in all, this was a great night out for loyal fans of Ultravox. 

Peter Ward ■■■■■ 

Kelly Clarkson 

LG Arena, Birmingham 

“I’ve been in this industry for ten years,” 

said Grammy-winning Kelly Clarkson on 

more than one occasion at the LG, the 

latest stop-off on her Stronger arena 

tour. While it’s difficult to believe that a 

decade has flown by since she won the 

first American Idol in 2002, Clarkson’s 

polished, powerful vocals, not to mention 

confident, breezy interaction with 

her adoring fans, offered plenty of evidence 

that she is nowadays a highly experienced performer who’s 

well-accustomed to commanding the stage. There were belting pop 

ballads aplenty, including Since You’ve Been Gone, Mr Know It All, 

latest release Catch My Breath and the self-penned Because Of You, 

while ‘the overcoming of adversity’ was a constant theme of her 

back-catalogue selection (her Greatest Hits-Chapter One album is 

out at the end of 2012). Kelly was, however, quick to point out that 

she embraces many a genre of music, and among cover songs 

(which included a rather good version of Fun’s We Are Young) even 

paid tribute to Brummie band Black Sabbath with a rendition of their 

hit Changes. A country ‘duet’ of Don’t You Wanna Stay was also 

served up, courtesy of a larger-than-life hologram of Jason Aldean. 

But the highlight of the night, and returning once again to that all-important 

Clarkson theme of empowerment, was closing song 

Stronger, which brought the entire audience to its feet. 

Claire Lloyd ■■■■■ 

Katie Melua 


Appearing from behind the rich red velvet 

curtain, a tiny woman dressed in a 

black flamenco-style outfit walked on 

stage. The small lady with the big voice 

then played Piece By Piece, a haunting, 

touching start to the evening, with just 

her guitar for company. Katie was then 

joined by her Secret Symphony string 

quartet for renditions of If I Were A Sailboat, 

I’d Love To Kill You and Closest 

Thing To Crazy. The simplicity of the arrangements and the sweet 

sound of the strings were sublime. Then, with a band behind her, 

stand-out tracks The Flood, The Night I Dreamed I Was Awake and 

Two Left Feet showed off her ability to move from cabaret singer to 

diva. Once again alone, she closed with audience requests Spiders 

Web and I Cried For You, and showed yet again why she’s one of 

the UK’s best selling artists. Alev Dervish ■■■■■ 

Music LISTINGS 

For full listing information on gigs, 

including times and dates, visit 


THUR 1 NOV 

THE DRIFTERS Palace 

Theatre, Redditch 

SHAM 69 The Robin, Bilston 

MARTY WILDE'S ROCK 'N' 

ROLL PARTY Victoria 

Hall, Hanley, Stoke-on- 

Trent 

BRENDAN SHINE The 

Place, Oakengates Theatre, 

Telford 

LOSTPROPHETS Civic 

Hall, Wolverhampton 

STARS IN YOUR EYES 

Four vocalists pay homage 

to some of the 

worlds biggest musical 

stars, including Barbra 

Streisand, Michael 

Buble, Tina Turner and 

Rod Stewart, Prince Of 

Wales Centre, Cannock 

SAM KELLY The Rainbow, 

Birmingham 

WAYNE SHORTER QUAR- 

TET Birmingham Town 

Hall 

TERRA NAOMI HMV Institute, 

Birmimngham 

BAT FOR LASHES HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

THE SUBS The Jam 

House, Birmingham 

TO KILL A KING, LULU & 

FITZ Hare & Hounds, 

Birmingham 

TOTOL FOREIGNER The 

Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton 

INSOLITO, SHE SCREAMS 

MURDER, JOSEF AND THE 

FRITZIS, DAKOTA RUINS & 

SHAES TO FALL O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

IAN MCCULLOCH The 

Sugarmill, Stoke-on- 

Trent 

JOSEPHINE FOSTER & 

LUCY ANNE SALE Taylor’s 

John’s House, Coventry 

SPARZANZA, NG26 & 

RAISE THE ALARM The 

Asylum, Bimingham 

THE KILLERS LG Arena, 

Birmingham 

RAUL D’OLIVEIRA The 

Yardbird, Birmingham 

FRI 2 NOV 

SOLID SOUL The Jam 


THE CROOKES The Sugarmill, 

Stoke-on-Trent 

DAVID J PLUS VERY SPE- 

CIAL GUEST JOE BLACK 

The Ballroom, Birmingham 

CHARLIE LANDSBOROUGH 

Theatre Severn, 

Shrewsbury 

FRANK & WALTERS HMV 

Institute, Birmingham 

JASPER IN THE COMPANY 

OF OTHERS The Marr's 

Bar, Worcester 

NO SPRING CHICKEN The 

Roadhouse, Birmingham 

ROBBIE WILLIAMS TRIB- 

UTE NIGHT Whittlebury 

Hall Hotel & Spa 

DAVE PEGG'S 65TH BIRTH- 

DAY CONCERT FEATURING 

FAIRPORT CONVENTION, 

THE DYLAN PROJECT AND 

ANNA RYDER (SIC) Birmingham 

Town Hall 

THE STORY SO FAR & 

GNARWOLVES Kasbah, 

Coventry 

FRED ZEPPELIN The Public, 

West Bromwich 

TODAY’S TEARDROPS 

Tribute to Roy Orbison 

and Gene Pitney, Prince 

Of Wales Centre, Cannock 

JOE BROWN Palace Theatre, 

Redditch 

SABATON Wulfrun Hall, 

Wolverhampton 

60S GOLD FEATURING 

GERRY & THE PACEMAK- 

ERS, THE ANIMALS, PJ 

PROBY AND CHIP HAWKES 

Civic Hall, Wolverhampton 

CHRIS FARLOWE Huntingdon 

Hall, Worcester 

A WHOLE LOTTA LED The 


Telford 

THE ELO EXPERIENCE Victoria 

Hall, Hanley, 


DARKSIDE PRESENTS THE 

FLOYD EXPERIENCE The 

Robin, Bilston 

THE PHIL BOND QUARTET 


INTO THE SHADOWS Forest 

Arts Centre, Walsall 

SILENT FILTER, GREEN- 

WOOD PARK, THE 

CROOKED EMPIRE & 

FIRST CLASS TRAMP O2 

Academy, Birmingham 

AMONG THE ECHOES 

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS 

The Flapper, Birmingham 

THE STORY SO FAR & 

GNARWOLVES Kasbah. 

Coventry 

DR TEETH ALBUM LAUNCH 

Cox’s Yard, Stratfordupon-Avon 

MISTA JAM The Buttermarket, 

Shrewsbury 

EUREKA MACHINES & 

DRAG The Asylum, Birmingham 

DOC DANEEKA & BEN- 

JAMIN DAMAGE Hare & 

Hounds, Birmingham 

LICHFIELD ROOTS & FOLK 

FESTIVAL, Lichfield 

Guildhall, Staffordshire 

KINGS OV LEON River 

Rooms, Stourbridge 

SAT 3 NOV 

PANDORA'S BOX Warwick 

Arts Centre, Coventry 

JAZZ MORLEY Taylor 


JOE BROWN Palace Theatre, 

Redditch 

THE PROCLAIMERS Warwick 

Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

THE JOHNNY CASH ROAD- 

SHOW Artrix, Bromsgrove 

T-REXTASY The Robin, 

Bilston 

STICKY WICKET AND HIS 9 

PIECE SWING ORCHESTRA 

Huntingdon Hall, 

Worcester 

30H!3 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

TWIN ATLANTIC 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE ELO EXPERIENCE 

Prince Of Wales Centre, 

Cannock 

TOO PETTY - TRIBUTE TO 

TOM PETTY & THE HEART- 

BREAKERS Cox's Yard, 

Stratford-upon-Avon 

THE IDIOT BASTARD BAND 

Comic supergroup featuring 

Ade Edmundson, 

Phill Jupitus, Neil Innes 

& Rowland Rivron, 

Birmingham Town Hall 

EUREKA MACHINES The 

Marr's Bar, Worcester 

BOOTLEG BLONDIE The 

Roadhouse, Birmingham 

SPECTOR The Sugarmill, 


93, TOP BUZZ & RATTY.. 

HMV Institute, Birmingham 

GLORY DAYS - BRUCE 

SPRINGSTEEN TRIBUTE 

The Assembly, Leamington 

Spa 

TRADITIONAL AFRICAN 

GOSPEL CONCERT Dudley 

Concert Hall 

2:54 Sunflower Lounge, 

Birmingham 

JIM MORAY mac, Birmingham 

JD AND THE FDCS, 

GLASSGUNS, LIPSHOCK, 

EAST TOWN PIRATES & 

QUESTIONS OF ANGELS 

O2 Academy, Birmingham 

ESCAPE IN PARIS, THIS 

BURNING AGE, BOLSHIRE 

& THE SCRIBERS The 

Ballroom, Birmingham 

ENEI ALBUM TOUR Hare 

& Hounds, Birmingham 

SOLID SOUL The Jam 


THE COMMANDMENTS 

The River Rooms, 

Stourbridge 

SUN 4 NOV 

THE BIG BAND Crewe 

Lyceum 

FOREVER IN BLUE JEANS 


Shrewsbury 

METAL HAMMER RAZOR 

TOUR FEATURING DEVIL 

SOLD HIS SOUL, HEIGHTS, 

HEART OF A COWARD AND 

STEAK NUMBER EIGHT 02 


I O EARTH The Robin, 

Bilston 

SPIRITUALIZED Warwick 


PETER KNIGHT’S 

GIGSPANNER Kitchen 

Garden Cafe, Kings 

Heath, Birmingham 

JOSHUA JAMES The 

Yardbird, Shrewsbury 

CHRIS HELME Hare & 


THE BOTS WITH YOUTH 

MAN The Flapper, Birmingham 

PHANTOM LIMB The Ironworks, 

Oswestry, North 

Shropshire 

THINK BIG TOUR O2 


MON 5 NOV 

DAVID ESSEX Symphony 



For full listing information on gigs 

including, times and dates, visit 


Hall, Birmingham 

MOTORHEAD Civic Hall, 

Wolverhampton 

THE TWANG Wulfrun 


INGRID MICHAELSON The 

Glee Club, Birmingham 

OH SLEEPER O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE CRIBS The Assembly, 

Leamington Spa 

TUES 6 NOV 

BROADWAY PLUS VIOLET, 

ATLANTIS & AURORA The 


CRIBS HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

SAINT SAVIOUR The 


IAN PARKER The Jam 


THE PROCLAIMERS Birmingham 

Town Hall 

MARTIN STEPHENSON 

Solihull Arts Complex 

BATES & MCBAIN - ECLEC- 

TIC COLLECTION FEATUR- 

ING FORMER ELO2 

FRONTMAN PHIL BATES 

AND TINA MCBAIN Lichfield 

Garrick 

KRISTINA TRAIN The 


CLAUDIA BRUCKEN 02 


ROLLING BACK THE 

YEARS Dudley Concert 

Hall 

BELLOWHEAD Wulfrun 


STEEL PANTHER Civic 


NIGHTWISH 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

JAMIE SMITH’S MABON 


Worcester 

GONG The Robin, Bilston 

ALEX WILSON'S JAZZ TRIO 

Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

KERRY ELLIS & BRIAN 

MAY The Assembly, 


SAVAGES The Rainbow, 

Birmingham 

BRASSTRONAUT John 

Taylor’s House, Coven- 


try 

THE BORN FREE TOUR 


MABON Huntingdon 


ROLLING BACK THE 

YEARS Dudley Concert 

Hall 

SANDI THOM The Robin, 

Bilston 

MIKE PETERS 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

MARTY WILDE'S ROCK 'N' 

ROLL New Alexandra 

Theatre, Birmingham 

PUNCH BROTHERS 02 

Academy 

CHICAGO BLUES BROTH- 

ERS Crewe Lyceum 

MARTYN JOSEPH Theatre 

Severn, Shrewsbury 

A SKYLIT DRIVE The Sugarmill, 


HOODED FANG Hare & 


SPECTOR, SWIM DEEP & 

SPLASH! HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

THE SOUNDS OF SIMON - 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL 

TRIBUTE Kitchen Garden 

Cafe, Kings Heath, 

Birmingham 

JACK WHITE O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

JIM CAUSLEY & JENN 

WITTS The Red Lion, 

Kings Heath, Birmingham 

KREG VIESSELMAN & 

CLIFF HANDS Taylor 


ANDY OLIVERI & HEINZ- 

SIGHT The Yardbird, 

Birmingham 

\ 

WED 7 NOV 

THUR 8 NOV 

EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS 

The Roadhouse, Birmingham 

CONOR MAYNARD HMV 


JAZZ MORLEY The Slade 

Rooms, Wolverhampton 

THE OFFICIAL RECEIVERS 

BAND The Jam House, 

Birmingham 

DEAF HAVANA Kasbah, 

Coventry 

EVANESCENCE National 

Indoor Arena, Birmingham 

SNARKY PUPPY Hare & 


RALPH MCTELL Huntingdon 


EMELI SANDE Symphony 


EASY STAR ALL-STARS 

The Robin, Bilston 

JOOLS HOLLAND & HIS 

RHYTHM & BLUES OR- 

CHESTRA Victoria Hall, 

Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent 

THE CIVIL WARS Warwick 


FRR LIVE, TRIVAX, GLASS 

BULLET, EYES WIDE OPEN 

& EDGE OF REASON O2 


LARRY MCRAY BAND 

Hare & Hounds, B’ham 

CATFISH KEITH The Ironworks, 


Shropshire 

DEAF HAVANA, CANTER- 

BURY & THERE FOR TO- 

MORROW Kasbah, 

Coventry 

CHRISTIAN KANE & BRIAN 

NUTTER The Asylum, 

Birmingham 

HOLLY THOMAS The 


ROB BARRON TRIO Bramall 

Music Building 

Foyer, Barber Institute, 

Birmingham 

FRI 9 NOV 

ROY ORBISON AND 

FRIENDS Stratford Civic 

Hall 

THE ROYAL SOUTHERN 

BROTHERHOOD The 


LET'S HANG ON - THE 

MUSIC OF FRANKI VALI & 

THE FOUR SEASONS The 


Telford 

MAYBESHEWILL 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

ONE NIGHT IN VEGAS 

Crewe Lyceum 

ONCE IN A LIFETIME FEA- 

TURING DAVID CASSIDY, 

LEO SAYER, HOT CHOCO- 

LATE AND SMOKIE LG 

Arena, Birmingham 

COLVIN QUARMBY PLUS 

KEVIN O'REGAN BAND 

Cox's Yard, Stratfordupon-Avon 

MR BEN The Jam 


GREG WILSON Hare & 


IAN MCNABB The Slade 


HOLOGRAMS PLUS SUP- 

PORT FROM EAGULLS 

Hare & Hounds, B’ham 

DEVLIN, KREPT & KONAN 


MAXIMO PARK HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

HARDRIDE The Roadhouse, 

Birmingham 

KEEP IT CASH - TRIBUTE 

TO JOHNNY CASH The 


SPICE GIRLS TRIBUTE 

NIGHT Whittlebury Hall 

Hotel & Spa 

MELINGO mac, Birmingham 

VAULT OF EAGLES, THIS 

WICKED TONGUE & MAN- 

SIZE The Rainbow, Birmingham 

BOMBSQUAD The Temple 

@ The HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

A CELEBRATION OF NEIL 

DIAMOND Performed by 

Wayne Denton, Tamworth 

Assembly Rooms 

SAM AND THE WOMP 02 


A SKYLIT DRIVE, OCEANS 

ATE ALASKA & AURORA 

The Asylum, Birmingham 

THE SUPERSKAS 

Newhampton Arts Centre, 

Wolverhampton 

THE COUNTERFEIT 

STONES The Roses, 

Tewksbury 

OASIS V THE STONE 

ROSES The River 


SAT 10 NOV 

THE SKYNYRD EXPERI- 

ENCE The Marr's Bar, 

Worcester 

ROCK SOUND RIOT 2012 


FROM THE JAM 


Spa 

MR BEN The Jam 


DINGUS KHAN The Sugarmill, 


THE KINX Cox's Yard, 


TAKE IT EASY - EAGLES 

TRIBUTE BAND Bloxwich 

Library Theatre 

HOPSIN 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

MUSICAL PICNIC: SOUZA 

WINDS Symphony Hall, 

Birmingham 

GORDON HENDRICKS IS 

ELVIS Artrix, Bromsgrove 

WIDE EYED & HEAVY 

WAVES Sunflower 

Lounge, Birmingham 

TUNGSTEN DEAD BEATS, 

FRAMED, CAL 22 & THE 

PROSPECTS O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

HOT CLUB DE SWING & 

THE ELECTRIC SWING CIR- 

CUS COMES HOME Hare 

& Hounds, Birmingham 

PRIMER The Flapper, 

Birmingham 

LUCY ROSE Kasbah, 

Coventry 

DIANE SHAW The Buttermarket, 

Shrewsbury 

ABSOLVA The Asylum, 

Birmingham 

THE SOUL SURVIVORS 


Stourbridge 

KATHRYN ROBERTS & 

SEAN LAKEMAN 


Wolverhampton 

SAD CAFE Robin 2, Bilston 

SUN 11 NOV 


ELVIS Artrix, Bromsgrove 

LANDMARQ The Robin, 

Bilston 

PAUL COX & CHARLIE 

FABERT Lichfield Guildhall 

COHEED AND CAMBRIA 02 


THE LIVE BOX FEATURING 

THE ARUAN ORTIZ & 

MICHAEL JANISCH QUIN- 

TET Hare & Hounds, 

Birmingham 

MATRACA BERG The Assembly, 

Leamington 

Spa 

STIFF LITTLE FINGERS 

The Slade Rooms, 

Wolverhampton 

ARCHITECTS, DEEZ NUTS, 

BURY TOMORROW & ACA- 

CIA STRAIN HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

AMY CAN FLYY The Ballroom, 

Birmingham 

MAGGIE BOYLE WITH 

PAUL DOWNES Kitchen 



SEA OF BEES & BAR- 

BAROSSA Hare & 


SILENT FILTER, LAUREN 

PRYKE, BRAINS FOR 

BREAKFAST, WINSTON’S 

BIG BROTHER, ALICE 

COLEY & ABILENE O2 


WE ARE THE OCEAN, BOY 

JUMPS SHIPS & THE HID- 

ING PLACE The Sugarmill, 


MEGSON The Hive, 

Shrewsbury 

MON 12 NOV 

JAKE BUGG, FINDLAY & 

TOM ODELL HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

THE BOOTLEG SIXTIES 

WITH THE OVERTURES 

Belgrade Theatre, 

Coventry 

GOJIRA The Slade 


RACHEL SAGE Kitchen 



MARCUS FOSTER & SPE- 

CIAL GUEST Hare & 


ICONS OF COUNTRY Tamworth 


STEALING SHEEP Kasbah, 

Coventry 

AMY CAN FLYY The Ballroom, 

Birmingham 

HADDO - FOLK MUSIC 

FROM THE BRITISH ISLES 

The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury 

TUES 13 NOV 

FOCUS The Robin, Bilston 

ADAM ANT & THE GOOD, 

MAD AND THE LOVELY 

POSSE Victoria Hall, 


YOUNG MAN & SPECIAL 

GUESTS The Rainbow, 

Birmingham 

BUCK 65 HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

CHRIS BOWDEN QUARTET 

The Jam House, Birmingham 

POLLY & THE BILLETS 

DOUX Kitchen Garden 


Birmingham 

SAINT SAVIOUR & WALL 

Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 

REVOKER, SACRED 

MOTHER TONGUE & CY- 

TOTA O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

WED 14 NOV 

THE STYLISTICS The Jam 


ROYAL REPUBLIC The 


PARKWAY DRIVE The 


DJ FRESH (LIVE) HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

SUPERSILENT FEAT. JOHN 

PAUL JONES & LUCIDA 

GRANDE Birmingham 

Town Hall 

JOHN WILLIAMS AND 

JOHN ETHERIDGE 

Malvern Theatres 

KIERAN GOSS Stafford 

Gatehouse Theatre 

SLADE AND SWEET New 

Alexandra Theatre, 

Birmingham 

DAVID ESSEX Victoria 


Trent 

BILLY WALTON BAND The 


JAZZ MORLEY Hare & 


SAM CARTER The Red 

Lion, Kings Heath, 

Birmingham 

JACQUI DANKWORTH & 

DAVOD GORDON St 

Chad’s Church, 

Shrewsbury 

ULI JON ROTH BAND The 

River Rooms, Stourbridge 

THUR 15 NOV 

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO 

ROCK FEATURING 

LIVEWIRE THE AC/DC 

SHOW AND THE ZZ TOPS 


THE SENSATIONAL 60'S 

EXPERIENCE FEATURING 

THE TREMELOES, MAR- 

MALADE & THE DREAM- 

ERS Victoria Hall, 


ELIZA SHADDAD Symphony 


THE WEDDING PRESENT 

02 Academy, Birmingham 

THE LEGENDS OF SWING 

Lichfield Garrick 

THE STYLISTICS Lichfield 

Garrick 

MAD DOG MCREA & 

COSMO JARVIS HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

UGLY DUCKLING The Ballroom, 

Birmingham 

BAND OF HORSES HMV 


YASHIN PLUS DEAR SU- 

PERSTAR, HATE THE FAITH 

AND ENVY OF THE STATE 


Wolverhampton 

SOUL PATCH The Jam


BELLOWHEAD The Assembly, 


BONZO DOG DOO DAH 

BAND The Queen's Hall, 

Nuneaton 

F****D UP & SPECIAL 

GUESTS The Rainbow, 

Birmingham 

ALUNAGEORGE Hare & 


THE BLACK MIRRORS, SIX 

TOWNS, THE RUBY DUKES 

& THE DISCLOSURE PROJ- 

ECT The Sugarmill, 


CLUB SMITH PLUS SUP- 

PORT The Flapper, Birmingham 

KREG VIESSELMAN The 

Ironworks, Oswestry, 

North Shropshire 

VEXXEN & MOODY 

BOMBER O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

CLUB SMITH Flapper, 

Birmingham 

KIDS WE USED TO BE, WE 

ARE SAVIOURS, ALL 

THOUGHT OUT & LAUREN 

PRYKE The Roadhouse, 

Birmingham 

A BLAST WITH FINE ARTS 

BRASS Royal Spa Centre, 


THE CHRISTIANS The 

Roses, Tewksbury 

FRI 16 NOV 

ARENA The Assembly, 


REVIVAL TOUR 2012 FEA- 

TURING CHUCK RAGAN, 

CORY BRANAN, EMILY 

BARKER, JAY MALINOWSKI, 

AND ROCKY VOTOLATO The 


BLOOD ON THE DANCE- 

FLOOR, IT BOYS & THE 

OCEAN’S EYE HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

MENTALLICA The Roadhouse, 

Birmingham 

CHINA CRISIS Cox's Yard, 


PETER HOOK AND THE 

LIGHT Kasbah, Coventry 

EZIO The Glee Club, 

Birmingham 

THE UPBEAT BEATLES Solihull 

Arts Complex 

STUDIO UNPLUGGED Solihull 

Arts Complex 

THE ALBION BAND Huntingdon 


SPUNGE 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE ILLEGAL EAGLES Victoria 

Hall, Hanley, Stokeon-Trent 

GERRY MCAVOY'S BAND 

OF FRIENDS The Robin, 

Bilston 

CUSP Symphony Hall, 

Birmingham 

BOMBSQUAD HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB 


Spa 

MUMIY TROLL & 

ECHOTAPE The Rainbow, 

Birmingham 

KING CHARLES O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

NICK PRIDE & THE PIMP- 

TONES WITH THE TITANICS 


STEVE CRADOCK The Buttermarket, 

Shrewsbury 

GENTLEMAN’S PISTOLS, 

DESERT STORM & DIA- 

MOND LIL The Asylum, 

Bimingham 

MANY EYES, OCCOEUR & 

SEVENTH HORIZON The 


BORN IN THE USA The 

Roses, Tewksbury 

UB40 - LABOUR OF LOVE 

Tribute band, The River 


SAT 17 NOV 

DARKSIDE PRESENTS THE 

FLOYD EXPERIENCE 

Stafford Gatehouse 

Theatre 

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 


THE RED LEMONS The 

Jam House, Birmingham 

THE DUALERS The 


JAKE & ELWOOD & THE 

BLACK RHINO BAND Victoria 

Hall, Hanley, 


RIZZLE KICKS 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

PINT SHOT RIOTS, DELTA 

RHYTHM, MILLION EM- 

PIRE, FOREVER TONIGHT 

& GETAWAY CLUB 02 


GLENN MILLER ORCHES- 

TRA Dudley Concert 

Hall 

CLASSIC CLAPTON Huntingdon 


PAUL CARRACK Royal 

Spa Centre, Leamington 

Spa 

THE SOUNDS OF SIMON - 

A TRIBUTE TO SIMON AND 

GARFUNKEL The Place, 

Oakengates Theatre, 

Telford 

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN Re- 

gent Theatre, Hanley, 


SWING LEGENDS Bedworth 

Civic Hall 

SPEECH DEBELLE HMV 


HATS OFF TO LED ZEPLIN 


Shrewsbury 

TEXAN PEACOCKS Cox's 

Yard, Stratford-upon- 

Avon 

THE MANFREDS Birmingham 

Town Hall 

THE NOTORIOUS BROTH- 

ERS The Roadhouse, 

Birmingham 

MIKE PETERS WITH SUP- 

PORT FROM JOE SILVA 

The Marr's Bar, 

Worcester 

ADAM ANT & THE GOOD, 

MAD AND THE LOVELY 

POSSE The Ballroom, 

Birmingham 

SGT. PEPPER'S ONLY DART 

BOARD BAND Dovehouse 

Theatre, Solihull 

KARNATAKA The Assembly, 


THE CR00KES, HEY 

SHOLAY & BLACK MARKET 

EMPIRE Sunflower 

Lounge, Birmingham 

DON LETTS Hare & 


POST DESCARTES & 

JAPANESE FIGHTING FISH 

The Flapper, Birmingham 

GUNS VS ROSES The Ironworks, 


Shropshire 

ENDLESS KNOT Taylor 


THE KRYSTALLETTES & JU- 

LIAN SMITH Nailcote Hall, 

Berkswell, Warwickshire 

GRIMPEN MIRE, SLAB- 

DRAGGER & UNDERSMILE 


ANNIE MAC PRESENTS... 

The Rainbow, Birmingham 

PAPER TIGERS The Sugar 

Mill, Hanley, Stoke-On- 

Trent 

HENNA Newhampton 

Arts Centre, Wolverhampton 

AC/DC - DIRTY DC The 


SUN 18 NOV 

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES 


RIZZLE KICKS 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA Birm- 

ingham Town Hall 

THE BACHELORS Crewe 

Lyceum 

LAURA ZAKIAN Lichfield 

Guildhall 

SEETHER 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

LA SHARK 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE STRAWBS The Robin, 

Bilston 

HORSE, WITH FULL BAND 

mac, Birmingham 

WOODEN HORSE Kitchen 



STRAIGHT ON RED Cox’s 

Yard, Stratford 

STARS AND FLIGHTS, LUNA 

KISS, DRONES & THE LION 


MON 19 NOV 

JOAN ARMATRADING Victoria 

Hall, Hanley, 


PASSION PIT, CHURCHES 

& CHAD VALLEY HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

JUAN ZELEDA, BENJAMIN 

OWEN & JOE KARCHUD 

02 Academy, Birmingham 

GREG LAKE New Alexandra 


TYLER JAMES The Glee 

Club, Birmingham 

MYSTERY JETS HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

PINK MOON BY NICK 

DRAKE Kitchen Garden 


Birmingham 

TUES 20 NOV 

THE WEDDING PRESENT 


Spa 

JULIE DEXTER The Jam 


BUDDY HOLLY & THE 

CRICKETERS Theatre 


SOWETO KINCH TRIO Theatre 


PACO PENA: QUIMERAS 


DIRTY THREE The Glee 


JACK DEJOHNETTE QUIN- 

TET Adrian Boult Hall, 

Birmingham 

HEATHER FINDLAY WITH 

HER BAND The Robin, 

Bilston 

THE FEELERS O2 Acad- 

emy, Birmingham 

MIKE SILVER The Roses, 

Tewksbury 

WED 21 NOV 

THE DYLAN PROJECT The 


BUDDY HOLLY & THE 

CRICKETERS New 


Birmingham 

EUROPE 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

FEEDER Civic Hall, 

Wolverhampton 

SAM AND THE WOMP 02 


SHOW OF HANDS Theatre 


NETSKY Kasbah, Coventry 

GONG The Assembly, 


THE EARL GREY The 


BUCKCHERRY HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

PEACE & SPECIAL GUESTS 

The Sugar Mill, Stokeon-Trent 

ALCHEMY DUO & EWAN 

MCLENNAN The Red 

Lion, Kings Heath, 

Birmingham 

SEPREVATION, CRANIA- 

TION & REGURGITATE LIFE 


GOSPEL CENTRAL The 

Jam House, Birmingham 

THUR 22 NOV 

CRYSTAL CASTLES HMV 


LIL' JIMS BIG SQUEEZE 


MAD CADDIES The Ballroom, 

Birmingham 

DECIBEL ENSEMBLE FEA- 

TURING PAUL DUNMALL A 

E Harris Building, Birmingham 

CELTIC FIDDLE FESTIVAL 

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme 

MOTOWN'S GREATEST 

HITS - HOW SWEET IT IS 

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury 

JIMMY BUCKLEY Theatre 


RAYMOND FROGGATT 

Prince Of Wales Centre, 

Cannock 

URBAN FOLK QUARTET 


Worcester 

SONIC BOOM SIX, IMPE- 

RIAL LEISURE, MIXTAPE 

SAINTS & NIGHTLIFE 02 


RUNRIG Civic Hall, 

Wolverhampton 

AYNSLEY LISTER BAND 


THE RAT PACK IS BACK 

Palace Theatre, Redditch 

MULATU ASTATKE Warwick 


JOHN DIPPER & LUKE 

DANIELS ‘SUN STATIONS’ 


RAGDOLLS - TRIBUTE TO 

JERSEY BOYS Tamworth 


JOSIE LONG Taylor John’s 

House, Coventry 

MISSING ANDY The Assembly, 

Leamington 

Spa 

SAM MARCHANT The 


BRIGITTE BERAHA QUAR- 

TET Fri 23 Nov, Symphony 


DREADZONE The Robin, 

Bilston 

BEYOND THE BARRICADE 

Victoria Hall, Hanley, 


LEVELLERS 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE LANCASHIRE HOT- 

POTS 02 Academy, Birmingham 

FRANK TURNER & THE 

SLEEPING SOULS Civic 


THERAPY 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

FOUR PARTS GUITAR 


Worcester 

MONSTER CEILIDH BAND 

Lichfield Guildhall 

THE DRIFTERS Prince Of 

Wales Centre, Cannock 

THE CARPET CUTOUTS 

The Rainbow, B’ham 

DR FEELGOOD Cox's 

Yard, Stratford-upon- 

Avon 

ROXY MAGIC AND JEAN 

GENIE The Slade 


DETROIT SOUL The Jam 


THE QUO The Roadhouse, 

Birmingham 

THE SCOPYONS The 


MATT CORBY, BEARS DEN 

& LUCY MASON HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

TIPITINA The Garden 

House, Hagley Rd, 




For full listing information on gigs 

including, times and dates, visit 


Birmingham 

KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES 


ALL THE YOUNG The 


Trent 

THE LIEUTENANTS The 


4 PARTS GUITARS Huntingdon 


DJ DEREK Newhampton 


SAT 24 NOV 

NOKE Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

SOLEY MOURNING The 


HOT RED CHILLI PEPPERS 

The Roundhouse, Birmingham 

PETER HOOK AND THE 

LIGHT The Sugarmill, 


LEGENDS OF ROCK FEA- 

TURING: MEGADETH TRIB- 

UTE, REINVENTING TREND 

OVERKILL AND MENTAL- 

LICA The Slade Rooms, 

Wolverhampton 

DETROIT SOUL The Jam 


MADINA LAKE Kasbah, 

Coventry 


ELVIS The Place, Oakengates 

Theatre, Telford 

THE PRODUCERS Lichfield 

Guildhall 

THE CARPET CRAWLERS 


Worcester 

THE "BEE GEES" NIGHT 

FEVER PARTY Nailcote 

Hall, Berkswell, Warwickshire 

BEN HOWARD 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE COMPLETE STONE 

ROSES 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

SILENT FILTER FT. RONIN, 

KHAOS THEORY, MY 

HEROINE, ABBERLINE AND 

TOM WALKER 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE COUNTERFEIT 

STONES The Robin, Bilston 

STEVE HARLEY & COCK- 

NEY REBEL Symphony 


MID-DAY MANTRA: RA- 

JESH DAVID Symphony 


BEYOND THE BARRICADE 

AT CHRISTMAS Palace 


PATRICK WOLF Warwick 


GL LIVE PRESENTS AFFIN- 

ITY - ONE NIGHT, ONE 

GOD, ONE PEOPLE Featuring 

Breaker, Ni Sheng & 

Natty Joshia, The Drum, 

Birmingham 

HUSTLE VI, COLD FIELDS, 

PRISMS & RED BULL 


NEW KILLER SHOES, SIX- 

TYFOURS & PURPLE 

STEREO The Flapper, 

Birmingham 

JEAGA & SILENT BLACK- 

OUT The Ironworks, Oswestry, 

North 

Shropshire 

FRANK TURNER THE 

SLEEPING SOULS The Assembly, 

Leamington 

Spa 

THE PRODUCERS Lichfield 

Guildhall, Staffordshire 

MOTOWN MAGIC The 


BROWNFIELD BYRNE 

QUINTET The Hive, 

Shrewsbury 

SUN 25 NOV 

WILKO JOHNSON The 


SLADE AND SWEET Victoria 

Hall, Hanley, Stokeon-Trent 

THE STYLISTICS Civic 


THE MILK 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE QUIREBOYS The 


JOHN WHEELER OF HAY- 

SEED DIXIE The Sugarmill, 


BETH ORTON The Assembly, 


RODDY WOOMBLE The 

Hive, Shrewsbury 

BROOM BEZZUMS The 


TERRI WALKER & KOF The 

Drum, Birmingham 

BEN CALVERY & THE 

SWIFTS Kitchen Garden 


Birmingham 

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA 


HOSPITALITY HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

MON 26 NOV 

THE CORONAS The Ballroom, 

Birmingham 

BETH ORTON The Glee 


CONVERGE 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

MARTIN BARRE'S NEW 

DAY The Robin, Bilston 

MATTHEWS SOUTHERN 

COMFORT Kitchen Garden 


Birmingham 

AKALA O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

ELLIOT BROOD Hare & 


SHARON SHANNON The 

Assembly, Leamington 

Spa 

CENSOR YOURSELF MUSIC 

PRESENTS... Cox’s Yard, 

Stratford 

TUES 27 NOV 

THE FUREYS The Robin, 

Bilston 

THE SOFT MOON, DRAC- 

ULA LEWIS, THE 

All The Young - The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent 

GRAFHAM WATER SAILING 

CLUB & RADIO BLACK 

FOREST DJS The Rainbow, 

Birmingham 

MAGNUM The Assembly, 


RYAN LESLEY WITH FULL 

LIVE BAND HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

THE RIFLES The Sugarmill, 


BONAFIDE The Slade 


WED 28 NOV 

ACKER BILK & THE PARA- 

MOUNT JAZZ BAND New 

Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme 

TRIO VD & THREENIL 


ELECTRIC BOYS The 


THE STAVES & LUKE 

SITAL-SINGH Hare & 


JULIAN SMITH Malvern 

Theatre 

TESTAMENT Wulfrun 


NEEDTOBREATHE 02 


ELBOW National Indoor 


COLIN BLUNSTONE & 

BAND Huntingdon Hall, 

Worcester 

L.A. GUNS PLUS SUP- 

PORT FROM DAM DICE 

AND THE NEW SAINTS 


10CC Victoria Hall, Hanley, 


BIG SEAN HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

THE VIEW The Sugarmill, 


THE HURLING BOYS The 

Red Lion, Kings Heath, 

Birmingham 

RAVENS & CHIMES Taylor 


MIKE TRAMP The Asylum, 

Birmingham 

THUR 29 NOV 

BUDDY WHITTINGTON & 

HIS BAND The Robin, 

Bilston 

MARTYN JOSEPH Huntingdon 


ROB ZOMBIE AND MARI- 

LYN MANSON TWINS OF 

EVIL TOUR National Indoor 

Arena, B’ham 

THE UPBEAT BEATLES 

Royal Spa Centre, 


GET CAPE, WEAR CAPE, 

FLY - SOLO ACOUSTIC 


SOIL & FOZZY 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

THE VACCINES 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

EVAN DANOD & JULIANA 

HATFIELD HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

SUBTOTAL, ACTION RE- 

PLAY & OUR DAYS 

WASTED O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

CHRISTIAN REILLY PLUS 

SUPPORT Hare & 


URBAN FOLK QUARTET 

Tamworth Assembly 

Rooms 

THE SUBTERRANEANS 


PLAY OUT Sampad concert 

featuring Jesse 

Bannister, Zoe Rahman, 

Seb Rochford & Kenny 

Higgins; Elgar Concert 

Hall, Bramall Music 

Building, Birmingham 

Birmingham 

02 ACADEMY 

0121 622 8250 

ADRIAN BOULT HALL 

0121 331 5901 

THE ASYLUM 

0121 233 1109 

THE BALLROOM, DALE END 

0121 448 0797 

THE BARBER INSTITUTE 

0121 414 7333 

BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL 

0121 780 3333 

CBSO CENTRE 

0121 780 3333 

CUSTARD FACTORY, 

0121 224 7777 

FLAPPER 0121 236 2421 

HARE & HOUNDS 

0121 444 2081 

HMV INSTITUTE 

0121 643 0428 

ISLAND BAR 

0121 632 5296 

THE JAM HOUSE 

0121 200 3030 

LG ARENA 

0844 338 8000 

NIA 

0844 338 8000 

THE RAINBOW 

0121 772 8174 

RED LION FOLK CLUB 

0121472 4253 

THE ROADHOUSE 

0121 459 5660 

SYMPHONY HALL 

0121 780 3333 

FRI 30 NOV 

FRED ZEPPELIN The 

Roadhouse, B’ham 

MADINA LAKE, RED JUMP 

SUIT APPARATUS, ACTION 

BLAST HMV Institute, 

Birmingham 

THE SUBTERRANEANS 


TIGERTAILZ The Slade 


THE NORTH SEA SCROLLS 

The Glee Club, Birmingham 

TALON - THE BEST OF THE 

EAGLES Malvern Theatres 

SILENT FILTER FT. THE 

ROZ BRUCE INFUSION 02 


BOAT TO ROW, MISTY’S 

BIG ADVENTURE, YOUNG 

RUNAWAYS & CHARLOTTE 

CARPENTER 02 Academy, 

Birmingham 

ELKIE BROOKS Royal Spa 

Music Venues Box Office 

THE GLEE CLUB 

0871 472 0400 

THE YARDBIRD 

0121 212 2524 

Black Country 

CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON 

0870 320 7000 

DUDLEY CONCERT HALL 

01384 815577 

FOREST ARTS CENTRE 

0845 111 2898 

NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 

01902 572090 

THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH 

0121 533 7161 

ROBIN 2, BILSTON 

01902 401211 

STOURBRIDGE TOWN HALL 

01384 812812 

WULFRUN HALL, 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

0870 320 7000 

Shropshire 

THE EDGE ARTS CENTRE, 

MUCH WENLOCK 

01952 728911 

THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 

01743 234970 

THE IRONWORKS, OSWESTRY 

01691 679123 

THEATRE SEVERN, 

SHREWSBURY 01743 281281 

THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, 

TELFORD 01952 382382 

WEM TOWN HALL 

01939 232299 

Centre, Leamington Spa 

FLASH - A TRIBUTE TO 

QUEEN The Robin, Bilston 

THE MANFREDS Victoria 


Trent 

SQUEEZE Symphony 


MARTIN TROTMAN BAND 


TG COLLECTIVE mac, 

Birmingham 

THE ROZ BRUCE INFU- 

SION, PIG PLASTIQUE, 

COPPER LIGHTS & KEVIN 

JAMES HADLEY O2 Academy, 

Birmingham 

SUBSTANCE THROWBACK 

XMAS PARTY FEAT. 

MAGOO & MAD FLOW 


FOALS & PETIT NOIR The 


Trent 

MURDER OF CROWS PLUS 

SPECIAL GUESTS The 

Flapper, Birmingham 

Staffordshire 

LICHFIELD GUILDHALL 

01543 262223 

THE SUGARMILL, HANLEY 

STOKE-ON-TRENT 

01159 454 593 

TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY ROOMS 

01827 709618 

VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY 

0870 060 6649 

STAFFORD GATEHOUSE 

01785 254653 

Warwickshire 

COX’S YARD, STRATFORD 

01789 404600 

THE ASSEMBLY, LEAMINGTON 

01926 311311 

THE KASBAH, COVENTRY 

024 7655 4473 

NAILCOTE HALL, 

BERKSWELL 

02476 46 6174 

STRATFORD CIVIC HALL 

01789 207100 

TAYLOR JOHN’S HOUSE, 

COVENTRY 

024 7623 0699 

Worcestershire 

HUNTINGDON HALL / SWAN 

THEATRE 01905 611427 

MARR’S BAR, WORCESTER 

01905 613336 

THE RIVER ROOMS, 

STOURBRIDGE 

01384 397177 


Classical Music PREVIEWS 

Andrea Bocelli 

LG Arena, Birmingham, Sat 10 November 

One of (if not the) most successful opera singers of modern times, Andrea Bocelli's talent is so 

awesome that he can turn his voice to pretty much anything, whether it be Verdi or Puccini, 

Mascagni or Massenet. The best-selling solo artist in the history of classical music, Bocelli lost 

his sight at the age of twelve after accidentally being hit on the head during a football match 

and suffering a brain haemorrhage. In 2010, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood 

Walk of Fame for his contribution to live theatre. 

Celebrity Piano Recital With 

Evgeny Kissin 

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 


Having joined the esteemed Gnessin 

School of Music for gifted children at the 

age of six, Russian-born Evgeny Kissin is 

today internationally recognised as one of 

the greatest pianists of his generation. 

Stopping off at Birmingham’s Symphony 

Hall as part of a three-date UK tour, Kissin 

here presents a rare recital of the great 

classical and romantic repertoire, performing 

Haydn’s Sonata No 59 in E flat (Hob. 

XVI:49), Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in C 

minor, Op 111, Schubert’s Impromptus in F 

minor (Op 142 No1), G flat, B flat and A flat 

(Op 90 No4) and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody 

No 12. 


Royal 

Philharmonic 

Orchestra 


Coventry, Wed 

28 November 

Acclaimed Scottishborn 

conductor 

Rory Macdonald 

takes the helm for 

this latest RPO concert 

to be staged at 

Butterworth Hall. 

Sibelius’ Symphony 

No.5 - regarded as 

one of the simplest 

tunes ever written - 

promises to be the 

perfect climax to a 

concert of ‘ravishing’ 

twentieth century 

music. Vaughan 

Williams’ Fantasia 

on a theme by 

Thomas Tallis, 

Delius’ The Walk To 

The Paradise Garden 

and 

Shostakovich’s 

Concerto for Trumpet 

and Piano also 

feature. 

Shrewsbury 

Symphony 

Orchestra 

Allington Hall, 

Shrewsbury School, 

Wed 21 November 

Founded in 1888, 

the Shrewsbury 

Symphony Orchestra 

is one of the 

country’s oldest professional 

orchestras. 

Originally known as 

the Shrewsbury 

Orchestral Society, 

the orchestra today 

boasts a membership 

in excess of 

forty-five, and presents 

performances 

in and around the 

county of Shropshire. 

This month 

sees the orchestra 

welcome guest 

pianist Viv McLean 

into the fold, to perform 

one of the best 

known and most 

loved piano concertos 

of all time - the 

Grieg in A minor. 

Royal Ballet Sinfonia 

Concert 

Birmingham Cathedral, Sat 17 November 

Performing regularly for some of the 

world’s greatest ballet companies - including 

the Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, 

New York City Ballet, the Kirov and La 

Scala Ballet, as well as our very own Birmingham 

Royal Ballet - the Royal Ballet Sinfonia 

is most certainly one of Britain’s 

busiest ballet orchestras. This unique concert 

at Birmingham’s beautiful Anglican 

Cathedral opens and closes with two 

Tchaikovsky classics - Fantasy Overture 

from Romeo And Juliet and Symphony 

No.5 in E minor op.64. It also sees the 

orchestra - under the directorship of Koen 

Kessels - join forces with Canon Marcus 

Huxley and the Birmingham Cathedral 

Choir in a performance of John Rutter’s 

beautiful and much-acclaimed Gloria. 

Birmingham Bach Choir 

Lichfield Cathedral, Sat 24 November 

Returning to Lichfield’s historic cathedral, 

the acclaimed Birmingham Bach Choir 

here present the composer’s Christmas 

Oratorio. First performed in the 1730s, 

Bach's beautiful festive classic has 

become a firm yuletide favourite. Written in 

six sections, it tells the story of the birth of 

Jesus, complete with angels, shepherds 

and the gift-bearing Three Kings. Performing 

the entire Oratorio, the choir are joined 

by The Musical And Amicable Society 

Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Paul 

Spicer. Soloists are soprano Sofia Larsson, 

countertenor Leo Tomita, Evangelist Rupert 

Charlesworth, tenor Stuart Jackson and 

baritone Ed Ballard. 

Paul Spicer

Classical LISTINGS 

For full listing information on classical 

concerts, including times and dates, 

visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

CBSO LEONSKAJA PLAYS 

GRIEG Featuring Alexander 

Vedernikov (conductor) 

and Elisabeth 

Leonskaja (piano). Programme 

to include 

works by Sibelius, 

Grieg and Rachmaninov, 

Thurs 1 Nov, Symphony 


ROYAL NORTHERN COL- 

LEGE OF MUSIC 

LUNCHTIME CONCERT 

Thurs 1 Nov, Warwick 


ROYAL PHILHARMONIC 

ORCHESTRA: ORGAN 

GALA Featuring organist 

Stephen Disley and the 

City of Birmingham 

Choir, Fri 2 Nov, Symphony 


SERIOUS CABARET Mary 

Carewe and Philip Mayers 

investigate serious 

and not-so-serious 

composers’ flirtations 

with cabaret and jazz 

throughout the 20th 

century, Fri 2 Nov, 

CBSO Centre, Birmingham 

RUSSIAN MASTERPIECES 

FOR PIANO TRIO Featuring 

Joanne Quigley, 

Jonathon Aasgaard & 

David Quigley. Programme 

includes works 

by Rachmaninov & 

Shostakovich, Fri 2 

Nov, Barber Concert 


CBSO CENTRE STAGE 

Featuring Elisabeth 

Leonskaja (piano), Zoe 

Beyers (violin), Elizabeth 

Golding (violin), 

Catherine Bower (viola) 

& David Powell (cello), 

Fri 2 Nov, CBSO Centre, 

Birmingham 

CBSO LEONSKAJA PLAYS 

GRIEG Sat 3 Nov, Symphony 


THE YORK WAITS WITH 

DEBORAH CATTERALL 

(SINGER) Tues 6 Nov, St 

Mary’s Church, Warwick 

CBSO AUTUMN CON- 

TRASTS Featuring 

Andrew Manze (conductor) 

& Rainer Gibbons 

(oboe). Programme 


by Mozart', Vaughan 

Williams & Schumann, 

Wed 7 Nov, Symphony 


JEPHTHA Performed by 

Welsh National Opera, 

Wed 7 Nov, Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

THE LIGHTENING THIEVES 

LUNCHTIME CONCERT 



CBSO SUE PERKINS' CAR- 

TOON CLASSICS Featuring 

Michael Seal (conductor) 

& Sue Perkins 

(presenter). Programme 

to include works by 

Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, 

Elgar, Liszt, Henry 

Mancini, Wagner, Rossini, 

Danny Elfman, 

Grieg, Dukas & Strauss, 

Fri 9 Nov, Symphony 


JOSEPH TONG & WAKA 

HASEGAWA Programme 

to include works by 

Schubert, arr. Schoenberg, 

John McCabe & 

Debussy, Fri 9 Nov, 

Barber Concert Hall, 

Birmingham 

UNIVERSITY MUSIC SOCI- 

ETY: LULLABY OF WINTER 

Fri 9 Nov, Elgar Concert 



MAGGINI STRING QUAR- 

TET Programme 

includes works by 

Mozart, Ireland & 

Mendelssohn, Fri 9 

Nov, Royal Pump 

Rooms, Leamington 

Spa 

MUSICAL PICNIC: SOUZA 

WINDS Tuck into a 

morning of musical 

entertainment for all the 

family, Sat 10 Nov, 


BRAHMS REQUIEM Feat. 

Paul Leddington Wright 

& Simon Over (conductors), 

The Southbank 

Sinfonia, The St 

Michael Singers & The 

Parliament Choir, Sat 10 

Nov, Coventry Cathedral 

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM 

CHOIR: BRAHMS & 

RAUTAVAARA Featuring 

Adrian Lucas (conductor), 

Eloise Routledge 

(soprano), Robert Rice 

(bass) & Roger Judd 

(organ). Programme to 

include Rautavaara On 

The Last Frontier & 

Brahms' Ein Deutsches 

Requiem, Sat 10 Nov, 


ANDREA BOCELLI Sat 10 

Nov, LG Arena, Birmingham 

EX CATHEDRA CONSORT: 

LIKE UNTO MY SORROW 

Sat 10 Nov, The Oratory, 

Birmingham 

BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONIC 

WINDS 20TH ANNIVER- 

SARY GALA CONCERT Sat 

10 Nov, CBSO Centre, 

Birmingham 

DORRIDGE MUSIC 

SCHOOL IN CONCERT 

Featuring more than 

three hundred musicians 

performing an 

eclectic range of music, 

from classical to rock, 

Sun 11 Nov, Symphony 


CARNABY STREET! A festive 

programme of wind 

& brass featuring 

Simon Hogg, Jordan 

Wooler & Paul McGrath 

(conductors), Mon 12 

Nov, Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

ORGAN CONCERT WITH 

THOMAS TROTTER Programme 


by Buxtenhude, Pierne, 

Lionel Rogg, Smith & 

Reger, Mon 12 Nov, 


ORCHESTRA OF THE 

SWAN: VIVALDI'S FOUR 

SEASONS Featuring 

David Le Page (violin) & 

David Curtis (conductor). 

Programme 


Respighi, Warlock & 

Vivaldi, Tue 13 Nov, 

Stratford Civic Hall 

ALBERT HERRING English 

Touring Opera present 

Benjamin Britten’s classic 

comic depiction of 

English village life, Tue 

13 Nov, Malvern Theatres 

CBSO THE YEAR 1912: 

BRAVE NEW WORLDS 

Featuring Jac van 

Steen (conductor). Programme 

includes 

Schoenberg's Five 

Pieces for Orchestra & 

Mahler's Symphony No 

7, Wed 14 Nov, Symphony 


IN FRONT OF NATURE 

CONCERT Featuring 

Malin Christensson 

(soprano), Christopher 

Maltman (baritone) & 

Joseph Middleton 

(piano). Programme 


Grieg, Schubert, Wolf & 

Purcell, Wed 14 Nov, 

Barber Concert Hall, 

Birmingham 

CELEBRITY PIANO 

RECITAL WITH EVGENY 

KISSIN Thurs 15 Nov, 


TOM LINDSAY LUNCHTIME 

PIANO CONCERT Thurs 

15 Nov, Warwick Arts 

Centre, Coventry 

FLORIAN KITT (CELLO) & 

ALMA MARIA LABRA- 

MAKK (PIANO) Programme 


by Schumann, Nigel 

Osborne & Britten, Fri 

16 Nov, Barber Concert 


MALVERN FESTIVAL CHO- 

RUS Programme 

includes works by Handel 

& Bach, Sat 17 Nov, 

Malvern Theatre 

THE CWMBACH MALE 

CHOIR IN CONCERT Sat 

17 Nov, The Roses Theatre, 

Tewksbury 

WIND BAND & SAXO- 

PHONE ENSEMBLE Programme 


by William Himes, 

Edward Gregson, Eric 

Whitacre & Nigel Hess, 

Sat 17 Nov, Elgar Concert 



ROYAL BALLET SINFONIA 

CONCERT Sat 17 Nov, 

Birmingham Cathedral 

MOZART REQUIEM Featuring 

Sue Tyson 

(soprano), Victoria 

Shone (contralto), 

Stephen Newlove 

(tenor), Quentin Brown 

(bass) & Patrick Larley 

(conductor), Sat 17 

Nov, St Laurence’s 

Church, Ludlow, South 

Shropshire 

CBSO FAMILY CONCERT: 

THE MAD HATTER'S TEA 

PARTY Featuring 

Michael Seal (conductor) 

& Alisdair Malloy 

(presenter), Sun 18 

Nov, Symphony Hall, 

Birmingham 

BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY 

SINGERS: HOPE, FAITH, 

LIFE, LOVE Programme 

includes works by Britten, 

Randall Thompson, 

Britten, Bantock, Elgar 

& Parry, Sun 18 Nov, 

Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall 

Music Building, 

Birmingham 

DAME GILLIAN WEIR This 

concert forms part of 

the internationally 

acclaimed concert 

organist's final tour and 

features works by JS 

Bach, Sweelinck, 

Franck, Peeters, Saint- 

Saens, Widor, Durufle, 

Sergei Slonimsky & 

Mushel, Mon 19 Nov, 


BEETHOVEN PIANO CON- 

CERTOS NOS 1 & 3 Featuring 

the Mahler 

Chamber Orchestra & 

Lief Ove Andsnes 

(pianist). Programme to 

include works by 

Beethoven & Stravinsky, 

Tue 20 Nov, Symphony 


FIBONACCI SEQUENCE 

Programme includes 

works by Mozart, Barber, 

Koechlin & 

Poulenc, Wed 21 Nov, 

Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury 

School 

CBSO THE BIRMINGHAM 

BEETHOVEN CYCLE: MASS 

IN C Featuring Olari Elts 

(conductor), Anna 

Leese (soprano), Kai 

Ruutel (mezzo), Ben 

Johnson (tenor), 

Stephen Loges (bass) 

& the CBSO Chorus, 

Thurs 22 Nov, Symphony 


BEYOND CLASSICAL: 

STRING THEORY Programme 


by Tchaikovsky, Dvorak 

& Borodin, Thurs 22 

Nov, Symphony Hall 

Cafe Bar, Birmingham 

COULL QUARTET Programme 


by Schubert, 

Shostakovich & 

Beethoven, Thurs 22 


Coventry 

THE FIBONACCI QUARTET 


works by Barber, 

Mozart & Poulenc, 

Thurs 22 Nov, Malvern 

Theatre 

MARC ANDRE HAMELIN 

PIANO CONCERT Programme 


by Bach, Faure, Ravel 

& Liszt, Fri 23 Nov, 


EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE 

Fri 23 Nov, Birmingham 

Cathedral 

CBSO PLAYERS Programme 


by Haydn & Mozart, Fri 


Birmingham 

CBSO WHAT THE WORLD 

NEEDS NOW... The music 

of Burt Bacharach featuring 

Richard Balcombe 

(conductor), 

Graham Bickley, Sarah 

Lark and Alison Jiear 

(vocalists), Fri 23 Nov, 


MID-DAY MANTRA: 

RAJESH DAVID Vocalist 

Rajesh David performs 

Indian classical and traditional 

folk accompanied 

by tabla and saxophone, 

Sat 24 Nov, 


SINFONIA OF BIRMING- 

HAM Featuring Michael 

Seal (conductor). Programme 


by Schubert, Berlio & 

Brahms, Sat 24 Nov, 

CBSO Centre, Birmingham 

BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL 

CHORAL SOCIETY Directed 

from the Chamber 

Organ by Patrick Larley, 

Sat 24 Nov, Adrian 

Boult Hall, Birmingham 

CHANDOS SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA Programme 


Strauss, Anderson, 

Farnon, John Frith, 

Coates, John Williams, 

Massenet and von 

Suppe, Sun 25 Nov, 


TOO HOT TO HANDEL 

Armonico Consort interprets 

the music of the 

Baroque in a unique 

way for the twenty-first 

century, Sun 25 Nov, 


Shrewsbury 

UNIVERSITY MUSIC PHIL- 

HARMONIC ORCHESTRA 


works by Michael Zev 

Gordon, Mahler & 

Elgar, Sun 25 Nov, 

Elgar Concert Hall, 

Bramhall Music Building, 

Birmingham 

BCMG’S ZIGZAG ENSEM- 

BLE Sun 25 Nov, CBSO 

Centre, Birmingham 

ORGAN CONCERT WITH 

THOMAS TROTTER Mon 

26 Nov, Birmingham 

Town Hall 

BRODSKY QUARTET: 

WHEEL OF 4TUNES Mon 


Town Hall 

HEPPELWHITE PIANO TRIO 

WITH CHUEN AN CHERN 

Programme to include 

works by Haydn, 

Boulanger, Chopin, 

Prokofiev, Brahms & 

Piazzolla, Tues 27 Nov, 

Bridge House Theatre, 

Warwick 

BENJAMIN BRITTEN 

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 

Tues 27 Nov, Warwick 


JOHN IRELAND: A SEMI- 

CENTENARY TRIBUTE 

Featuring Kenneth 

Hamilton on piano, 

Tues 27 Nov, Elgar 

Concert Hall, Bramall 

Music Building, Birmingham 

CBSO BENEDETTI PLAYS 

SZYMANOWSKI Featuring 

Kazushi Ono (conductor). 

Programme to 

include works by Dvorak, 

Syzmanowski & 

Bartok, Wed 28 Nov, 


ROYAL PHILHARMONIC 

ORCHESTRA Featuring 

Rory Macdonald (conductor), 

Natasha 

Paremski (piano) and 

Mike Allen (trumpet). 

Programme to include 

works by Vaughan 

Williams, Shostakovich, 

Delius & Sibelius, Wed 



THE POWER OF MUSIC 

Lyric and dramatic 

song from 17th-Century 

Italy featuring mezzo 

Susan Buckley and 

tenor Mark Tucker, Wed 

28 Nov, Elgar Concert 

Hall & The Dome, 

Bramhall Music Building, 

Birmingham 

WAREN MAILLEY-SMITH 

PIANO CONCERT Thurs 



THE REVOLUTIONARY 

DRAWING ROOM WITH 

COLIN LAWSON (CLAR- 

INET) Programme 


Hummel, Haydn & 

Mozart, Fri 30 Nov, 

Royal Pump Rooms, 


CHRISTOPHER ORTON 

(RECORDER) & SLAVA 

SIDORENKO (PIANO) Programme 


by York Bowen, 

Thomas Simaku & Wessely, 

Fri 30 Nov, Barber 

Concert Hall, Birmingham 

CBSO CENTRE STAGE Programme 


by Mozart & Bliss, Fri 


Birmingham 

Classical 

Box Office 

ABBEY CHURCH, 

SHREWSBURY 

01743 232723 

ADRIAN BOULT HALL, 

B’HAM 

0121 331 5901 

ARTRIX, BROMSGROVE 

01527 577330 

BARBER CONCERT HALL 

024 7637 6707 

BIRMINGHAM 

CONSERVATOIRE 

0121 331 5901/2 

BIRMINGHAM HIPPO- 

DROME 

0844 338 5000 

BARBER INSTITUTE, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 414 7333 


0121 780 3333 

CBSO CENTRE, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 780 3333 

COVENTRY CATHEDRAL 

02476 521200 

LICHFIELD GARRICK 

01543 412121 

ROYAL PUMP ROOMS, 

LEAMINGTON SPA 

01926 410 410 

ST LAURENCE’S CHURCH, 

LUDLOW 

01584 872150 

STRATFORD CIVIC HALL 

01789 207100 

SYMPHONY HALL, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 780 3333 

VICTORIA HALL 


0844 871 7649 

WARWICK ARTS CENTRE 

02476 524524 


Comedy 

Chris Ramsey 

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 14 

November; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 

25 November; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 

15 December 

Fosters’ Edinburgh Comedy Awards nominee 

Chris is a real rising star. As well as being a 

highly rated stand-up on the UK comedy circuit, 

he's also fast developing an impressive 

telly career, having recently appeared alongside 

Vic Reeves and Gina McKee in the northern 

sitcom Hebburn. Gags include: "My venue 

for the Edinburgh Festival is a portacabin, it's 

literally a portacabin! I'm a Geordie, in a 

Portacabin. I was going to call the show Auf 

Wiedersehen Pet Live", and "People sometimes 

have trouble understanding my Geordie 

accent when I perform. 

I walked on stage once 

in Nottingham and 

shouted 'Alreet?' The 

entire crowd just sat in 

shocked silence. I 

swear I heard one 

bloke say, 'I think he's 

Swiss! That must have 

been a yodel'.” 

Steve Hughes 

Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 1 November; 

The Public, West Bromwich, Sat 3 November; 

The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, Sun 4 

November; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Sun 

25 November; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, 


Boasting a reputation for hard-edged social 

commentary, not to mention a big beard, 

Aussie funnyman and ex-heavy metal drummer 

Steve Hughes stops off in the Midlands as part 

of a UK-wide tour. Steve's built up a loyal UK 

following thanks to 

storming sets on 

Michael McIntyre’s 

Comedy Roadshow 

(BBC1), Stand Up For 

The Week (Channel 4) 

and One Night Stand 

(Dave), and promises to 

offer a thought-provoking 

and decidedly 

amusing night out. 

Rob Rouse 

Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 13 November; 

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Fri 16 November; 

Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Fri 30 November 

Boasting a plethora of TV credits, including 

ITV's Celebrity Juice and Dave's One Night 

Stand, Rob's hyperactive 

brand of humour is 

much in demand, a fact 

that's evidenced by his 

success in winning the 

annual So You Think 

You’re Funny? award, an 

accolade also picked up 

by equally high-profile 

purveyors-of-mirth Dylan 

Moran and Lee Mack. 


John Shuttleworth 

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 3 November; 

Birmingham Town Hall, Wed 21 November 

Perhaps the most talented comedian ever to emerge from the fair 

steel city of Sheffield, John Shuttleworth is a raconteur par excellence, 

an accomplished musician, and a man who long ago 

ascended like one of his own beloved pigeons into the upper echelons 

of the showbusiness world. This gig offers the perfect opportunity 

for Midlands-based lovers of light comedy and understated but 

up-to-the-minute fashions to enjoy an evening in the company of Mr 

Shuttleworth, care of his creator Graham Fellows, a one-time chartbuster 

with the unforgettable hit Jilted John. 

Kevin Bridges 

Birmingham Hippodrome, Sun 11 November; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on- 

Trent, Mon 12 November; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 23 

November; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, Sat 24 November 

Kevin Bridges was launched into the 

comedy stratosphere at the still-tender 

age of eighteen, when he reached 

the finals of the So You Think You're 

Funny? talent contest at the 2005 

Edinburgh Fringe. Since then, the 

Scotish-born stand-up has been 

making comedy look like the easiest 

gig in the world, engaging his 

audience with a laid-back style of 

delivery and bags and bags of 

high-quality wit. Jokes include, 

“Americans go up to Edinburgh 

Castle and think it’s a high 

school - every lunchtime 

they hear gunfire.” 

Comedy 

Box Office 

ALEXANDRA THEATRE, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0844 871 3011 


01527 577330 

BEDWORTH CIVIC HALL 

02476 376707 


0121 780 3333 

COX’S YARD 

01789 404600 

THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM 

0121 333 2444 


01384 815 577 

GLEE CLUB, BIRMINGHAM 

0871 4720400 

HIGHLIGHT, BIRMINGHAM, 

0844 844 0044 

HUNTINGDON HALL, 

WORCESTER, 

01905 611427 

THE JAM HOUSE, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 200 3030 

KITCHEN GARDEN CAFE, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 443 4725 

LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM 

0844 338 8000 

LUDLOW ASSEMBLY 

ROOMS 

01584 878141 

MAC, BIRMINGHAM 

0121 446 3232 

PALACE THEATRE, 

REDDITCH 

01527 65203 

THE PUBLIC, WEST 

BROMWICH 

0121 533 7161 

REGENT THEATRE, STOKE- 

ON-TRENT 

0844 871 7649 

RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY 

0844 873 6565 

THE ROSE THEATRE, 

KIDDERMINSTER 

01562 743745 

ROYAL SPA CENTRE, 

LEAMINGTON SPA 

01926 334418 


THEATRE 

01785 254653 

SOLIHULL ARTS COMPLEX 

0121 704 6962 

THE SLADE ROOMS, 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

0870 320 7000 

SYMPHONY HALL, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 780 3333 

TAMWORTH ASSEMBLY 

ROOMS 

01827 709618 


SHREWSBURY 

01743 281281 

VICTORIA HALL, HANLEY, 


0844 871 7649 


02476 524524 

WEST BROMWICH TOWN 

HALL 

0121 596 4429 

WULFRUN HALL, 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

0870 320 7000

Comedy LISTINGS 

For full listing information on comedy 

gigs including times and dates visit 


STEVE HUGHES Thurs 1 

Nov, Artrix, Bromsgrove 

TIM KEY - MASTERSLUT 

Thurs 1 Nov, mac, 

Birmingham 

KUM N AVALOFF COMEDY 

NIGHT Thurs 1 Nov, 

Stourbridge Town Hall 

FRISKY & MANNISH 

Thurs 1 Nov, Wulfrun 


PATRICK MONAHAN Thurs 

1 Nov, Hare & Hounds, 

Birmingham 

PETE JOHANSSON, DAN 

NIGHTINGALE, JOE ROWN- 

TREE & THE NOISE NEXT 

DOOR Thurs 1 - Sat 3 

Nov, The Glee Club, 

Birmingham 

MARTIN MOR, TREVOR 

CROOK, TOPPING & 

BUTCH, TOBY HADOKE Fri 

2 Nov, Highlight 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

UPFRONT COMEDY PRES- 

ENTS BLACK HISTORY 

MONTH COMEDY SPECIAL 

Feat. Slim, Dane 

Baptiste & Maureen 

Younger, Fri 2 Nov, The 

Drum, Birmingham 

KILL FOR A SEAT COMEDY 

CLUB Featuring Elis 

James and David Trent, 

Fri 2 Nov, mac, 

Birmingham 

PATRICK MONAHAN, JOE 

BOR, SMUG ROBERTS & 

WILL-E-ROBO Fri 2 - Sat 

3 Nov, Jongleurs 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH 

Sat 3 Nov, Stafford 


MARTIN MOR, MATTHEW 

OSBORN, TOPPING & 

BUTCH & TOBY HADOKE 

Sat 3 Nov, Highlight 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

STEVE HUGHES Sat 3 

Nov, The Public, West 

Bromwich 

STEVE HUGHES Sun 4 

Nov, The Slade Rooms, 

Wolverhampton 

DAN CLARK: LIVE Sun 4 


Birmingham 

MAGNIFICENT 7 

FEATURING RICHARD 

BLACKWOOD, GLENDA 

JAXSON, SLIM, MR CEE, 

QUINCY, WAYNE 'DIBBI' 

ROLLINS AND HOST 

KENNEDY Sun 4 Nov, 

New Alexandra Theatre, 

Birmingham 

DARA O'BRIAIN Sun 4 

Nov, Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

PAUL FOOT Sun 4 Nov, 


Coventry 

PAUL CHOWDRY Sun 4 

Nov, Warwick Arts 


RHOD GILBERT - THE MAN 

WITH THE FLAMING 

BATTENBURG TATTOO 

TOUR Tue 6 - Wed 7 



DAVID O'DOHERTY Wed 7 


Birmingham 

THE LAUGHING SOLE 

FEATURING THE NOISE 

NEXT DOOR Wed 7 Nov, 

The Public, West 

Bromwich 

DAVE FULTON, JOHN 

GAVIN, OWEN O’NEILL & 

DOMINIC FRISBY Thurs 8 

- Sat 10 Nov, The Glee 


AN EVENING WITH JULIAN 

CLARY Fri 9 Nov, 


Theatre 

PAUL CHOWDRY Fri 9 

Nov, New Alexandra 


PAUL FOOT Fri 9 Nov, 

The Glee Club, 

Birmingham 

MIKE WILKINSON, RON 

VAUDRY, JOJO 

SUTHERLAND & WAYNE 

DEAKIN & JONNIE PRICE 

Fri 9 Nov, Highlight 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

WITTANK Stars of 

BBC3's Live at The 

Electric bring their lavish 

parade of inventive 

characters and sketch 

magnificence to the 

stage, Fri 9 Nov, 


Shrewsbury 

JONATHAN MAYER, TOM 

WRIGGLEWORTH, GOR- 

DON SOUTHERN & RUDI 

LICKWOOD Fri 9 - Sat 10 

Nov, Jongleurs 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

KEN DODD Sat 10 Nov, 

Crewe Lyceum 

JOJO SUTHERLAND, DAVE 

TWENTYMAN, WAYNE 

DEAKIN & ANDREW RYAN 

Sat 10 Nov, Highlight 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

JIMMY TARBUCK Sat 10 

Nov, Stafford 


PAPPY'S Sat 10 Nov, 

Artrix, Bromsgrove 

ALUN COCHRANE Sat 10 

Nov, Wem Town Hall, 


STEWART FRANCIS Sat 



PAPPY'S Sun 11 Nov, 


Coventry 

KEVIN BRIDGES Sun 11 


Hippodrome 

ALEXEI SAYLE Sun 11 


Birmingham 

MARK WATSON Sun 11 

Nov, Theatre Severn, 

Shrewsbury 

LEE NELSON Mon 12 

Nov, New Alexandra 


KEVIN BRIDGES Mon 12 

Nov, Victoria Hall, 


ROB ROUSE Tue 13 Nov, 


CHRIS RAMSEY Wed 14 


Shrewsbury 

BOBBY DAVRO - FACE 

HOPPER TOUR Wed 14 

Nov, Lichfield Garrick 

LAUGHING COWS FEATUR- 

ING SHAZIA MIRZA AND 

MERCEDES BENSON & MC 

MAUREEN YOUNGER Wed 

14 Nov, Kitchen Garden 


Birmingham 

ARTHUR SMITH EXPOSED! 

Wed 14 Nov, The Glee 


JETHRO Thurs 15 Nov, 


Birmingham 

ANDY ASKINS, MARTIN 

MOR & IAN COPPINGER 

Thurs 15 Nov, The Glee 


PAUL CHOWDRY Thurs 

15 Nov, The Place, 


Telford 

IAN D MONTFORT & IVAN 

BRACKENBURY Thurs 15 

Nov, Hare & Hounds, 

Birmingham 

DANIEL SLOSS AND KAI 

HUMPHRIES Thurs 15 


Birmingham 

STEWART FRANCIS Thurs 

15 Nov, Malvern 

Theatres 

ANDY ASKINS, MARTIN 

MOR, IAN COPPINGER & 

JAMES MULLINGER Fri 16 

& Sat 17 Nov, The Glee 


PAUL FOOT Fri 16 Nov, 


Wolverhampton 

ROB ROUSE Fri 16 Nov, 


Theatre 

PHIL BUTLER, BRENDAN 

DEMPSEY, DALISO 

CHAPONDA & DANNY 

MCLAUGHLIN Fri 16 - Sat 

17 Nov, Highlight 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

ALAN DAVIES: LIFE IS 

PAIN Fri 16 - Sat 17 



SEAN PERCIVAL, MIKE 

NEWALL, NATHAN CATON 

& PHIL WALKER Fri 16 - 

Sat 17 Nov, Jongleurs 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

JACK DEE Sat 17 Nov, 

Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

BARNSTORMERS COMEDY 

Sat 17 Nov, Solihull Arts 

Complex 

THE LICHFIELD GARRICK 

COMEDY CLUB Sat 17 


THE BOY WITH TAPE ON 

HIS FACE Sun 18 Nov, 


ANDI OSHO Sun 18 Nov, 


Birmingham 

LEE NELSON Sun 18 



JETHRO Mon 19 Nov, 

The Place, Oakengates 


ROBIN INCE Wed 21 Nov, 


Birmingham 


Wed 21 Nov, 


ANDY ROBINSON, MICK 

FERRY, JOE LYCETT & 

SALLY ANN HAYWARD 

Thurs 22 Nov, The Glee 


FASCINATING AIDA: THE 

CHEAP FLIGHTS TOUR 



LENNY HENRY: POP LIFE 

Thurs 22 Nov, The 

Place, Oakengates, 

Telford 

ANDY ROBINSON, MICK 

FERRY, JOE LYCETT & 

DAVID HADINGHAM Fri 23 


Birmingham 

KEVIN BRIDGES: THE 

STORY CONTINUES Fri 23 



STAND-UP COMEDY 

SHOWCASE Fri 23 Nov, 


GREG DAVIES Fri 23 Nov, 


Birmingham 

PAPPYS Fri 23 Nov, The 


GAVIN WEBSTER, 

ANDREW BIRD, RAY 

BRADSHAW & PAUL 

MYREHAUG Fri 23 Nov, 

Highlight Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

BARNSTORMERS COMEDY 

NIGHT Line-up tbc Fri 23 

Nov, Belgrade Theatre, 

Coventry 

KAREN BAYLEY, CHRIS 

MCCAUSALD, GEOFF 

Paul 

Kerens 

“attitude, style and 

diamond-sharp wit” 

Mc-Tony Vino 

BOYZ, SEAN COLLINS Fri 

23 - Sat 24 Nov, 

Jongleurs Comedy 


GAVIN WEBSTER, MARK 

MAIER, RAY BRADSHAW & 

RON VAUDRY Sat 24 

Nov, Highlight Comedy 


KEVIN BRIDGES Sat 24 

Nov, Civic Hall, 

Wolverhampton 

CHRIS RAMSEY Sun 25 



JEREMY HARDY Sun 25 

Nov, The Place, 


Telford 

PAUL FOOT Sun 25 Nov, 


Theatre 

STEVE HUGHES Sun 25 


Birmingham 

GREG DAVIES Sun 25 


Shrewsbury 

MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE 

Wed 28 Nov, The Place, 

Craig 

Murray 

“An instant crowd pleaser 

with a charismatic mockconfrontational 

style” 

Craig Murray - Worcestershire County Cricket Club 


Telford 

ALUN COCHRANE Thurs 

29 Nov, The Glee Club, 

Birmingham 

NEIL DELAMERE, KELLY 

KINGHAM & ROGER 

MONKHOUSE Thurs 29 - 

Fri 30 Nov, The Glee 


KANE BROWN, JOHN 

RYAN & KOJO Thurs 29 - 

Fri 30 Nov, Jongleurs 

Comedy Club, 

Birmingham 

ROB ROUSE Fri 30 Nov, 


Worcester 

JIMMY CARR Fri 30 Nov, 


Coventry 

MARK STEEL Fri 30 Nov, 

Stourbridge Town Hall 

PAUL KERENSA, CRAIG 

MURRAY, RO CAMPBELL & 

MC TONY VINO Fri 30 

Nov, Worcestershire 

County Cricket Club 

Doors open 7pm 

Hot Walk-up buffet available until 8pm 

Comedy Acts on at 8.30pm 

Candle Lit Tables 

Tickets in advance £12 

WCCC Members £10 

Pre-Ordered Food £8 

call 01905 337933 for tickets or email 

comedy@wccc.co.uk for more infomation 

Over 18’s Advised. Acts are not guaranteed. 

Tickets are non-refundable 

Ro 

Campbell 

“Hugely entertaining 

and funny as hell” 


Theatre 

9 To 5: The Musical 

Regent Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 19 - Sat 24 November; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Sun 16 December - Sat 5 January 

"I'm so excited that 9 To 5 the Musical is coming to the Midlands," 

says Dolly Parton, looking ahead to the stage version of the hit movie 

and TV series from the early 1980s. "I'm hoping you have as much 

fun watching it as I had writing the music for it. 9 To 5 the Musical is 

perfect for anyone who's ever wanted to string up their boss, which is 

almost all of us. So come join the fun!" 

As with the movie and the spin-off TV series, the stage version centres 

around the story of three office workers who turn the tables on 

Grease The Musical 

The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 26 November - Sat 1 December 

Dust off your leather jackets, pull on your bobby-socks and get ready for the most 

fun-filled, 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, Greased Lightnin’ and many more. Danny Bayne, winner of ITV’s Grease Is 

The Word, stars as Danny alongside Carina Gillespie as Sandy. 

their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss. The show 

features eighteen original Dolly Parton numbers, including, from her 

last two albums, Backwoods Barbie, Shine Like The Sun, Get Out 

And Stay Out and Let Love Grow. 

9 To 5 stars Natalie Casey as Judy Bernly, Jackie Clune as Violet 

Newstead, Bonnie Langford as Roz Keith, Amy Lennox as Doralee 

Rhodes and Ben Richards as Franklin Hart. Read our interview with 

Ben on page 6 

The Ladykillers 

Malvern Theatre, Mon 26 November - Sat 1 

December; Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, 

Mon 28 January - Sat 2 February 

WIN 

TICKETS 


to enter 

This classic black comedy may be best known as a 

1950s Ealing film, but its stage adaptation has 

nonetheless garnered plenty of praise too, enjoying 

a sell-out season in the London West End. For those 

unfamiliar with the legendary Alec Guinness film, it 

tells the story of a sweet little old lady, alone in her 

house, who finds herself pitted against a gang of 

criminal misfits intent on pulling off a brilliantly conceived 

heist. The Play What I Wrote director Sean 

Foley is the man at the helm, while Clive Mantle, 

Chris McCalphy, William Troughton, Shaun 

Williamson and Michelle Dotrice star. 

WIN 

TICKETS 


to enter 


Theatre PREVIEWS 

Wounded 

TA Centre, Kings Heath, Birmingham, 

until Sat 10 November 

This site-specific new ghost story is being 

presented at the TA Field Hospital in Birmingham 

by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre 

and the Wellcome Trust. Set in two time 

zones a near-century apart, it tells the story 

of wounded World War One soldier Alfred 

Seddon, and the curious impact which he 

begins to have on Kate Mulligan, a Combat 

Medical Technician being treated in the selfsame 

hospital, but ninety-four years later... 

Medea 


Tues 13 - Sat 17 November 

This modern version of Euripides’ classic 

tragedy is here presented by Headlong, and 

explores the inner turmil of a woman struggling 

to come to terms with her husband’s 

infidelity, the challenges of motherhood and 

the effects of sleep deprivation. Trapped in 

her marital home with a seemingly hopeless 

future stretching out ahead of her, she 

begins to contemplate revenge, and may 

even be driven to commit the most unimaginable 

of crimes... 

42nd Street 

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, 

until Sat 3 November 

This classic musical made a real splash 

when it first landed in 1980, picking up a 

Tony Award for being the best new show on 

the block. It's based on the 1933 movie of 

the same name, which in turn was based on 

the novel by Bradford Ropes, and tells the 

inspiring story of small town Peggy Sawyer's 

rise from chorine to Broadway star. Songs 

include Lullaby Of Broadway, We're In The 

Money, Keep Young And Beautiful, I Only 

Have Eyes For You, and, of course, the spectacular 

title number itself. West End veterans 

Dave Willetts and the ever-wonderful Marti 

Webb ensure that this latest touring version 

of the hit show is in the very safest of hands. 

American Idiot 

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, Mon 26 November - Sat 1 December 

Featuring the music of Green Day, American Idiot stops off in the Midlands direct from Broadway, 

and tells the story of three lifelong friends who are forced to choose between their 

dreams and the safety of suburbia in a post-9/11 world. Charles Isherwood of The New York 

Times described the show as ‘thrilling, emotionally charged, and as moving as any Broadway 

musical I’ve seen this year’, which pretty much means the show comes highly recommended! 

Me, Mum And Dusty 

Springfield 

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, 

Thurs 1 - Fri 2 November; Artrix, Bromsgrove, 

Sat 3 November 

A comedy which focuses on the bond 

between mothers and daughters, Me, Mum 

And Dusty Springfield also reflects on the 

fact that some people are perhaps not quite 

what they seem, and contemplates 

the ways in 

which ‘we cope with loss 

when it’s just too late’. 

Written and performed by 

Stephanie Ridings, it’s a 

short one-woman show 

that’s received great 

reviews and comes complete 

with a lovely twist. 

Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi 

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Mon 19 

November; The Public, West Bromwich, 


This powerful drama shifts from the red dust 

of the Punjab to the Olympic stadiums of 

Europe, exploring the Indian sport of Kabaddi 

and its place on the world stage. The play 

is described by its producers as a drama 

'about sport, nationality and belonging, with 

a haunting love story at its heart'. 

Twelfth Night 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, 

Thurs 8 - Sat 10 November 

As with many Shakespearean comedies, 

Twelfth Night is based on mistaken identity, 

with Viola disguising herself as a boy and 

causing all sorts of awkward romantic 

shenanigans. The wooing of the beautiful 

Lady Olivia by Duke Orsino is soon thrown 

off the rails. The play is made by the 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... This acclaimed production 

is here brought to the stage by all-male theatre 

company, Propeller. 

The Edge 

mac, Birmingham, Tues 6 - Fri 9 November 

Following an incident in the street with an 

elderly drunkard, a young man named Ron 

finds his life unexpectedly compromised, as 

his living room becomes a battleground 

between the old and the new, the past, the 

present and the future. This dark, compelling 

comedy comes from the pen of Edward 

Bond, a man considered by many to be the 

UK's greatest living playwright. 



Theatre PREVIEWS 

L.O.V.E 

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 

Tues 13 - Wed 14 November 

Described as 'an immoderate Shakespearean 

ménage à trois, with a touch of Shirley 

Bassey', Volcano Theatre's violently passionate 

classic features three lovers as they 

wrestle breathlessly with some of the greatest 

poems in the English language. 

Misery 

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thurs 15 

November; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, 

Fri 12 November 

This two-hander is best known, of course, 

from its 1990 film incarnation starring Kathy 

Bates and James Caan. Adpated from the 

story by Stephen King, it focuses on the horrific 

fate that befalls romance novelist Paul 

Sheldon when, after crashing his car on a 

snow-covered road, he finds himself stranded 

in an isolated farmhouse, cut off from 

everyone except his rescuer - a woman who 

claims to be his 'number one fan'... 

Some Like It Hip Hop 

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, 

Tues 20 - Wed 21 November 

ZooNation’s comical tale of love, mistaken 

identity, cross-dressing, gender stereotypes 

and revolution tugs its forelock in the direction 

of both Billy Wilder's classic movie Some 

Like It Hot and Shakespeare's ever-popular 

comedy, Twelfth Night. 

Circus Of Horrors: Curse Of 

The Devil Doll 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 14 

November; Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, 

Fri 25 January 

An off-kilter affair that bears more resemblance 

to a freak show than any modern definition 

of a circus, the Circus of Horrors is a 

side-step into a world beyond both political 

correctness and good taste. It brings together 

all the more extreme acts associated with 

circus and takes them to the edge of reason. 

This latest production is 

described by its publicity 

as ‘a whirlwind journey 

though 1927 Berlin, 

between world wars in 

the roaring twenties, a 

decadent decade and 

the birth of the Cabaret’. 

Should be good. 

Boris Godunov 

The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 

Thurs 15 November - Sat 30 March 

Alexander Pushkin's drama tells the story of 

the lead character's rise to power in late-sixteenth 

century Russia. Although he takes the 

throne with an air of humility following the 

death of the great Tsar Ivan the Terrible, 

Boris Godunov is nonetheless the subject of 

great rumour and speculation, with many 

believing that he has secretly murdered the 

rightful heir... 

Dr. Faustus 

The Roses, Tewksbury, Wed 14 November 

Christopher Marlowe's sixteenth century 

exploration of debauchery, intrigue, obsession 

and fascination is one of the Elizabethan 

Karl Howman who appears in The Mousetrap 

The Mousetrap 

Malvern Theatre, Mon 19 - Sat 24 November; New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham, 

Mon 4 - Sat 9 February; Regent Theatre, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 18 - Sat 23 February 

Not only has everyone heard of The Mousetrap, everyone's seen it too - haven't they? Okay, 

maybe not, but as the show is this year celebrating its sixtieth year in the West End, it's fair to 

say its capacity to put bums on seats is absolutely beyond question. The world's longest running 

show, the famous Agatha Christie play has been performed almost twenty-five thousand 

times, and turns up in the Midlands on its first ever tour. This particular production features 

Bruno Langley, Karl Howman, Thomas Howes, Graham Seed, Steve France, Jemma Walker 

and Jan Walters. 

era’s most famous non-Shakespeare plays. 

Presenting a world of magic, mischief and 

the macabre, the work 

tells the cautionary tale 

of the brilliant Dr Faustus, 

whose insatiable 

desire for knowledge 

and unlimited power 

spurs him on to make a 

pact with the devil; a 

pact from which, 

inevitably, no good can 

possibly come... 

The Haunting 

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 

Mon 5 - Sat 10 November 

One of Charles Dickens’ lesser known works, 

The Haunting tells the story of David Filde, a 

young book dealer who’s employed by a 

family friend to catalogue a rare and antiquated 

collection of books in a crumbling 

moorlands mansion. But when he finds his 

work interrupted by a series of strange and 

mysterious events, David realises he must 

convince his sceptical employer to accompany 

him on a journey towards the very edge 

of terror... 



Thursday 1st November, 7.30pm 

STARS IN YOUR EYES 

Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, 

Tina Turner and Rod Stewart 

A fantastic 2 hour show playing homage to 

some of the worlds biggest musical stars. 

Friday 2nd November, 7.30pm 

TODAYS TEARDROPS 

Paul Joplins and his musicians 

A fantastic tribute to Roy Orbison & Gene Pitney 

Saturday 3rd November, 7.30pm 

ELO EXPERIENCE 

A group of talented musicians are currently 

touring UK theatres bringing the most popular 

songs back the the stage. 

Sunday 11th November, 7.30pm 

REMEMBER THE HEROES 

Featuring Andy Reiss, Steve Ashcroft 

& Martin Lewis 

with a full supporting cast and surprise guests 

Thursday 22nd November, 7.30pm 

RAYMND FROGGATT 

An evening with Raymond Froggatt 

is pure magic, an evening not to be missed. 

Friday 23rd November, 7.30pm 

THE DRIFTERS 

The Drifters are back on the road in the UK 

performing both the classic hits from the last six 

decades and their superb new material. 

KEITH DE’WINTER 

AS DAME DOLLY 

KATIE MCGLYNN 

AS FAIRY CUPCAKE 

MON 24 - 

MON 31 

DECEMBER

Theatre LISTINGS 

For full listing information on theatre 

productions including times and 

dates visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

Week Commencing 

THUR 1 NOV 

RING Fuel present a 

sound journey in complete 

darkness that 

forms part of a brand 

new commissioning 

and artist development 

programme at Warwick 

Arts, until Thurs 1 Nov, 


Coventry 

ABSURD PERSON SINGU- 

LAR Alan Ayckbourn's 

award-winning 70s 

classic, until Sat 3 Nov, 

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme 

BLOOD BROTHERS Willy 

Russell's musical set in 

his native Liverpool. 

Marti Pellow and Niki 

Evans star, until Sat 3 

Nov, Birmingham Hippodrome 

HAUNTING JULIA Duncan 

Preston, Richard 

O’Callaghan and Joe 

McFadden star in Alan 

Ayckbourn’s haunting 

study of grief, obsession 

and the supernatural, 

until Sat 3 Nov, 


SURPRISES World premiere 

production of 

Alan Ayckbourn's latest 

comedy drama, a play 

with its head in the 

future and its heart in 

the past, until Sat 3 

Nov, New Vic Theatre, 

Newcastle-under-Lyme 

TREASURE ISLAND Amateur 

production presented 

by The Derek 

Grant Organisation, 

until Sat 3 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG 

TWICE Ian Dickens Productions 

present Ron 

Aldridge's touching 

comedy. Melvyn Hayes 

(It Aint Half Hot Mum) 

stars, until Sat 3 Nov, 

Crewe Lyceum 

A NIGHT IN VENICE Tinkers 

Farm present a 

new production that, 

set in modern-day Italy, 

satirises the Berlusconi 

regime and includes 

clandestine relationships, 

mistaken identities, 

seduction and 

scandal, until Sat 3 

Nov, Crescent Theatre, 

Birmingham 

BOUNCERS John Godber's 

classic comedy. 

Ian Reddington, Ace 

Bhatti, Don Gilet and 

William Ilkley star, until 

Sat 3 Nov, Regent Theatre, 


42ND STREET Tony 

award-winning musical. 

Dave Willetts, Marti 

Webb and Mark Bramble 

star, until Sat 3 Nov, 

The Grand Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

SOUL SISTER Brand new 

musical inspired by the 

life and times of Ike and 

Tina Turner, until Sat 3 


Coventry 

DRACULA Blue Orange 

Arts present their version 

of the Bram Stoker 

classic, until Sat 3 Nov, 

The Blue Orange Theatre, 

Birmingham 

DISNEY ON ICE: PASS- 

PORT TO ADVENTURE 

Join Mickey and Minnie 

as they embark on a 

magical journey that 

will see the popular duo 

- together with many of 

their Disney friends - 

visit an array of exciting 

destinations, until Sun 4 

Nov, National Indoor 


THE DARK AT THE TOP OF 

THE STAIRS until Sat 10 


Coventry 

WOUNDED Site-specific 

new play that promises 

to provide audiences 

with an authentic experience 

of war time care 

and history, until Sat 10 

Nov, TA Centre, Kings 


THE MERRY WIVES OF 

WINDSOR Anita Dobson 

makes her RSC debut 

in Phillip Breen's version 

of Shakespeare's 

great comedy, until Sat 

12 Jan, Royal Shakespeare 

Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 

THE ORPHAN OF ZAO The 

RSC present James 

Fenton’s adaptation of 

the first Chinese play to 

be translated for the 

West, until Thurs 28 

March, Swan Theatre, 


THE HAIRY BIKERS Everyone's 

favourite culinary 

experts The Hairy Bikers 

present an evening 

of world-inspired cooking, 

stories and hearty 

laughs, Wed 1 Nov, 



RING Fuel present a 

sound journey in complete 

darkness that 

forms part of a brand 

new commissioning 

and artist development 

programme at Warwick 

Arts, Wed 1 Nov, Warwick 

Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

NT LIVE: TIMON OF 

ATHENS Part of the 

National Theatre Live 

season, featuring the 

best of British theatre 

broadcast live, Thurs 1 


Coventry & Malvern 

Theatre 

AN EVENING WITH BOYCIE 

Only Fools And Horses 

star John Challis talks 

about his career, Thurs 

1 Nov, Solihull Arts 

Complex 

SCARECROW atjc Theatre 

Company present 

Mike Kenny’s 

acclaimed children’s 

play, Thurs 1 Nov, Lud- 

low Assembly Rooms, 

South Shropshire 

JONTY HEARNDEN - 

WHAT'S IN YOUR ATTIC? 

Join Jonty as he shares 

behind-the-scenes 

secrets and stories, 

Thurs 1 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

THE GOOD PERSON OF 

SEZUAN A new version 

of Brecht’s classic comedy 

which sets the 

story in 1980s Jamaica 

- a time of political violence 

and gang warfare, 

Thurs 1 - 2 Nov, 

The Drum, Birmingham 

THE ENORMOUS TURNIP 

Stuff and Nonsense 

Theatre Company fuse 

eccentric puppetry and 

live music to present 

their version of the 

world-famous children’s 

story, Thurs 1 - Fri 2 


Coventry 

ME, MUM & DUSTY 

SPRINGFIELD New, onewoman 

black comedy 

which reflects upon the 

bond which binds 

mothers and daughters, 

Thurs 1 - Fri 2 Nov, Old 

Joint Stock Theatre, 

Birmingham 

THE CANTERBURY TALES 

Tacit Theatre present 

Geoffrey Chaucer's 

bawdy epic, Thurs 1 - 

Sat 3 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

CALENDAR GIRLS Amateur 


by Abbey Foregate 

(SURC) Drama 

Group, Thurs 1 - Sat 3 


Shrewsbury 

VULGARITIES Total Arts 

Community Theatre 

presents a humourous 

show packed with double 

meanings, Thurs 1 - 

Sat 3 Nov, Tamworth 

Arts Centre 

LAWRIE MCMENEMY - ON 

THE BALL During an 

evening hosted by BBC 

Radio's Mike Osman, 

ex-football manager 

Lawrie McMenemy 

shares behind-thescenes 

stories and 

takes questions from 

the audience, Fri 2 Nov, 


2 DEEP Physical comic 

theatre from Rannel 

Theatre Company, Fri 2 

Nov, The Roses, Tewksbury 

PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON 

Unique magic show, Fri 

2 Nov, Stafford Gatehouse 

Theatre 

POP ICONS 2012 Performance 

from some of 

Worcestershire's most 

talented young vocalists, 

Fri 2 Nov, Artrix, 

Bromsgrove 

INSPECTOR NORSE Lip 

Service present a 

Swedish self-assembly 

crime thriller featuring a 

drunken moose..., Fri 2 

Nov, Arena Theatre, 

Bromsgrove 

ROMEO AND JULIET 

REVISITED Physical production 

which follows 

the lovers’ journey with 

live music, singing, 

dagger juggling and 

sword fighting, Fri 2 

Nov, Netherton Arts 

Centre, Dudley 

PINOCCHIO Image Musical 

Theatre present a 

production with wonderful 

songs, great costumes 

and the opportunity 

for audience participation, 

Fri 2 Nov, Solihull 

Arts Complex 



experts present an 

evening of worldinspired 

cooking, stories 

and hearty laughs, 

Fri 2 - Sat 3 Nov, 


FLYING HIGH Worcester 

Musical Theatre Company 

present a fusion 

of comedy, dance and 

song, Fri 2 - Sat 10 

Nov, The Swan Theatre, 

Worcester 

MACBETH Worcester 

Repertory Company 

present their version of 

Shakespeare’s bloody 

play, Fri 2 - Sat 3 Nov, 

Malvern Priory 

DON GIOVANNI Mid 

Wales Opera present 

Mozart’s tragic tale of 

love, lust, betrayal and 

revenge, Fri 2 - Sat 3 

Nov, Ludlow Assembly 

Rooms, South Shropshire 


SPRINGFIELD New, onewoman 

black comedy 

reflecting upon the 

bond which binds 

mothers and daughters, 

Sat 3 Nov, Artrix, 

Bromsgrove 

EMBRACED BURLESQUE 

Sat 3 Nov, Newhampton 


A KICK IN THE BAUBLES 

MIG present an amateur 

prouduction of 

Gordon Steel's festive 

play, Sat 3 Nov, Stafford 


MISS SAIGON The Musical 

Theatre Production 

Company present an 

amateur production of 

Claude-Michel Schönberg 

and Alain Boublil’s 

much-heralded musical, 

based on Puccini’s 

Madame Butterfly, Sat 3 

Nov, The Place, Oakengates 


UNCLE BERT’S COW Amateur 

production for children, 

Sat 3 Nov, The 

Swan Theatre, Worcester 

A NIGHT OF MUSICALS 

Featuring music from 

more than twenty musicals. 

Michael Courtney 

stars, Sat 3 Nov, Solihull 

Arts Complex 

DIRTY DANCING TRIBUTE 

SHOW Featuring all the 

hits from the iconic 

movie, Sat 3 Nov, Bedworth 

Civic Hall 

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTH- 

ING The Crescent Theatre 


their version of Shakespeare's 

romantic comedy, 

Sat 3 - Sat 17 Nov, 

Crescent Theatre, Birmingham 

Soul Sister - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 

GRIMM TALES The University 

of Wolverhampton 

Drama department 

present Carol Ann 

Duffy's adaptation of 

four of the Brothers 

Grimm’s most famous 

tales, including Hansel 

& Gretel, Ashputtel, 

Rumpelstiltskin and 

Snow White, Sat 3 Nov, 

Birmingham Library 

Theatre 







Sun 4 Nov, Civic Hall, 

Wolverhampton 


MON 5 NOV 

DRIVING MISS DAISY 

Timeless American play 

which inspired the 

Academy Award-winning 

film. Gwen Taylor 

and Don Warrington 

star, Mon 5 - Sat 10 

Nov, Malvern Theatres 

THE HAUNTING A spooktacular 

play adapted 

from the ghost stories 

by Charles Dickens. 

David Robb (Downton 

Abbey) and James 

Roache star, Mon 5 - 

Sat 10 Nov, Theatre 


THE MEE CLUB A feelgood 

cabaret of performance 

poets, storytellers, 

authors and stand-ups 

with live music to follow, 

Tues 6 Nov, 

Kitchen Garden Cafe, 


THE COMING STORM 

Forced Entertainment 

present what’s 

described as an exhilerating 

new show which 

fuses the theatre 

group’s trademark 

black humour and 

anarchic performance 

style, Tues 6 - Wed 7 





productions, including times and 

dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 


Coventry 

THE GOVERNMENT 

INSPECTOR Northern 

Broadsides present a 

new version of Nikolai 

Gogol's celebrated 

comedy, Tue 6 - Sat 10 

Nov, New Vic Theatre, 

Newcatle-under-Lyme 

MOTHER COURAGE AND 

HER CHILDREN Blackeyed 

Theatre present 

Lee Hall's translation of 

Bertolt Brecht's twentieth 

century masterpiece, 

Tue 6 Nov, 


THAT’LL BE THE DAY 

Rock’n’roll spectacular 

featuring music from 

the 50s, 60s & 70s, 

Tues 6 - Wed 7 Nov, 

The Roses, Tewksbury 

THE COMING STORM 

Forced Entertainment 

present a new show 

which fuses their trademark 

black humour, 

arresting images and 

anarchic performance 

style, Tue 6 - Wed 7 


Coventry 

THE GHOST'S TOUCH 

Rumpus Theatre Company 

present a haunting 

new play by John 

Goodrum, Tue 6 - Wed 

7 Nov, Arena Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

THE EDGE Big Brum 

Theatre present a compelling, 

dark comedy 

exploring what it is to 

be human in the complex 

world of today, 

Tues 6 - Fri 9 Nov, mac, 

Birmingham 

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN 

Amateur production 

presented by St 

Alphege Musical Production 

Society, Tue 6 - 


Complex 

HELLO DOLLY Amateur 


by Bilston Operatic 

Company, Tue 6 - Sat 

10 Nov, The Grand Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

WHEN WE ARE MARRIED 

Stafford Players present 

an amateur production 

of JB Priestley's 1938 

play, Tue 6 - Sat 10 

Nov, Stafford Gatehouse 

Theatre 

ASYLUM DIALOGUES 

Human Rights theatre 

group Ice and Fire 

present a script-in-hand 

performance which, 

written by Sonja Linden, 

draws on real life 

encounters between 

asylum seekers and 

British citizens, Wed 7 

Nov, Newhampton Arts 

Centre, Wolverhampton 

AND THEN THERE WERE 

NONE Wythall Theatre 


Agatha Christie’s best 

ever selling thriller, Wed 

7 - Sat 10 Nov, Palace 


HAIRY BIKERS Every- 

one's favourite culinary 





Wed 7 Nov, Victoria 


Trent 

NICK BAKER: WEIRD 

CREATURES A new show 

packed with stories 

about discovering, 

meeting and filming an 

array of weird and wonderful 

creatures, Wed 7 



JEPHTHA Performed by 

Welsh National Opera, 

Wed 7 Nov, Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

OH, WHISTLE... OH, WHIS- 

TLE, AND I'LL COME TO 

YOU, MY LAD A tale of 

nocturnal horror on the 

Suffolk coast, considered 

by many to be MR 

James's masterpiece, 

Wed 7 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

FELICITY ASTON: ALONE 

IN ANTARCTICA A talk 

from the first woman in 

history to ski across 

Antarctica alone, Wed 7 

- Sat 17 Nov, Malvern 

Theatres 

LES MISERABLES 

(SCHOOL EDITION) BMOS 

Youtheatre present an 

epic musical based on 

Victor Hugo's 

acclaimed novel, Wed 7 

- Fri 9 Nov, Old Rep, 

Birmingham 

EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP 

WITH ANDREW DEE Wed 

7 Nov, The Slade 


COUNT MAGNUS - TWO 

GHOST STORIES BY M R 

JAMES A travel writer's 

over-inquisitiveness 

leads to a breathless, 

diabolical chase from 

darkest Sweden to rural 

Essex, Thurs 8 Nov, 


GREAT EXPECTATIONS 

Everyman Theatre present 

a promenade performance 

of Dickens' 

classic tale, Thurs 8 - 

Sat 10 Nov, The Hive, 

Worcester 

TWELFTH NIGHT Propeller 

present an allmale 

production of 

Shakespeare's comedy 

of mistaken identity, 

transformation and 

deception, Thurs 8 - 

Sat 10 Nov, Belgrade 

Theatre, Coventry 

LA BOHEME Welsh 

National Opera present 

a major new production 

of Puccini's much-loved 

romantic opera that 

sees internationally 

acclaimed director 

Annabel Arden make 

her company debut, 

Thurs 8 - Sat 10 Nov, 

Birmingham Hippodrome 

A NIGHT OF DIRTY DANC- 

ING Concert show fea- 

turing all the songs 

from the much-loved 

iconic movie, Thurs 8 



THE FITZROVIA RADIO 

HOUR Acclaimed production 

that recreates 

the unique spirit of the 

radio plays of the 

1940s, Thurs 8 Nov, 



THREADBARE GREEBO 2 

Headed Pigeon Productions 

present a surreal 

tale concerning a 

boy made out of cloth, 

mad scientists and talking 

tapeworms, Thurs 8 


Wolverhampton 

THE POMEDY SHOW An 

electric mix of 

Jamaican comedy and 

poetry celebrating 

laughter, love and 

learning for the entire 

family and community, 

Fri 9 Nov, Arena Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

NEIL INNES: SHORT STO- 

RIES, TALL SONGS Neil 

performs a poignant, 

humorous and topical 

one-man show, spiced 

with anecdotes of his 

life and times in the 

worlds of media and 

showbusiness, Fri 9 

Nov, Stourbridge Town 

Hall 

DR. PHIL'S RUDE HEALTH 

SHOW Fri 9 Nov, Royal 


Spa 

COUNT MAGNUS - TWO 

GHOST STORIES BY M R 

JAMES A travel writer's 

over-inquisitiveness 

leads to a breathless, 

diabolical chase from 

darkest Sweden to rural 

Essex, Fri 9 Nov, Huntingdon 


COSI FAN TUTE Welsh 

National Opera present 

Mozart's insightful comedy, 

Fri 9 Nov, Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

TWO MONOLOGUES ON 

MENTAL HEALTH: I CARE 

AND SIMONE A woman 

with bi-polar disorder 

and her carer invite the 

audience to witness 

and reflect on their 

experience. Presented 

by Newman University 

College, Fri 9 Nov, mac, 

Birmingham 

WITTANK Comedy show 

that fuses inventive 

characters with authentic 

sketches, Fri 9 Nov, 


Shrewsbury 

KICKING OFF Frank 

Bramwell's latest play 

looks forward to a 

future, a time when 

today is but a dim 

memory and when 

hope is the only way 

forward... Fri 9 - Sat 10 

Nov, Old Joint Stock 


XANTHE GRESHAM - BABA 

YAGA AND THE VIRGIN Fri 

9 Nov, Lichfield Garrick 

WIFE AFTER DEATH The 

Billesley Players present 

Eric Chappell’s 

sparkling comedy, Fri 9 

- Sat 10 Nov, Dovehouse 

Theatre, Solihull 

LOVERS ROCK MONO- 

LOGUES A heart-warm- 

Kicking Off - Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham 

ing show which sees 

Lovers Rock ambassadors 

Janet Kay, Caroll 

Thompson & Victor 

Romero Evans share 

stories from back in the 

day, Fri 9 - Sat 10 Nov, 

The Drum, Birmingham 

MILKSHAKE! LIVE Featuring 

the presenters and 

characters from the 

Channel 5 programme - 

including Noddy, Fifi, 

Roary, Mr Men & 

Bananas in Pyjamas, 

Sat 10 Nov, Stourbridge 

Town Hall 

THANKS FOR THE MEMO- 

RY Impresario and 

Music Hall authority 

Duggie Chapman 

shares his memories 

from Music Hall to Variety, 

Sat 10 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

TALBOT HOUSE - A HOME 

FROM HOME Peter Gill's 

feelgood play set 

around a Belgium 

house which became a 

refuge for allied troops 

during World War II, Sat 

10 Nov, Huntingdon 


JUNK Theatrical performance 

from four 

guys who collectively 

present four elements 

of performing art, 

humorous dance routines, 

harmonised 

singing, acting and talented 

percussion, Sat 

10 Nov, The Place, 


Telford 

A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS A 

Diwali celebration featuring 

South Asian 

dance, music and song 

from regional artists, 

Sat 10 Nov, Arena Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

ALADDIN Indigo Moon 

Theatre presents a 

large-scale shadow 

puppet production of 

the classic children’s 

tale, Sun 11 Nov, Theatre 



MON 12 NOV 

THE KILLING OF SISTER 

GEORGE The nonentities 

present Frank Marcus’ 

witty and poignant 

comedy, Mon 12 - Sat 

17 Nov, The Rose Theatre, 

Kidderminster 

AN EVENING WITH PAM 

AYRES Mon 12 Nov, 


GOOD GRIEF Penelope 

Keith stars in a stage 

adaptation of Keith 

Waterhouse’s best-selling 

comic novel, Mon 

12 - Sat 17 Nov, 


INSPECTOR DRAKE 2 The 

Flying Ducks return 

with another instalment 

of inspired buffoonery 

which sees the 1930s 

cult detective tracking 

down a ruthless serial 

killer who commits a 

hat-trick of murders in a 

hat shop, Mon 12 Nov, 

The Swan Theatre, 

Worcester 

CALENDAR GIRLS Tim 

Firth’s acclaimed 

drama inspired by a 

true story and featuring 

a stellar cast. Lesley 

Joseph, Sue Holderness, 

Ruth Madoc, 

Kathryn Rooney, Camilla 

Dallerup, Helen Fraser, 

Deena Payne, Kacey 

Ainsworth & Kevin 

Sacre star, Mon 12 - 

Sat 17 Nov, The Grand 

Theatre, Wolverhampton 

MEDEA Headlong present 

Mike Bartlett's new 

version of Euripides' 

classic tragedy, Tue 13 

- Sat 17 Nov, Warwick 


L.O.V.E Volcano Theatre 

return with their theatrical 

landmark based on 

Shakespeare's Sonnets 

with a touch of Shirley 

Bassey, Tue 13 - Wed 

14 Nov, Arena Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

SUMMER HOLIDAY Redditch 

Operatic Society 

present a new production 

which promises to 

take audiences on a 

holiday they’ll never forget... 

Tue 13 - Sat 17 

Nov, Palace Theatre, 

Redditch 

VAMPIRES ROCK Musical 

stage show which, set 

in New York in the year 

2030, follows the rising 

of the undead while set 

to some of the greatest 

rock anthems ever, Tue 

13 Nov, New Alexandra 


REMEMBER WHEN Neil 

Sands and his West 

End cast perform a mixture 

of great songs with 

stunning costumes and 

lashings of good-old 

fashioned festive fun, 

Tue 13 Nov, The Place, 


Telford 

PHANTOMS AND THE 

MUSICALS Barry Walker's 

Smackee makes a 

welcome return, bringing 

the latest and greatest 

from London's West 


NOVEMBER SHOWS 

Wulfruna Street, 

Wolverhampton 

WV1 1SE 

Box Office 

01902 321 321 


Tues 6th Nov at 7.30pm 

Wed 7th Nov at 1.30pm and 7.30pm 

Tickets: £9 full price and £7 concs. 

All matinee tickets £5. 

Thurs 8th Nov at 7.30pm 


Sat 10th Nov at 7.30pm 

Surdhwani, Sampad and 

Arena Theatre present 

festival 

of light 

A Diwali celebration 

featuring South Asian 

dance, music and song 

from regional artists. 

All Tickets: £5 

11+ 

Rumpus Theatre 

presents 

the ghost’s touch 

A haunting new play based 

on the chilling tale 

by Wilkie Collins. 

Two Headed Pigeon 

Theatre Company 

presents 

threadbare greebo 

A fairytale about mental illness 

and social exclusion. 

Supported by Black Country Touring 

and Outside Centre. 

For details of other shows this 

month please visit our website: 

BROMSGROVE’S THEATRE, CINEMA, 

LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY VENUE 

Sat 10th November 

PAPPY'S: LAST. 

SHOW. EVER 

5-STAR EDINBURGH 

FESTIVAL COMEDY SHOW 

Sun 18th November 

FRED MACAULAY 

STAR OF TV AND BBC 

RADIO 4S NEWS QUIZ 

Mon 12th November 

THE LOCK IN 

FOLK & HIP HOP DANCE 

EXTRAVAGANZA WITH 

THE DEMON BARBERS 

Tues 20th November 

THEA GILMORE 

ONE OF THE UKS MOST 

ENDURING SINGER- 

SONGWRITERS 

FORTHCOMING CINEMA: Hope Springs (12A) // 

Lawless (18) // Orphee (PG) // Holy Motors (18) // 

Skyfall (12A) 

The new Artrix brochure is available to download on www.artrix.co.uk 

For bookings & full details log onto 

www.artrix.co.uk or phone 01527 577330 

Artrix, Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1PQ Free parking on-site 

Mon 19th Nov at 7.30pm 

Pursued by a Bear Productions in 

co-production with Kali Theatre 

presents 

kabaddi, 

kabaddi, kabaddi 

A powerful drama about sport, 

nationality and belonging. 

Supported by Black Country Touring 


Wed 21st Nov at 7.30pm 

Thurs 22nd Nov at 1.30pm and 7.30pm 

Oddsocks 

presents 

the 

adventures 

of 

robin hood 

An energetic romp 

for all the family. 


All matinee tickets £5. 

Wed 28th Nov at 7.30pm 

Richard Tyrone Jones presents 

richard tyrone 

jone’s big heart 

How do you fight back when 

your heart tries to kill you? 


NOVEMBER 

HIGHLIGHTS 

Tues 13th November 

ROB ROUSE 

HONEST, FRANK & 

SERIOUSLY FUNNY 

STAND-UP 

Thurs 22nd November 

ANDY 

FAIRWEATHER LOW 

PEDIGREE THAT ROCK 

DREAMS ARE MADE OF 

www.arena.wlv.ac.uk


For full listing information on theatre productions, 



End and Broadway, Tue 13 


Coventry 

DIM SUM NIGHTS Site-specific 

new show from Yellow 

Earth Theatre Company 

which fuses unique theatre 

and Chinese food, Tue 13 - 

Thurs 15 Nov, Ming Moon 

Restaurant, Birmingham 

KNICK KNACK AND DOO DAD 

- REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL 

Lyngo Theatre present a 

brand new show for children 

which, set on an 

island piled high with rubbish, 

tells a tale of friendship, 

Tues 13 Nov - Sun 2 

Dec, mac, Birmingham 

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE 

BEAST Get Your 'Wigle' On 

present an amateur production 

of the much-loved 

family favourite, Wed 14 - 

Sat 17 Nov, Theatre Severn, 

Shrewsbury 

CIRCUS OF HORRORS: CURSE 

OF THE DEVIL DOLL A whirlwind 

journey though 1927 

Berlin - a decadent decade 

and the birth of the 

Cabaret, Wed 14 Nov, Belgrade 

Theatre, Coventry 

DR. FAUSTUS New adaptation 

of Marlowe’s play, 

Wed 14 Nov, The Roses, 

Tewksbury 

HANDA’S SURPRISE Little 

Angel Theatre present a 

blend of physical performance, 

puppetry, live music 

and song, combined to 

create an intimate, magical 

production with audience 

participation, Wed 14 Nov, 


Wolverhampton 

FARM BOY New Percpectives 

Theatre Company 


Michael Morpurgo’s Farm 

Boy - the compelling 

sequel to the award-winning 

War Horse, Wed 14 



THE CANTERBURY TALES 

Tacit Theatre present Geoffrey 

Chaucer's bawdy epic, 

Wed 14 - Thurs 15 Nov, 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 

THE PRODUCERS A pro/am 

production presented by 

Curtain Call productions, 

Wed 14 - Fri 16 Nov, 

Crewe Lyceum 

PORNOGRAPHY Combining 

Simon Stephens’ visceral 

play with uncompromising 

performance and design, 

this production will ask 

you to consider your own 

responsibility for a national 

tragedy, Wed 14 - Sat 17 


Coventry 

JAMES AND THE GIANT 

PEACH Birmingham Stage 

Company present Roald 

Dahl's classic adventure 

for children, Wed 14 Nov - 

Sat 2 Feb, Old Rep, Birmingham 

MISERY Stage play adapted 

from Stephen King's 

award-winning dark and 

twisting tale, Thurs 15 Nov, 

Stafford Gatehouse The- 

atre 

2DEEP Ranell present a 

hip-hop comedy full of 

jaw-dropping skills with a 

futuristic twist, Thurs 15 


Wolverhampton 

AN EVENING WITH ANDREW 

MOTION Presented by Wenlock 

Poetry Festival, Thurs 

15 Nov, The Edge Arts 

Centre. Much Wenlock, 


THE SHOWSTOPPERS A 

brand new musical comedy 

is created from scratch 

at each performance of 

this award-winning production. 

Audience suggestions 

spontaneously 

become an all-singing, alldancing 

show on the spot, 

Thurs 15 Nov, Solihull Arts 

Complex 

BORIS GODUNOV Michael 

Boyd directs Adrian 

Mitchell's adaptation of 

Alexander Pushkin's political 

Russian drama, Thurs 

15 Nov - Sat 30 Mar, The 

Swan Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon 

BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND 

A blend of music, comedy 

and performance art, 

Thurs 15 Nov, The Queen's 

Hall, Nuneaton 

PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON IN 

JURASSIC BARK Debut UK 

tour, Fri 16 Nov, The Public, 

West Bromwich 

CABARET EVENING OF 

ENTERTAINMENT Walsall 

Operatic Society presents 

a relaxed evening of music 

from the West End, classic 

musicals and films in the 

informal setting of Lichfield 

Garrick's cabaret-style studio, 

Fri 16 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

BROADWAY AND BEYOND - 

THE MAGIC LIVES ON Selection 

of forty musical numbers 

from a century of 

Broadway shows, Fri 16 



OFFA'S POETS IN CAPTIVITY 

Offa's Poets present an 

evening of entertaining 

poetry made in the West 

Midlands. Performers 

include Emma Purshouse, 

Jeff Phelps, Win Saha and 

Dave Reeves, Fri 16 Nov, 

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton 

HOKE'S BLUFF Action Hero 

present an underdog story 

that shifts and re-arranges 

the trite conventions and 

narratives of American 

teen movies to talk about 

what it means to be a winner 

on the inside, Fri 16 - 

Sat 17 Nov, Warwick Arts 


THE NEW BLACK SHOWCASE 

Raw readings of short, 

sharp, new plays from 

some of the West Midlands’ 

newest communities, 

Fri 16 - Sat 17 Nov, 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 

TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE! 

The UK's no.1 folk and hiphop 

dance extravaganza!, 

Sat 17 Nov, Lichfield Garrick 

HENNA British Punjabi storytellers 

Peter and Gorg 

Chand take the audience 

on a journey to incredible 

landscapes, with tales of 

love, loss, betrayal and 

Bollywood dancing! Sat 17 

Nov, Newhampton Arts 

Centre, Wolverhampton 

THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD 

The RSC present Tamsin 

Oglesby's adaptation of 

Russell Hoban's acclaimed 

children's tale, Sat 17 Nov 

- Sat 12 Jan, Royal Shakespeare 

Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Dickens' 

Christmas classic is 

here adapted and directed 

by New Vic Artistic Director, 

Theresa Heskins, Sat 

17 Nov - Sat 19 Jan, New 

Vic Theatre, Newcastleunder-Lyme 


MON 19 NOV 

SILVER BELLS CHRISTMAS 

SHOW Performance fusing 

the music of Christmas 

present with the spirit of 

Christmas past. Leah Bell, 

Johnny de Little, Peter 

Donegan, Jason King, 

Jason Jones & The Silver 

Belles Dancers, Mon 19 

Nov, Tamworth Assembly 

Rooms 

KABADDI. KABADDI, KABADDI 

Pursued By A Bear Productions 

present a powerful 

new drama about sport, 

nationality and belonging, 

with a haunting love story 

at its heart, Mon 19 Nov, 





puppetry, live music 

and song, combined to 

create an intimate, magical 

production with audience 

participation, Mon 19 Nov, 

The Edge Arts Centre, 

Much Wenlock, South 

Shropshire 

THE PAPER CINEMA'S 

ODYSSEY BAC Take Out 

presents a retelling of 

Homer's epic poem, Mon 

19 - Tue 20 Nov, Warwick 


9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL New 

musical comedy based on 

the multi-award-winning 

movie starring Dolly Parton. 

Bonnie Langford, 

Natalie Casey, Jackie 

Clune, Amy Lennox and 

Ben Richards star, Mon 19 

- Sat 24 Nov, Regent Theatre, 

Hanley, Stoke-on- 

Trent 

ROBIN PRINCE OF SHER- 

WOOD Presented by St 

Augustines Musical Theatre 

Company, Mon 19 - 


Complex 

THE MEE CLUB A feelgood 

cabaret of performance 

poets, storytellers, authors 

and stand-ups with live 

music to follow, Tues 20 

Nov, Kitchen Garden Cafe, 


THE MOUSETRAP Celebrating 

sixty incredible years 

on stage, this world 

famous and longest run- 

ning show goes on tour for 

the first time, Mon 19 - Sat 

24 Nov, Malvern Theatres 

SOME LIKE IT HIP HOP A 

comic tale of love, mistaken 

identity, cross-dressing, 

gender stereotypes and 

revolution, Tue 20 - Wed 

21 Nov, The Grand Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

MOTHERLAND Funny and 

moving exploration of 

what it means to be a 

woman that is both funny 

and moving, Tue 20 - Wed 

21 Nov, Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

BOOGIE NIGHTS Musical featuring 

the best disco hits 

that the 70s had to offer... 

Tue 20 - Sat 24 Nov, Royal 


Spa 

STORYTELLING CAFE A double-bill 

feat. Rachel Murray 

and Helen Appleton, Wed 

21 Nov, Kitchen Garden 

Cafe, Kings Heath, Birmingham 

WE HOPE THAT YOU'RE 

HAPPY... Made In China 

present an examination of 

what it means to be a 

tuned-in, delusional and 

unwitting consumer in a 

hyper-communicative 

world, Wed 21 - Thu 22 


Coventry 

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN 

HOOD Oddsocks present a 

heart-warming romp suitable 

for all the family, complete 

with live music, 

action and plenty of audience 

participation, Wed 21 


Wolverhampton 

KABADDI KABADDI KABADDI 

Gripping new drama about 

sport, nationhood and 

belonging, with a haunting 

love story at its heart, Wed 

21 Nov, The Public, West 

Bromwich 

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS 

The story of Thomas More, 

the man who stood up to 

King Henry VIII when the 

King rejected the Roman 

Catholic Church to obtain 

divorce and remarriage, 

Wed 21 - Sat 24 Nov, 


BOOGIE NIGHTS: THE 70S 

MUSICAL The heart-warming 

story of Roddy, a Jackthe-lad 

whose life of birds, 

booze and boogies is 

about to be turned upsidedown, 

Wed 21- Sat 24 

Nov, Forest Arts Centre, 

Walsall 

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS 

Second Thoughts Theatre 

Company present their 

version of Robert Bolt’s 

play, Wed 21 - Sat 24 Nov, 


HONK! The Old Joint Stock 

Musical Theatre Company 


Stiles & Drewe's acclaimed 

musical that's based on 

Hans Christian Andersen's 

classic children's tale, Wed 

21 - Sun 25 Nov, Old Joint 

Stock Theatre, Birmingham 

CALENDAR GIRLS Amateur 

production presented by 

Stourbridge Theatre Company, 

Thurs 22 Nov, Stourbridge 

Town Hall 

AN AUDIENCE WITH COLIN 

FRY An evening of mediumship, 

Thurs 22 Nov, 


BIRMINGHAM’S 

PREMIER PUB 

THEATRE 

Thursday 1st Nov 7:30pm 

Friday 2nd Nov 7:30pm 


SPRINGFIELD 

A new comedy sprinkled with Dusty lyrics 

and coated with a song or two. Reflecting 

on the bond that binds mothers & daughters, 

people who are not quite what they 

seem and how we cope with loss when 

it’s just too late. £11/£9 

Saturday 3rd Nov 2:30pm & 7:30pm 

OUR KYLIE’S 

GETTIN’ WED 

A funny yet touching play about the 

trials and tribulations of every family 

wedding that you have ever been to! A 

true feel-good show, Our Kylie's Gettin’ 

Wed will make you laugh and bring a 

tear to your eye. £10 / £8 

Fri 9th Nov 7:30pm 

Sat 10th Nov 2pm & 7:30pm 

KICKING OFF 

Birmingham, England. The Riots, 

2011/2025. What happened, was it all 

a dream that went horribly wrong? 

Frank Bramwell's latest play looks forward 

to a future when hope is the only 

way forward... £12 / £10 

Saturday 17th November 7:30pm 

URBAN TARAB 

OPEN STAGE 

Come and join us for a night out with 

a difference; this is belly dance - but 

not as you know it! 

There are many different styles and 

moods to enjoy including fusions of 

Flamenco, Gypsy and Indian dance.. 

To book: www.pedralta.com 

21st-24th Nov - 7.30pm 

24th & 25th Nov - 2.30pm 

HONK! 

OJSMTC presents Stiles and Drewe's 

award winning musical based on the 

Hans Christian Anderson tale about 

the ugly duckling. £12 - £15 

Wed 28th Nov 7:30pm 

DICKENS’ TALES: BLEAK 

HOUSE 

Using a fusion of narration, original 

text and the interweaving of his character 

creations, experience the 

retelling of Dickens' unforgettable and 

haunting novel. £10 / £8 

Thursday 29th November 8pm 

FOGHORN IMPROV 

Using audience suggestions, Foghorn 

Improv University will educate on a 

fascinating and utterly pre-existant 

subject. Disclaimer: facts contained in 

this show may not be entirely accurate 

£7.50 

Tel: 0121 200 0946 

& 0845 680 1926 

email:oldjointstocktheatre@fullers.co.uk. 

www.oldjointstocktheatre.co.uk 

or on-line at: www.oxboffice.com 


NOVEMBER 

SCARECROW 

Thurs 1 Nov, 11am 

A story packed with 

music, movement and 

puppetry for children 

and their families, 

followed by an 

interactive workshop. 

Tickets £6 / £5.50 (show) 

and £6 / £5.50 (workshop) 

TIMON OF ATHENS 


7pm 

Streamed live via 

satellite from the 

National Theatre. 

Simon Russell 

Beale takes the title role in 

Shakespeare’s fable of consumption, debt 

and ruin. Tickets £15 / £14 

DON GIOVANNI 

Fri 2 & Sat 3 Nov, 7.30pm 

Mid Wales Opera presents 

the tragic tale of love, lust, 

betrayal and revenge. 

A brand new production, 

bound to set your heart 

racing. 

Tickets £20 / £18.50 

WILL HOLLAND’S 

COOKING DEMONSTRATION 

Sat 10 Nov, 10.30am 

Will Holland, Chef Patron 

at La Becasse, host s a 

fundraising event for 

Ludlow Assembly Rooms. 

Tickets £10 

FARM BOY 

Wed 14 Nov, 8pm 

Michael Morpurgo’s 

compelling sequel to the 

award-winning War Horse 

brought to life by New 

Perspectives Theatre 

Company. 

Tickets £12 / £10 

THE LOCK IN 

Fri 16 Nov, 7.30pm 

The UK’s number one 

folk and hiphop dance 

extravaganza. . 

Tickets £16.50 / £14.50 

OLA ONABULE 

Sat 17 Nov, 8pm 

An evening of powerful 

soul and jazz music not 

to be missed.. 

Tickets £15 / £14 

THE MADRIGIRLS 

Fri 23 Nov, 7.30pm 

Charming acapella music 

to compliment Ludlow’s 

Medieval Fayre weekend. 

Tickets £12 / £11 

1 Mill Street, Ludlow, 

Shropshire SY8 1AZ 

01584 878141 

www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk 


Fri 7th - Mon 31st December 

Wed 7th November 

NICK BAKER: 

WEIRD CREATURES 

7.30pm. Tickets £14 / £12 concs 

Fri 9th November 

LET'S HANG ON 


Fri 16th November 

BROADWAY AND 

BEYOND : THE MAGIC 

LIVES ON 



THE SOUNDS OF SIMON: 

A TRIBUTE TO SIMON 

AND GARFUNKEL 

7.30pm. £15 / £13 concs 

Mon19th November 

JETHRO 2012 

7.30pm. Tickets £19.50 

Fri 23rd November 

THE LADY BOYS OF 

BANGKOK - CARNIVAL 

QUEENS 

7.30pm. Tickets £20 / £18.50 concs 



ELVIS 

7.30pm, Tickets £15 

Wed 28th November 

MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE: 

THE BRIG SOCIETY 

8pm, Tickets £15 

Various Times, Tickets £14 - £48 

BOOK 

NOW! 

PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON 

JURASSIC BARK 

Fri 2 Nov 

Piff the Magic Dragon 

embarks on his first 

major UK tour accompanied 

by Mr Piffles 

the World's First Million 

Dollar Chihuahua. 


GATEHOUSE THEATRE 

8.00pm, £16.00, £15.00 concs 

EYES FRONT! 


Tue 13 Nov 

Isla St Clair presents this 

delightfully nostalgic, 

poignant and humorous 

look at the effects of music 

in wartime. As well as performing 

a selection of popular 

songs Isla tells the stories 

behind them. 

KEIRAN GOSS 


7.30pm, £14.00, £11.00 concs 

MANCHESTER CAMERATA 

MOZART’S FLUTE CONCERTO 

Fri 16 Nov 

Gábor Takács-Nagy continues 

his exploration of twentieth 

century British string 

music with two more miniature 

masterpieces – Vaughan 

Williams’ folk-immersed 

Five Variants for Strings and 

Harp, and Elgar’s beautifully 

melodic 

Chanson de Matin et de 

Nuit. 

PAUL FOOT 

KENNY LARCH IS DEAD 

7.30pm, £12.50 

BOOKONLINE 

CALL 

FOR YOUR 

BROCHURE 

TODAY 

8.00pm, £14.00, £12.00 concs 

Sat 3 Nov 

The Sony and Perrier 

nominated Shuttleworth 

ventures beyond the garden 

gate to tread the 

mean streets of Britain to 

decide which is better: 

City life or country living? 

7.30pm, £12.00, £10.00 concs 

Wed 14 Nov 

Ireland's leading songwriter 

and performer, 

Kieran Goss’s music has 

won him fans across the 

globe, but if his songs 

have brought him stardom, 

it's Kieran's live 

shows which have made 

him a legend in his homeland, 

selling out venues 

for over 20 years 

7.30pm, £15.00, £13.00 concs 

Sun 25 Nov 

Expect the unexpected 

from the man The Independent 

described as 

“sublime, original and brilliant”. 

A BBC New Comedy 

Award and Daily Telegraph 

Open Mic winner, 

recent UK TV credits 

include “Russell Howard’s 

Good News” BBC3. 

Box Office 01785 254653 

www.staffordgatehousetheatre.co.uk



productions, including times and 

dates, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

Birmingham 

ANGELINA BALLERINA 

THE MOUSICAL Thurs 22 

- Sat 24 Nov, The 

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton 

THE LADY BOYS OF 

BANGKOK - CARNIVAL 

QUEENS Join the festivities 

as sixteen of the 

world’s most entrancing 

beauties take you on a 

carnival parade, Fri 23 



MISERY Stage play 

adapted from Stephen 

King's award-winning 

dark and twisting tale, 

Fri 23 Nov, Arena Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

THE BOSS RULES - HOW 

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN 

CHANGED MY LIFE! Join 

Sarfraz Manzoor on a 

humorous journey back 

to his childhood, where 

the songs from The 

Boss hold the key to 

escaping from Luton 

and finding the woman 

of his dreams, Fri 23 

Nov, The Drum, Birmingham 




puppetry, 

live music and song, 

combined to create an 

intimate, magical production 

with audience 

participation, Fri 23 

Nov, The Hive, Shrewsbury 

MOTHER COURAGE AND 

HER CHILDREN Blackeyed 

Theatre present 

Lee Hall's translation of 

Bertolt Brecht's twentieth 

century masterpiece, 

Fri 23 Nov, Theatre 


THE VAGINA MONO- 

LOGUES Eve Ensler's 

hilarious Broadway and 

West End smash hit is 

back, featuring a new 

all-star cast including 

Clare Buckfield, Vicky 

Entwistle and Hayley 

Tamaddon, Fri 23 Nov, 

Tamworth Assembly 

Rooms 

APPLAUSE A cabaret of 

song and dance, Sat 24 

Nov, Dovehouse Theatre, 

Solihull 

EMBRACED BURLESQUE 

Sat 24 Nov, Newhampton 


TWO WRONGIES WORLD 

OF WRONG A risque 

dance-comedy that celebrates 

the glitz and 

glamour of show time 

while exploring the sad 

and grubby truths that 

sometimes lurk behind 

the spotlight, Sat 24 


IN THE SPOTLIGHT RSM's 

annual showcase featuring 

students from the 

stage academy together 

with professional 

performers from Lon- 

don's West End, Sat 24 

- Sun 25 Nov, Arena 


COLDER THAN HERE The 

Crescent Theatre Company 

present Laura 

Wade's dark but 

translucent play of love, 

death and grief, Sat 24 

Nov - Sat 1 Dec, Crescent 


THREE MEN IN A BOAT 

The award-winning 

Original Theatre Company 

present Jerome K 

Jerome’s modern classic, 

Sun 25 Nov, Forest 

Arts Centre, Walsall 

ARMONICO CONCERT: TOO 

HOT TO HANDEL The 

story of two lovers carefully 

intertwines the 

most ravishing of Handel’s 

arias from his 

many operas, romping 

from drama to comedy, 

from tragedy to laughter, 

Sun 25 Nov, Theatre 



MON 26 NOV 

THE LADYKILLERS Graham 

Linehan's new 

adaptation of the celebrated 

Ealing comedy, 

Mon 26 Nov - Sat 1 

Dec, Malvern Theatres 

AMERICAN IDIOT New 

musical that's based on 

Green Day's Grammy 

Award-winning album 

of the same name, Mon 

26 Nov - Sat 1 Dec, 


Birmingham 

GREASE THE MUSICAL 

Mon 26 Nov - Sat 1 

Dec, The Grand Theatre, 

Wolverhampton 

KABADDI KABADDI 

KABADDI Gripping new 

drama about sport, 

nationhood and 

belonging, with a 

haunting love story at 

its heart, Tues 27 Nov, 


FASCINATING AIDA Starring 

Dillie Keane, Liza 

Pulman & Adele Anderson, 

Tue 27 Nov, Birmingham 

Town Hall 

POETRY BITES WITH 

JONATHON & MARIA TAY- 

LOR Tues 27 Nov, 

Kitchen Garden Cafe, 


SOLIHULL GANG SHOW 

2012 Based on the original 

Ralph Reader concept, 

Solihull Gang 

Show presents a fusion 

of singing, dancing and 

comedy, Tue 27 Nov - 

Sat 1 Dec, Solihull Arts 

Complex 

AN EVENING WITH DAVID 

DIMBLEBY Wed 28 Nov, 

Ludlow Assembly 


RICHARD TYRONNE 

The Lady Boys Of Bangkok - The Place, Oakengates, Telford 

JONES' BIG HEART Poet 

and spoken word performer 

Richard Tyronne 

Jones presents a solo 

debut in which he 

shares his near death 

experience with the 

audience, Wed 28 Nov, 


SLEEPING BEAUTY Festive 

show promising 

stunning sets, spectacular 

costumes and 

sparkling performances, 

Wed 28 Nov - Sat 5 

Jan, Belgrade Theatre, 

Coventry 

THE WIND IN THE WIL- 

LOWS Alan Bennett's 

stage adaptation of 

Kenneth Grahame's 

classic tale, Wed 28 

Nov - Sat 19 Jan, Crescent 


THE ADVENTURES OF 

ROBIN HOOD Oddsocks 

present a heart-warming 

romp suitable for all 

the family, complete 

with live music, action 

and plenty of audience 

participation, Wed 28 

Nov - Sat 1 Dec, Bridge 

House Theatre, Warwick 

FEEL GOOD MUSICAL 

Reach Musical Theatre 

present an array of 

West End showstoppers 

including Mamma 

Mia!, We Will Rock You 

and Wicked, Thurs 29 

Nov - Sat 1 Dec, Arena 


WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR 

HUNT Expect catchy 

songs, interactive 

scenes and plenty of 

hands-on adventure in 

this stage adaptation of 

the much-loved picture 

book written by Michael 

Rosen and illustrated 

be Helen Oxenbury, 

Thurs 29 Nov - Sun 30 

Dec, Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry 

AN AUDIENCE WITH 

JONATHAN DIMBLEBY A 

show which marks the 

seventieth anniversary 

of the Battle of El 

Alamein in 1942, the 

subject of Dimbleby’s 

new book Destiny In 

The Desert, Thurs 29 


THE ADAM AND ANT 

SHOW - ILLUSIONS AND 

MAGIC Fri 30 Nov, The 

Hive, Shrewsbury 

EMPIRE Reckless Sleepers 

explore the notion 

of the United Kingdom, 

Europe, and the shifting 

state of global politics 

with people from Australia, 

Belgium and the 

UK in a work-inprogress 

piece as part 

of Triggered@Warwick, 


Fri 30 Nov, Warwick 


THE EMPEROR’S NEW 

CLOTHES Luke Players 

present David Foxton’s 

play for children which 

merges two popular 

tales, Fri 30 Nov - Sat 1 

Dec, mac, Birmingham 

ERIC IN WONDERLAND 

New Vic's Uncle Eric is 

back and ready to murder 

yet another literary 

classic, Fri 30 Nov - Sat 

15 Dec, New Vic Theatre, 

Newcastle-under- 

Lyme 

Tues 30th Oct - Sat 3rd Nov, 7.30pm 

Sat Mat 2.30pm 

YOU’RE ONLY 

YOUNG TWICE 

Tickets from £12.00 - £18.50 C 

Sun 4th November, 7.30pm 

THE BIG BAND 

Tickets from £16.00 C 

Wed 7th November, 8.00pm 

CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS 

Tickets from £17.00 / £19.00 / £21.00 

Fri 9th November, 7.30pm 

ONE NIGHT IN VEGAS 

Tickets from £16.50 / £17.50 C 

Sat 10th November, 7.00pm 

KEN DODD 

Tickets £20.50 C 

Sat 18th November, 7.30pm 

THE BACHELORS 

Tickets £15.50 C 

HELLO, DOLLY! 

Described as one of the 

brassiest Broadway 

musicals of all time, 

Hello Dolly follows the 

spirited Dolly Levi, a 

professional matchmaker 

intent on bringing 

love to the great and 

good of Manhattan, Fri 

30 Nov - Sat 12 Jan, 

The Curve, Leicester 

CINDERELLA Traditional 

Family Pantomime, Fri 

30 Nov - Mon 3 Dec, 

Crewe Lyceum 

CELEBRATING 

100 YEARS OF 

ENTERTAINMENT 

CREWE LYCEUM I HEATH STREET I CREWE I CW1 2DA 

01270 686 777 www.lyceumtheatre.net 


COMING SOON 

TO THEATRE SEVERN 

You’ll feel like you've 

travelled back in 

time when you experience 

these 

four top class musicians 

on 

stage, recreating 

Led Zeppelin's 

magical 

concerts. 

Box Office 01743 281 281 

Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk 


FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER 

SATURDAY 17 NOVEMBER 

TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 

SOWETO 

KINCH TRIO 

Award-winning jazz alto saxophonist 

and hip hop star Soweto Kinch celebrates 

the Autumn release of his new studio 

double album titled 'The Legend of 

Mike Smith' with a UK tour 

This stunning show is based on 'The Seven 

Deadly Sins'. Expect the unexpected! 

WitTank 

"A dazzling display of sketch 

genius... There isn't a single 

down moment in WitTank's 

exhilaratingly perfect set" 

'LIST 

WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 

SHOW OF 

HANDS 

Powerhouse band Show of Hands 

come to the Theatre Severn 

in a year that sees them play 

the Royal Albert Hall as they celebrate 

20 years of an 

incredible partnership that 

has put them right at 

the top of British folk. 

VISIT OUR 

WEBSITE TO 

VIEW MORE 

SHOWS! 

Frankwell Quay, 

Shrewsbury, Shropshire, 

SY3 8FT 

8th - 10th November 7.45pm (3pm matinee) 

Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham - 0121 212 2643 

15th November - Stafford Gatehouse Theatre 

17th November - Helmdon Reading Room, Northants 

18th November - North Hall, Leamington Spa 

23rd November - Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton 

THE EASY WAY TO 

BOOK 

YOUR TICKETS 

ONLINE 


The most comprehensive what’s on listings website 

for Birmingham and the West Midlands

Theatre REVIEWS 

Here are a few of the theatre 

productions we reviewed from last 

month. For further theatre reviews, visit, 


A Tender Thing 

The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 

So Friar Lawrence’s message does arrive and 

Romeo and Juliet live. In fact, they live into old age 

and have to face the all too common dilemmas: 

personal care, terminal illness, death. This Romeo 

and his Juliet still love each other, and Ben Power’s 

clever script samples and remixes Shakespeare’s 

words to make a strong new narrative. If you’re a 

teenager, then the original Romeo And Juliet probably 

holds an added poignancy for you. So does 

this play for the older members of the audience. It 

portrays old age head on, and we all hope that we 

have a love that can hold us in its arms until the 

end. The play is set by the sea, cleverly evoked 

through video design by Jacques Collin. The 

motion back and forth, and the repetition of the 

tide, is echoed through time, movement and language. 

The direction by Helens Kaut-Howson and 

movement by Jane Gibson works to make this a 

memorable piece of theatre. However, the crowning 

glory is the performances of Kathryn Hunter as 

Juliet and Richard McCabe as Romeo; now I will 

believe forever A Tender Thing, rather than Shakespeare’s 

original play. Jan Watts ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

BRB: Swan Lake 

Birmingham Hippodrome 

Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of 

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake was an excellent piece of 

modern ballet. The Birmingham Hippodrome 

played host to a full house, who were treated to the 

Ivanov and Petipa version to this classic folk story of 

love, romance and evil. All four acts were exquisitely 

performed by the main protagonists, with Sir 

Peter Wright having ensured that the dance in Swan 

Lake is immaculately choreographed. A special 

mention goes to Nao Sakuma, as Odette and Odile, 

and Chi Cao as Prince Siegfried. Act Three brought 

a real sense of grandeur to proceedings, with ‘the 

night of the Ball’ scene perfectly performed by the 

company. Each of Prince Siegfried’s three potential 

brides and their entourage livened up the evening 

with an opulent act of dance. Birmingham Royal 

Ballet certainly achieved a high standard with this 

latest presentation of Swan Lake, and I’m certain 

that the company 

will perform with 

similar excellence 

in its forthcoming 

production of Cinderella, 

which 

begins on 21 

November. 

Parv Gandham 

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Blue/Orange 

New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham 

Blue/Orange has lost none of the pizazz so evident in its first production at the 

National Theatre back in 2000. It’s a fantastic play which chooses to tread where very 

few care to go, dealing with the issue of mental health and, more specifically, the 

treatment of schizophrenia. This is theatre, not a documentary about the NHS, so we 

accept the crisp, low set that is charmingly clinical, but not like a real hospital. The 

hubbub of hospital life is also missing from the play, which features just three men 

and a water cooler. The script is powerful, because it’s impossible to know where 

these characters are going, and the outcome is left unresolved, allowing the audience 

to draw its own conclusions. Robert Bathurst as Robert, Gerard McCarthy as Bruce 

and Oliver Wilson as Christopher are foils in movement, speech and language, precipitating 

a serious debate within a cynical and corrupt framework. However, this is 

not a glum evening. On the contrary, it’s a very funny one. There’s only one joke in 

the text, but the juxtaposition of the performances make it a riot. 

This is excellent theatre. If only the NHS had the same amount of time for patients in 

the real world. Jan Watts ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Theatre Box Office 

Birmingham 

ALEXANDRA THEATRE 

0844 871 3011 

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME 

0844 338 5000 

BIRMINGHAM REP 

0121 236 4455 

THE BLUE ORANGE THEATRE 

0121 212 2643 

CRESCENT THEATRE 

0121 643 5858 

DOVEHOUSE THEATRE 

0121 706 7139 

THE DRUM 0121 333 2444 

MAC 0121 446 3232 

OLD JOINT STOCK THEATRE 

0121 200 0946 

OLD REP 0121 245 4455 


0121 704 6962 

Black Country 

ARENA THEATRE 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

01902 321321 

BLOXWICH THEATRE 

01922 653183 


01384 812812 

FOREST ARTS CENTRE, WALSALL 

01922 654555 

GRAND THEATRE, 

01902 429212 

NEWHAMPTON ARTS CENTRE 

01902 572090 

OLDBURY REP, OLDBURY 

0121 552 2761 

THE PUBLIC, WEST BROMWICH 

0121 533 7161 

Shropshire 

THE BELFREY, WELLINGTON 

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THE EDGE, MUCH WENLOCK 

01952 728911 

THE HIVE, SHREWSBURY 

01743 234970 

LUDLOW ASSEMBLY 

ROOMS 01584 878141 

THE PLACE, OAKENGATES, TELFORD 

01952 382382 

THEATRE SEVERN, SHREWSBURY 

01743 281281 

WEM TOWN HALL 

01939 232299 

Staffordshire 


01543 412121 

NEW VIC 01782 717962 

PRINCE OF WALES 

CENTRE, CANNOCK 

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REGENT THEATRE, STOKE 

0870 060 6649 


01785 254653 

STOKE REPERTORY THEATRE 

01782 209784 

Warwickshire 


024 7637 6707 

BELGRADE THEATRE, COVENTRY 

024 7655 3055 

BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE, WARWICK 

01926 776438 

THE DREAM FACTORY 

01926 419555 

ROYAL SHAKESPEARE 

THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 

0844 800 1110 

ROYAL SPA CENTRE 

LEAMINGTON 01926 334418 

WARWICK ARTS CENTRE COVENTRY 

02476 524524 


ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, 

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THE HIVE 

01905 822866 

HUNTINGDON HALL, WORCESTER 

01905 611427 

MALVERN THEATRE 

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NORBURY THEATRE, DROITWICH 

01905 770154 

PALACE THEATRE 

REDDITCH 01527 65203 

ROSE THEATRE, 

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SWAN THEATRE, 

WORCESTER 01905 611427 



Theatre WEST END 

Douglas Hodge to star as 

Willy Wonka 

Multi-award-winning actor Douglas Hodge 

has confirmed that he’s to take the lead role 

in Sam Mendes’ much-anticipated stage production 

of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. 

Hodge, who has 

extensive TV, film and 

stage credits to his 

name, will assume the 

role of Willy Wonka 

when the musical 

enjoys its world premiere 

at the Theatre 

Royal Drury Lane on 

25 June next year. 

David Hare’s play transfers to 

the West End 

Rupert Everett and Freddie Fox are to reprise 

their roles as Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred 

Douglas when Neil Armfield’s acclaimed production 

of David Hare’s The Judas Kiss 

transfers to the West End in January. The 

Judas Kiss is centred around the relationship 

between Wilde and Douglas, and concentrates 

on two critical points during Wilde’s 

final years - the eve of his arrest at the Cadogan 

Hotel and a night 

in Naples after his 

release from two years 

imprisonment. The 

Judas Kiss shows at 

the Duke of York’s Theatre 

from 17 January 

to 6 April. 

WEST END LISTINGS: 

MUSICALS 

AMERICAN IDIOT Hammersmith 

Apollo Theatre, 

3 - 16 Dec 2012 

BILLY ELLIOT – THE MUSI- 

CAL Victoria Palace 

Theatre, booking until 

21 Dec 2013 

BLOOD BROTHERS 

Phoenix Theatre booking 

until 10 Nov 2012 

BODYGUARD Adelphi 

Theatre 6 Nov 2012 - 

27 Apr 2013 

CABARET Savoy Theatre 

booking until 19 Jan 

2013 

JERSEY BOYS Prince 

Edward Theatre, booking 

until 17 Feb 2013 

KISS ME KATE Old Vic 

Theatre, 20 Nov 2012 - 

2 Mar 2013 

LES MISÉRABLES 

Queen's Theatre booking 

until 26 Oct 2013 

LET IT BE Prince Of 

Wales Theatre, booking 

until 19 Jan 2013 

LION KING Lyceum Theatre, 

booking until 14 

Apr 2013 

LOSERVILLE Garrick Theatre, 


Mar 2013 

MAMMA MIA! Novello 


13 Apr 2013 

MATILDA THE MUSICAL 

Cambridge Theatre, 

booking until 22 Dec 

2013 

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 

Her Majesty's Theatre, 

booking until 26 Oct 

2013 

ROCK OF AGES Shaftesbury 

Theatre, booking 


ROOM ON THE BROOM 

Lyric Theatre, 21 Nov 

2012 - 13 Jan 2013 

SCROOGE THE MUSICAL 

London Palladium Theatre, 


Jan 2013 

SHREK THE MUSICAL 

Drury Lane, Theatre 

Royal, booking until 24 

Feb 2013 

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN 

PalaceTheatre, booking 

until 31 Aug 2013 

STOMP Ambassadors 


22 Dec 2013 

THRILLER LIVE Lyric Theatre, 


Mar 2013 

TOP HAT Aldwych Theatre, 


Apr 2013 

VIVA FOREVER! Piccadilly 


1 June 2013 

WE WILL ROCK YOU 

Dominion Theatre, 

booking until 23 Mar 

2013 

Alistair McGowan to star in anniversary production of Our House 

Casting for a celebratory performance of Tim 

Firth’s Olivier Award-winning musical Our 

House is now complete, with impressionist 

and actor Alistair McGowan confirmed to join 

the production as Mr Pressman. The one-off 

tenth anniversary show at the Savoy Theatre 

on 11 November also features some of the 

WICKED Apollo Victoria 


27 Apr 2013 

DRAMA 

BERENICE Donmar 

Warehouse, booking 

until 24 Nov 2012 

CHANGELING Young Vic 


15 Dec 2012 

CHARIOTS OF FIRE 

Gielgud Theatre, booking 


CONSTELLATIONS 

Duke Of York Theatre, 9 

Nov 2012 - 5 Jan 2013 

DAMNED BY DESPAIR 

Olivier National Theatre, 

booking until 17 Dec 

2012 

GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM 

Phoenix Theatre, 22 

Nov 2012 - 26 Jan 

2013 

HEDDA GABLER Old Vic 


10 Nov 2012 

MOUSETRAP St Martins 


21 Dec 2013 

OUR BOYS Duchess 


15 Dec 2013 

SCENES FROM AN EXECU- 

TION Lyttelton National 

Theatre, booking until 9 

Dec 2012 

original West End cast members, including 

EastEnders actress Tameka Empson, who’ll 

reprise her role as Billy. Chris Carswell stars 

as Joe Casey, Madness frontman Suggs 

plays Joe’s dad, Miria Parvin appears as 

Sarah and Wendi Peters takes on the role of 

Joe’s mum Kath. 

WAR HORSE New Lon 

don Theatre, booking 

until 26 Oct 2013 

WOMAN IN BLACK Fortune 

Theatre, booking 

until 14 Dec 2013 

COMEDY 

39 STEPS Criterion Theatre, 


Mar 2013 

BOY WITH TAPE ON HIS 

FACE Duchess Theatre, 

17 dec 2012 - 5 Jan 

2013 

CHORUS OF DISAP- 

PROVAL Harold Pinter 

Theatre, booking until 5 

Jan 2013 

MAGISTRATE Olivier 

National Theatre, 14 

Nov 2012 - 22 Jan 2013 

MIDSUMMER NIGHTS 

DREAM Noel Coward 

Theatre, 7 Sept 2013 - 

16 Nov 2013 

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS 

Haymarket Theatre 

Royal, booking until 31 

Aug 2013 

PRIVATES ON PARADE 

Noel Coward Theatre, 1 

Dec 2012 - 2 Mar 2013 

TWELFTH NIGHT Apollo 

Theatre, 2 Nov 2012 - 3 

Feb 2013 

YES, PRIME MINISTER 

Trafalgar Studios, booking 

until- 12 Jan 2013 

Loserville - Garrick Theatre 


Sonia Sabri 

Brummie through and through... 

“London is so cut-throat 

whereas in Birmingham 

artists support each other. I 

make a point of giving work 

to musicians and dancers 

based in Birmingham. We’re 

very much home grown... 

”

For those not in the know, how would you 

describe Kathak dance? 

It’s a dance style from the northern part of 

the Indian subcontinent. Kathak literally 

means a storyteller. So primarily, when it first 

began as an art form, people used to 

portray stories through mime, song, lyrics 

and what we nowadays know as rapping 

and beatboxing. The latter has actually 

existed in Kathak song from the time of its 

creation. There’s also the technical part of 

Kathak, which we refer to as pure dance - a 

real demonstration of rhythms and body 

movements. It’s quite a skilled and very 

technical subject within the Kathak form. 

There’s also a lot of footwork and interaction 

with tabla, which is the main percussion 

instrument. It’s one of those all-round art 

forms where you can communicate through 

expression. It’s also very dramatic. It has 

links with flamenco; what we know as 

flamenco today is actually a combination of 

what used to be the native Spanish dance 

and Kathak. The Kathak gypsies travelled 

across to Europe and arrived in Southern 

Spain - in Andalucia - where they generated 

an ongoing collaboration, the result of which 

is what’s today known as flamenco. 

This year marks the company’s tenth 

anniversary. How are you planning to 

celebrate? 

We’re doing a short national tour, which 

premieres our new show Kaavish at 

Capstone Theatre in Liverpool then comes 

to mac in Birmingham on 24 November. The 

mac, I would say, is very much my second 

home, because I started my training there 

when I was eight and now I teach there. I’m 

a Company Associate Artist there as well. In 

Liverpool, one of our key commissioners 

Milapfest has commissioned the celebratory 

programme, so it’s apt that we should 

perform it there first. The mac is also 

generously supporting us, providing a lot of 

space and technical facilities and hosting an 

exhibition which will be supplementary to 

the performance. After November, we 

perform in India, and then return to tour a 

further five or seven dates, culminating in a 

performance at London’s Royal Festival Hall. 

After that, we’ll go into creating our new 

show. 

Has work already begun on that? 

We’ll be doing some research and 

development work between our mac show 

and when we leave for India. There’ll also be 

a two-week R&B with some dancers. 

You mentioned starting your dance 

training at the age of eight. Do you come 

from a dance background? 

No, not at all. I think my love of dance came 

about as a result of the aspirations of my 

parents - particulary my dad, who always 

wanted to be a Bollywood actor. He ran 

away from home and ended up in Mumbai, 

but didn’t get anywhere with it. He 

eventually ended up in England, got married 

and had two kids. I was the first born, and I 

guess he put all his energies into trying to 

turn me into a Bollywood actress. So I went 

to the Birmingham School of Speech and 

Drama for about ten years from the age of 

seven, and also became involved in 

dancing. It was quite by accident that I got 

into Kathak. I was first enrolled at mac for a 

South Indian dance classical style, which 

my dad didn’t really know much about. We 

arrived earlier than scheduled and there was 

a Kathak class already taking place, so he 

thought I might as well jump into that one. I 

haven’t looked back. Over the years, my 

dad’s dream of me going to Bollywood 

subsided, because dance is a very 

disciplined form - particularly Kathak, which 

is a very grounded art form. It really sorts 

you out if you’re an un-sorted person, and it 

gives you a real focus in life. Bollywood may 

be fun and glamourous by comparison, but 

it’s not a world in which one would 

necessarily say they could feel safe and 

happy. 

Do you see dance as a useful tool in 

breaking down social and cultural 

barriers? 

It’s really another language, one that’s 

beyond the barriers of words. I think we 

can use the medium of dance to explore 

any topic, be it romantic, tragic or social. 

It’s really an amplification of what we feel 

and what we’re sometimes afraid to say. 

We perform to a very mixed audience - 

including people from orthodox 

communities who sometimes believe that 

dance and music aren’t things we should 

be celebrating, but who nonetheless turn 

up and take away something quite 

meaningful. At the other end of the 

spectrum, we perform to people who are 

avant-garde - cutting-edge audiences 

who’re amused by what we have to say 

through our music and our dance. So yes, I 

think we have to drop the labels and look 

at Kathak for what it is. It’s as 

contemporary as any Western dance 

aesthetic. It’s a timeless art form which will 

continue to evolve. It enables us to express 

ourselves - and as humans, we need an 

outlet for doing that. 

Have you seen audience attitudes towards 

dance change over the past ten years? 

Absolutely! When I first decided that I 

wanted to start a company, people imagined 

that we would perform traditional Kathak 

dance - there’s a particular format that one 

performs - but from the outset we decided to 

do something more challenging. In the first 

year we produced a digital project which 

brought together live music, live dance and 

live digital interactivity on stage. That 

completely challenged people’s perceptions 

of what Kathak was, what Kathak could 

become, and what the Sonia Sabri Company 

could do. From that time on, we’ve always 

tried to create something which is 

groundbreaking and pioneering. I feel proud 

to say that we’ve presented something that’s 

very new and very different. And although 

people have said that it’s controversial, 

traditions - particulary the South Asia 

interview... 

This year celebrating its tenth anniversary, Birmingham-based Sonia Sabri Company has earned 

itself an international reputation for its performances of the South Asian art form Kathak. What’s 

On recently caught up with artistic director Sonia to talk about the company - and why her 

Birmingham roots are such an important element of her success. 

traditions - have mirrored what we’ve done. 

We’ve been at the forefront of creating new 

ideas, and that’s what we intend to continue 

doing for the next ten years. 

And are your current objectives the same 

as those you had when you started? 

They’re bigger! The ethos of the company is 

to challenge and broaden people’s 

perspectives of what Kathak is, and we’re 

always looking at ways of delivering not only 

the dance vocabulary but also the 

philosophy of Kathak. We’re always looking 

for a narrative in which to convey a story. 

What we do is look at ways of conveying that 

narrative either on a solo basis or by working 

as part of a collaboration with another dance 

form or another artist. When we talk about 

collaboration, it’s about having a dialogue on 

and off stage. So we’re not forcing anything 

to happen, such as ‘you follow my 

technique’, or ‘I’ll follow your technique’. It’s 

about how techniques come together. Out 

most recent project, Kathakbox, toured 

internationally for two years, and we brought 

contemporary and African dance to that. We 

found that, although we’re very different in 

the way we use our vocabulary, there’s a 

common thread in how we engage with the 

audience. For example, a lot of people aren’t 

aware that rap and beatbox derived from 

Indian traditions. They think it’s something 

very current and something that America 

invented. Beatbox is a major context of 

Kathak, so when we showcase that with 

Kathakbox, people are really amazed. The 

parallels between hip-hop dance and Kathak 

are common, it’s just that people aren’t 

aware of them, so part of our job is to reeducate, 

re-inform and surprise our 

audiences. 

Do you always look to strike a balance 

between the more traditional and the 

urban elements of your performances? 

When we talk about tradition, it’s not about 

reinventing old repertoires, it’s about a 

particular classical format; a particular style 

which you perform. The repertoire can be as 

‘here and now’ as you like. It can be about 

the Conservative Party and its agenda if you 

want it to be, but it’s done through a classic 

format of Kathak. Urban, I would say, is 

much more a reflection of the movement 

vocabulary I’ve developed by working with a 

lot of younger dancers who’re influenced by 

street dance and hip-hop. It’s quite a broad 

subject in itself. Our audiences for both 

strands are growing. 

How does the understanding and 

interpretation of dance differ between the 

UK and India? 

I think India is slowly accepting the 

contemporising of traditional art forms - 

although it’s looking through a very different 

lens when it does that, because people in 

India are still very much grounded in their 

spiritual and cultural roots. To present anything 

which is a really challenging art form is seen 

as taking a risk. As an art form it can do more 

than tell stories about gods, goddesses and

love. It’s a language through which you can 

say and explore anything. Some of the dance 

styles in India are related to festivals, particular 

religious ceremonies and different parts of the 

religious calendar, and it’s sometimes difficult 

to move away from that. That said, it’s 

becoming more progressive, and people like 

ourselves are working with organisations there 

to produce more hybrid-based choreographic 

workshops and masterclasses. I was born 

here, I trained here, and so my understanding 

of body alignment is subconsciously informed 

by other dance forms that I’m watching and 

absorbing here in the UK. This means that my 

cultural landscape and my dance landscape is 

very different, because I’m accessing 

contemporary, African and flamenco dance. In 

India, all you see is Indian dance. The 

reference points are therefore very different 

over there. 

Do you adapt your performances when in 

India? 

No, I don’t change. I would just choose things 

deliberately not from the repertoire - for 

example, a political piece that has nothing to 

do with India. I’d also concentrate on Kathak’s 

more Islamic influences, which don’t get 

celebrated enough. 

Would you ever choose Indian subject 

matter and use it as a reference point? 

I have done, certainly. It always seems new to 

them, because my way of moving and the 

shapes that I devise are very different to those 

of a Kathak dancer who lives in India. 

What’s your starting-point when devising a 

new piece? 

I would say that music is a very big stimulus. It 

can be anything; rock, jazz, Purcell - anything. 

I could also be influenced by something I’ve 

heard on the news, or by a walk in the park. 

Inspiration can come from anywhere. 

What inspires you to take something to the 

next stage? 

When I start to get goose pimples with a 

particular piece of music, or when something 

evokes a particularly strong image in my mind. 

It’s a very strong internal feeling that I get. 

That’s when I begin to play in the studio. Then, 

through listening and moving, things begin to 

happen. Over time, when you begin to 

improvise and play, you create phases and 

dance segments. That’s when the music no 

longer plays a major part in the delivery, 

because you’ve found something else to hang 

on to. The music eventually will stop being 

part of it. It’s just a stimulus to feed an idea. I 

then work with Sarvar Sabri, who’s our Musical 

Director, and explain the kind of sounds I’m 

hearing. Or he may have seen what I’ve 

created and have some tune in his head, and 

a piece develops from there. 

Do you give yourself a timescale? 

I don’t think it’s as black and white as that. I 

usually have an idea early on whether 

something’s going to work, and if it doesn’t, 

then I lay it to rest. Obviously, if I’m working on 

a commissioned piece, I have to make sure 

that I have something I can create. It has to be 

something that interests me. If I’m generally 

excited about it, then I know I can make it 

work. 

Is there a fellow artist who’s proved to be a 

big inspiration to you over the years? 

There are a lot of people, actually. I think 

Richard Alston is someone who’s been a huge 

inspiration, because his relationship with 

dance and music is very similar to mine. He’s 

also mentored one of our research projects, 

offered his pearls of wisdom and given us, as 

a company, some great feedback. Richard 

loved Kathakbox and invited us to perform at 

The Place in London as part of their fortieth 

anniversary programme. It was there that he 

announced to the whole auditorium that he 

was ‘a real fan of Sonia Sabri’... Shobana 

Jeyasingh is another choreographer who I 

really admire. She’s very interesting, because 

she asks similar questions about her style of 

dance to those that I ask, like ‘why can’t it be 

classical and contemporary at the same 

time?’. She’s also created some very stunning 

pieces of work which take her art form to a 

completely different dimension. 

How do you balance your time between the 

educational side of the company and 

performing? 

We’re now beginning to delegate more work. I 

now have dancers coming through who can 

deliver workshops and perform. It’s all about 

legacy as well. I can’t be dancing forever, and 

my work should continue when I’m not here, 

but I can only do that through dancers and 

musicians who have trained through the 

company. A lot of our company dancers are 

going out and work-shopping, which frees me 

up to do what I should be doing - the work 

which needs more time; the choreography, the 

performing and the creating of works for the 

company. 

What does it mean to you as a company to 

have finally secured funding from the Arts 

Council? 

It’s a wonderful feeling. We’ve been knocking 

on their door for the past nine years. I’ve 

always believed that the company has 

delivered new work and groundbreaking 

pieces within South Asian dance which really 

ticks all their boxes. But no doubt the Arts 

Council has had its own agenda, and I 

suppose they only have a certain amount of 

money to allocate at any given time. But I can 

now understand why they’ve given it to me, as 

they probably think they’ve had enough of me 

saying the same thing over and over again. 

And we do an awful lot of international work. 

There’s no other dance group in the Midlands 

that does as much international touring. I don’t 

like to blow my own trumpet but there aren’t a 

lot of small-scale companies who do forty 

shows in a tour, so we’re in a very privileged 

position. However, I wish that they’d 

recognised us earlier on, because we could 

have done something really, really fantastic. 

How will the funding be spent? 

It’s not a great amount but it will enable us to 

sort ourselves in terms of space. It allows us 

to recruit a couple of part-time staff, but 

that’s about it. 

How much of your success do you 

attribute to your Birmingham roots? 

An awful lot of it. I’m a Brummie-trained 

dancer, because my teacher was from here, 

and mac has been there all along, offering 

support. Also, I met my husband Sabri here - 

he’s the Musical Director - and if it wasn’t for 

the one hundred-and-ten percent effort that 

he gives to the company, we wouldn’t have a 

company. If the two of us hadn’t put in so 

much personal time and investment, we 

wouldn’t have lasted for even two years. The 

amount of times we’ve been up at 2am 

sticking labels on flyers... I consider myself 

really fortunate to be in Birmingham. I’ve 

been given numerous invitations to move to 

London - because that’s where it all happens 

- but I’ve always turned them down. I’ve 

seen the people who’ve gone there and 

they’re really struggling. London is so cutthroat; 

in Birmingham, artists support each 

other. I also make a point of giving work to 

musicians and dancers based in 

Birmingham. We’re very much homegrown... 

Sonia Sabri Dance Company appear at mac 

Arts Centre, Birmingham, from Fri 23 & Sat 

24 November.

Theatre REVIEWS 

Here are a few of the theatre 

productions we reviewed from last 

month. For further theatre reviews, visit, 


The Hairy Bikers 


Birmingham 

The Hairy Bikers took to 

the stage at the New 

Alexandra Theatre last 

month with their Larger Than Live Tour. Having 

watched and enjoyed many of their television 

shows, I wondered how their seemingly natural, 

easy banter would work in a theatre 

environment, what delicious culinary delights 

they would conjure up, and how they would 

otherwise fill the promised two hours and ten 

minutes in front of a live audience. 

After a grand entrance - though, 

disappointingly, not by motorcycle - the first 

course began, the guys introducing video clips 

of their ‘best bits’. I began to worry about what 

the evening might hold, and whether their easy 

way with each other was actually just a front. 

But the bikers love to engage with the audience 

- and when they did, their relaxed repartee was 

much in evidence. People were invited to join 

them on stage, either to be cooked for or to 

become contestants, as Si and Dave became 

gameshow hosts. Overall, the show didn’t really 

seem to know what it was supposed to be, and 

mostly I felt awkward for the Hairy Bikers. I 

didn’t go back for the second course. 

Ted Finlay ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Cirque du Soleil - Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour 

London’s O2 Arena 

With hoards of fans dressed in their finest MJ attire, this was clearly a night for lifelong 

Michael Jackson admirers. 

Flashing images of Michael showed him at the start of his career with the Jackson 5, his 

extraordinary talent and star quality already much in evidence. Coupled with displays of 

on-stage contortion and magic, the images made for sensory overload. 

Smooth Criminal kicked off the discography, the song accompanied by high-energy 

dancers strutting their stuff in sharp suits and shiny boots. The first half of the evening was 

rounded off with a live interpretation of the seminal Thriller, which almost raised the roof. 

Part two kicked off with Beat It, while Heal The World and Earth Song reminded the 

audience of MJ’s messages of peace, love and unity. His Scream duet with sister Janet 

followed. 

A visual delight, the troupe stunned the audience with their synchronicity, aerial acrobatics, 

animal impersonations and a light fantastic firework display. The show ended with Man In 

The Mirror, accompanied by an announcement about Jackson’s death. The report was a 

reminder to the audience of the significance of the O2, the venue where his comeback 

tour had been scheduled to begin in July 2009. Jackson died on 25 June. 

Without question, this show is the next best thing to seeing Michael Jackson in concert. 

Alev Dervish ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 


BOOK YOUR TICKETS 

ONLINE 



for Birmingham and the West Midlands

Dance 

Batsheva Ensemble Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 13 - Wed 14 November 

Tel Aviv-based Batsheva Ensemble this month make their way to the Midlands as part of an extensive UK debut tour. The Ensemble is the junior 

branch of Israel’s world-renowned contemporary dance group Batsheva Dance - a company consisting of more than three hundred international 

dancers recruited from some of the world’s most prestigious dance schools. Led by artistic director Ohad Naharin, the Ensemble here 

perform Deca Dance - a production which brings together memorable segments from the choreographer’s past twenty years. Performed to an 

eclectic mix of music - from Vivaldi to Dean Martin and The Beach Boys - this much-produced and critically acclaimed piece is constantly 

updated to ensure each performance is given a fresh look. 

The Lock In 

Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon 12 November; Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 

South Shropshire, Fri 16 November; Lichfield Garrick, 


Fusing two worlds at different ends of the spectrum, The Lock In 

sees some of the UK’s oldest dance forms brought ‘bang up to 

date’. The brainchild of award-winning folk band The Demon 

Barbers, this cross-genre performance commences with a group of 

street dancers arriving at an apparently deserted pub. 

Soon, the more traditional regulars 

arrive, and the ultimate in 

dance stand-offs 

ensues. Expect 

sword dances performed 

with 

snooker 

cues, pub 

bouncers 

dancing the 

Morris and 

B-boys flirting 

with 

clog girls... 


Rambert Dance 

Company 

Regent Theatre, Hanley, 

Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 14 - 


Maintaining their status as 

one of Britain’s finest and 

most popular dance companies, 

Rambert Dance this 

month head back to the 

Midlands with their latest 

creation. Labyrinth Of Love 

sees Irish choreographer 

Marguerite Donlon make 

her debut with the company, 

showcasing a powerful 

and often humorous exploration 

of the ups and downs 

of love, a piece which features 

movements inspired 

by poems and prose spanning 

more than two thousand 

years.

Sonia Sabri Dance Company 

mac, Birmingham, Fri 23 - Sat 24 November 

Midlands-based Sonia Sabri Company 

blends elements of British and Indian culture 

in performances which fuse music, movement 

and words to great effect. This year 

sees the company mark its tenth anniversary 

with a new production entitled Kaavish, 

which traces Sonia’s artistic journey. 

Featuring live performance, archive footage 

and narrative, Kaavish sees Indian classical 

dancer and choreographer Ash Mukherjee 

perform as guest artist, while a live Indian 

rock music arrangement is provided by 

Sonia’s husband Sarvar Sabri. Audiences 

will also be treated to three live excerpts of 

past productions, comprising Shobana 

Jeyasingh’s Neon Dream, Drishti and Nisbet. 

Read our interview with Sonia at 


Vincent Dance Theatre: 

Motherland 

The Patrick Centre, Birmingham 

Hippodrome, Thurs 1 - Fri 2 November; 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 20 - 


Since its formation in 1994, Vincent Dance 

Theatre has earned itself a national and 

international reputation for providing engaging 

dance theatre which broaches an array 

of thought-provoking subject matter, in particular 

gender politics. In Motherland, the 

ensemble of eleven men, women and children 

blend dance, text and live music to take 

a look at the gender they were born into and 

the price they are paying for it. 

Dance LISTINGS 

For full listing information on dance, 



COPPELIA Vienna 

Festival Ballet present 

the much-acclaimed 

comic ballet set to 

Delibes beautiful score, 

Thurs 1 Nov, Bedworth 

Civic Hall 

MOTHERLAND Vincent 

Dance Theatre present 

an ensemble of eleven 

men, women and children 

in a fusion of 

dance, text and live 

music that explores 

gender and hypocrisies 

in modern society, 

Thurs 1 - Fri 2 Nov, The 

Patrick Centre, 

Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

PACO PENA - QUIMERAS 

A fusion of Spanish 

and African music and 

dance which celebrates 

immigration and shared 

cultures, Fri 2 Nov, 


Coventry 

INFUSION CONTEMPO- 

RARY DANCE WEEKENDER 

An energetic fusion of 

dance forms which 

takes Vanley Burke’s 

exhibition as an inspiration, 

looking at dance 

steeped in mythical history 

and giving it a contemporary 

twist, Sat 3 - 

Sun 4 Nov, mac, 

Birmingham 

WENDY HOUSTOUN'S 50 

ACTS Wendy Houston 

presents a spirited 

retaliation against 

ageism and other modern 

rubbish involving 

manifestos, songs, 

apologies and errors... 

Thurs 8 - Fri 9 Nov, 


Coventry 

ARTHUR PITA: GOD’S 

GARDEN Based on the 

parable of The Prodigal 

Son, Arthur Pita’s production 

fuses dance 

with live fado music to 

bring to life the intensity 

and drama of rustic 

village life, Thurs 8 - Fri 

9 Nov, Patrick Centre, 

Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

THE LOCK IN Some of 

the UK’s oldest forms 

of dance are brought 

bang up to date as 

they collide with some 

of the youngest in an 

exciting new dance 

show, Mon 12 Nov, 


DECA DANCE Presented 

by Israeli contemporary 

dance ensemble 

Batsheva Dance, Tue 

13 - Wed 14 Nov, 

Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

RAMBERT DANCE 

COMPANY: LABYRINTH OF 

LOVE TOUR Triple-bill of 

works featuring 

Marguerite Donlon's 

Labyrinth Of Love, 

Nijiinsky's L'Apres-midi 

d'un faune & Mark 

Baldwin's What Wild 

Ecstasy, Wed 14 - 

Thurs 15 Nov, Regent 

Theatre, Hanley, Stokeon-Trent 

THE NUTCRACKER 

Presented by Moscow 

Ballet La Classique, 



Coventry 

ESSENCE OF IRELAND 

Exploration of Irish 

myths through narration, 

Irish music & 

dancing, Sat 17 Nov, 

New Alexandra 


THE LOCK IN Some of 

the UK’s oldest forms 

of dance are brought 

bang up to date as 

they collide with some 

of the youngest in an 

exciting new dance 

show, Sat 17 Nov, 

Lichfield Guildhall 

URBAN TARAB Open 

stage night presented 

by Pedralta World 

Fusion Belly Dance, 

Sat 17 Nov, Old Joint 

Stock Theatre, 

Birmingham 

NATIONAL DANCE 

COMPANY WALES Triple 

bill of international 

work, Mon 19 Nov, 


Shrewsbury 

COPPELIA Vienna 

Festival Ballet present 

the much-acclaimed 

comic ballet set to 

Delibes beautiful score, 

Tue 20 Nov, Lichfield 

Garrick 

MOTHERLAND Tues 20 - 

Wed 21 Wed, Warwick 


THE NUTCRACKER The 

Vienna Festival Ballet 

present Tchaikovsky's 

world famous classical 

ballet, Wed 21 - Thu 22 


CINDERELLA 

Birmingham Royal 

Ballet present one of 

David Bintley’s most 

celebrated creations to 

date, Wed 21 Nov - 

Sun 8 Dec, 

Birmingham 

Hippodrome 

SONIA SABRI DANCE 

COMPANY Celebratory 

double-bill tracing 

Sonia Sabri’s artistic 

journey, Fri 23 - Sat 24 

Nov, mac, Birmingham 

TANGO PASION Fusion of 

traditional and modern 

dance styles together 

with live music, Sun 25 

Nov, Regent Theatre, 


THERE IS HOPE Rosie 

Kay Dance Theatre 

present a brand new, 

hard-hitting contemporary 

dance work which 

takes a look at modern 

morality, physicality 

and the presence of 

spirituality in our lives, 

Tue 27 Nov, Arena 

Theatre, W’hampton 

Dance 

Box Office 

NEW ALEXANDRA 

THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM 

0844 871 3011 

ARTRIX ARTS CENTRE, 

BROMSGROVE 

01527 577330 

ARENA THEATRE 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

01902 321321 


024 7637 6707 

BIRMINGHAM 

HIPPODROME 

0844 338 5000 

CRESCENT THEATRE, 

BIRMINGHAM 

0121 643 5858 

THE DRUM, BIRMINGHAM 

0121 333 2444 

GRAND THEATRE 

WOLVERHAMPTON, 

01902 429212 


01543 412121 

MAC, BIRMINGHAM 

0121 446 3232 


0121 704 6962 


THEATRE 

01785 254 653 

THE ROSES THEATRE, 

TEWKSBURY 

01684 295 074 


SHREWSBURY 

01743 281281 

WARWICK ARTS CENTRE, 

COVENTRY 

02476 524524 


BOOK 

YOUR TICKETS 

ONLINE 



for Birmingham and the West Midlands 


THE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUID 

www.whatsonlive.co.uk £1.80 ISSUE 319 JULY 2012 



Queen of Reinvention in the Midlands... 

DIRTY 

DANCING 

HIT MUSICAL IN TOW 

Wha 

MAGAZ 

INS 

Rhys Dar 

Kiwi comedia 

tour in the re 

interview in 

Patri 

Hod 

having suc 

with Miran 

interview in 

HE MIDLANDS ESSENTIAL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE 

www.whatsonlive.co.uk £1.80 ISSUE 317 MAY 2012 

Chris and the boys come to the Midlands... 

ISY SUTTIE 

DOBBY IN THE MIDLANDS 

INTERVIEW INSIDE... 

INSIDE 

Elaine C Smith 

portrays Susan Boyle 


Ali Bastian 





MAGAZINE GROUP

Film TO 

From 

FRI 16 

NOV 

WATCH THE LATEST MOVIE TRAILERS, VISIT: www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 CERT 12a 

Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Michael Sheen, 

Dakota Fanning Directed by Bill Condon (USA) 

The wait has been unbearable (at least, for Twitards). But now you can witness the conclusion to the phenomenally 

popular film series based on the phenomenally popular novels by Stephenie Meyer. It won’t be 

giving too much away to remind one that Bella Swan is now a vampire and that she and R-Patz (er, 

Edward Cullen) have sired a baby, Renesmee. In the fifth and final film, young Renesmee is wrongly identified 

as an ‘immortal child’ and all hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, in real life, KStew and R-Patz are back 

together again (at least, at the time of going to press). 

From 

FRI 16 

NOV 

The Master 

CERT 15 (144 mins) 

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour 

Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Ambyr 

Childers 

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (USA) 

A new film from writer-director Paul Thomas 

Anderson is now an event. Think Boogie 

Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love and 

There Will Be Blood and you get the drift. 

He’s already been nominated for an Oscar 

three times for his screenplays, and the 

smart money is on him winning next year. 

Joaquin Phoenix, who was last seen on 

screen playing a bloated version of himself 

in the pseudo-documentary I’m Still Here, 

plays a World War Two veteran, Freddie 

Quell. Unable to cope with his drunkenness 

and post-traumatic stress disorder, Quell 

finds salvation in a philosophical movement 

known as The Cause, run by one Lancaster 

Dodd (Hoffman). Any intentional comparisons 

to the Scientology movement have 

been hotly denied. Anyway, The Master has 

already won the FIPRESCI Prize for Best 

Film at this year’s Venice Film Festival. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

TOP 5 

FILM BOX OFFICE 

Skyfall (12a) 

Madagascar 3 (3D) (PG) 

Hotel Transylvania (3D) (U) 

Taken 2 (12a) 

Paranormal 

Activity 4 (15) 

Skyfall 


FilmNEW RELEASES 

Released from Fri 2 Nov 

For A Good Time Call 

CERT 18 (85 mins) 

Starring Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Seth 

Rogen, Justin Long, Mimi Rogers, Nia 

Vardalos Directed by Jamie Travis (USA) 

If you liked Bridesmaids… Women are continuing 

to show that they can be funny, sexy 

and raunchy, and this independent American 

comedy focuses on two roommates who 

dabble in the phone sex business. The 

movie was actually written for Ari Graynor 

(Caitlin Rucker in The Sopranos), who has 

made it her own, while the script was based 

on the experiences of the screenwriters 

Lauren Miller and Katie Anne Naylon. 

For A Good Time Call 


Argo CERT 15 (120 mins) 

Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan 

Arkin, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler 

Directed by Ben Affleck (USA) 

To perhaps many people’s surprise, Ben 

Affleck has emerged as one of the most 

competent directors currently working in 

Hollywood. Following his directorial forays 

with Gone Baby Gone and The Town, Affleck 

is getting more positive buzz with Argo. A 

political thriller set around the rescue of six 

American diplomats during the 1979 hostage 

crisis in Iran, the film is produced by George 

Clooney. 

From 

FRI 16 

NOV 

Mental CERT 15 (116 mins) 

Starring Liev Schreiber, Toni Collette, 

Anthony LaPaglia, Caroline Goodall, Kerry 

Fox Directed by P.J. Hogan (Australia/USA) 

Set in New South Wales, Mental is the story 

of an unhinged hitchhiker (Toni Collette) 

who arrives in the suburbs to play nanny to 

a family of dysfunctional girls. A bracing 

examination of mental illness, Mental shows 

that Australian cinema has lost none of its 

bite (or sense of humour). Hogan, incidentally, 

previously directed Muriel’s Wedding 

(with Toni Collette) and My Best Friend’s 

Wedding.

Rust And Bone CERT 15 (123 mins) 

Starring Marion Cotillard, Matthias 

Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure, Bouli Lanners 

Directed by Jacques Audiard 

(France/Belgium) 

Jacques Audiard doesn’t paint in black and 

white. He paints in vivid strokes of grey, tan 

and ecru. He also presents us with complex, 

flawed characters in narratives that seem to 

build rather than unfold. Ali (Schoenaerts) is 

a man seemingly on the run, a man probably 

on the wrong side of the law and with a 

young son in tow. Stéphanie (Cotillard) trains 

killer whales for a marine park in the environs 

of Nice. A chance encounter brings Ali and 

Stéphanie together, two souls who could not 

be less alike but are thrown in sync by circumstance. 

A powerful drama adapted from 

a short story by Craig Davidson (from his 

eponymous collection), Rust And Bone is not 

as satisfying a film as Audiard’s The Beat 

That My Heart Skipped or A Prophet, but is 

still a cinematically potent experience. Mlle 

Cotillard is wonderful, and exposed as a 

woman clawing her way back from an imaginary 

crisis, while the Belgian Schoenaerts 

certainly lives up to the physical demands of 

his role. And there are some truly memorable 

moments. 


Here Comes The Boom 

CERT 12a (103 mins) 

Starring Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Henry 

Winkler Directed by Frank Coraci (USA) 

Kevin James hasn’t had much luck with the 

critics since his breakthrough performance in 

Hitch (2005), opposite Will Smith. And his 

last movie, Zookeeper, was a lemon. Still, 

Kevin James diehards can now see him as 

an overweight biology teacher who decides 

to take up mixed martial arts to aid the 

finances of his school. 

Here Comes The Boom 

People Like Us CERT 12a (114 mins) 

Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia 

Wilde, Jon Favreau, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark 

Duplass Directed by Alex Kurtzman (USA) 

Don’t let the fact that Alex Kurtzman co-wrote 

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen and 

Cowboys & Aliens fool you. His first film as 

director is a very human drama about a silvertongued 

New York salesman called Sam 

(Pine). When Sam returns to Los Angeles for 

his father’s funeral, he discovers that the latter 

has left his fortune to somebody Sam hasn’t 

even heard of… 

Released from Wed 21 Nov 

Silver Linings Playbook CERT tbc 

Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, 

Robert De Niro, Jackie Weaver, Chris Tucker, 

Julia Stiles 

Directed by David O. Russell (USA) 

It’s that time of year. So many films opening 

around now seem to be emblazoned with 

Oscar potential. This comedy-drama (adapted 

from the 2008 novel by Matthew Quick) is 

getting major buzz for Jennifer Lawrence, 

who plays a 

young widow 

involved with a 

bipolar man 

(Cooper). Some 

say the Oscar is 

already hers. A 

comedy rooted 

in serious issues 

and real people, 

the film is another 

critical hit for 

its director, David 

O Russell (The 

Silver Linings Playbook 

Fighter). 

Gambit CERT tbc 

Starring Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan 

Rickman, Tom Courtenay, Stanley Tucci, 

Cloris Leachman Directed by Michael 

Hoffman (USA/UK) 

The good news is that the screenplay is by 

Joel and Ethan Coen. The bad that the 

Coen brothers have not always succeeded 

with remakes (cf. The Ladykillers, True 

Grit). This one is a comedy crime caper 

updated from the 1966 romp of the same 

name starring Shirley MacLaine (of 

Downton Abbey fame) and Michael Caine. 

End Of Watch CERT 15 (109 mins) 

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna 

Kendrick, America Ferrera, Cody Horn 

Directed by David Ayer (USA) 

Cop movies, especially actioners set within 

the province of the LAPD, are hardly original 

Hollywood fodder. What separates End Of 

Watch from more recent outings is that the 

principal grunts, Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and 

Mike Zavala (Peña), are actually decent guys. 

Played out as a diary of their lives (there are 

cameras everywhere), the film succeeds in 

building a convincing chemistry between the 

two officers (something sadly lacking in the 

recent Sweeney update). Furthermore, the 

edgy camerawork adds considerable suspense 

to the action sequences, many of 

which are acutely thrilling stuff. But it’s the 

edgy, profanity-streaked performances that 

ultimately distinguish this policier. 



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Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger! CERT U (105 mins) 

Starring David Tennant, Pam Ferris, Jessica Hynes, Marc Wootton, 

Joanna Page Directed by Debbie Isitt (UK) 

The trouble with improvised comedies is that you can never tell 

whether or not they will work. The first Nativity! (2009), with Martin 

Freeman, was predictable, implausible and OTT. In the sequel, 

David Tennant plays identical twin brothers teaching at rival 

schools. Then they enter their respective classes into a 'Sing a 

Song for Christmas' competition. 


Great Expectations CERT 12a (129 mins) 

From 

FRI 23 

NOV 

Starring Jeremy Irvine, Robbie Coltrane, Helena Bonham Carter, 

Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng, Holliday Grainger 

Directed by Mike Newell (UK/USA) 

Great Expectations is a whopping novel (185,258 words). Even so, filmmakers 

have repeatedly tried to grapple with its labyrinthine plot strands 

and soap operatic twists. Mike Newell, who will forever be known as the 

director of Four Weddings And A Funeral, has failed admirably with the 

material. His evocation of Dickensian London is more Dickensian than 

any before it; his casting choices are daring and largely successful. But 

he cannot escape the constraints of the plot, and in its final third the film 

unravels in a ludicrous torrent of flashbacks shot with a fish-eye lens. By 

then the pile-up of coincidences, Pip’s petulance and Ralph Fiennes’ 

Magwitch-as-Fagin, my dear, have become too much. On the plus side, 

Jason Flemyng is a wonderful Joe Gargery and John Mathieson’s cinematography 

is effectively painterly. 

The Trouble With The Curve CERT 12a (111 mins) 

Starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, Matthew 

Lillard, John Goodman Directed by Robert Lorenz (USA) 

When Clint Eastwood, aged 78, starred in Gran Torino (2008), sceptics 

presumed he was too old to make a dent at the box-office. In the 

event, the movie grossed $270 million and remains Clint’s highestgrossing 

hit to date. Now aged 82, he plays a baseball scout who 

takes his daughter (Adams) along on his final recruiting trip. 

The Trouble With The Curve 


FilmA-Z LISTINGS 

All films are currently on general release 

unless otherwise stated. For full listing 

information, including times and dates, 


360 

Anthony Hopkins, Jude 

Law, Rachel Weisz and 

Ben Law star in Peter 

Morgan’s dramatic 

thriller. Showing at Stoke 

Film Theatre, Fri 2 & Sat 3 

Nov 

5 Broken Cameras 15 

Intimate first-hand 

account of non-violent 

resistance in the 

Palestinian village Bil’in, 

threatened by encroaching 

Israeli settlements. 

Showing at Warwick Arts 

Centre, Coventry, Wed 14 

- Thurs 15 Nov; mac, 

Birmingham, Tues 27 - 


2 Days In New York 

15 

Sequel to the 

acclaimed Two Days 

In Paris. Julie Delpy 

and Chris Rock star. 

Showing at The Edge Arts 

Centre, Much Wenlock, 

South Shropshire, mon 5 


About Ely (Darbareye Elly) 

tbc 

Persian mystery story that 

offers a revealing look at 

the Iranian middle-class 

and how a simple lie can 

open up a trail of problems. 

Showing at Royal 


Spa, Sat 10 - Wed 14 Nov 

African Oasis 

Documentary about the 

Handsworth Cultural 

Centre in Birmingham, an 

oasis of cultural activities 

for the area’s black community. 

Showing at mac, 

Birmingham, Thurs 29 


Amour 12a 

Drama concerning an 

elderly couple whose 

bond of love is severely 

tested when one of the 

two suffers a stroke. 


Birmingham, Fri 30 Nov 

The Angel’s Share 12a 

Comedy-drama which 

sees acclaimed British 

director Ken Loach tackle 

Scotland’s underclass. 

Showing at Ludlow 

CINEMA Box Office 

Birmingham 

AMC Broadway Plaza, Five 

Ways 0121 450 6800 

CINEWORLD Broad St, B’ham 

0871 200 2000 

CINEWORLD Solihull 

0871 200 2000 

ELECTRIC, B’ham 

0121 643 7879 

EMPIRE 0871 471 4714 

THE GIANT SCREEN AT 

MILLENNIUM POINT 

0121 202 2222 


Assembly Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

Anna Karenina 12a 

Keira Knightley and Jude 

Law star in the latest and 

much-acclaimed adaptation 

of Tolstoy’s political 

romance. Showing at 


Coventry, Fri 9 - Mon 12 & 

Wed 14 Nov; Wem Town 

Hall, North Shropshire, 

Wed 28 - Thurs 29 Nov 

WATCH 

THE FILM 

TRAILERS AT 


Beasts Of The Southern 

Wild 12a 

Acclaimed fantasy drama 

about Hushpuppy, a fearless 

six-year-old girl, living 

with her father in ‘the 

Bathtub’, a fictitious 

southern Bayou community. 


Birmingham, Fri 16 - 

Thurs 22 Nov 

The Best Exotic Marigold 

Hotel 12a 

Judi Dench, Maggie 

Smith, Penelope Wilton & 

Celia Imrie star as a 

group of retired Brits who 

descend on a hotel in 

Udaipur, only to find that 

it’s not as they were led to 

believe. Showing at 

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 

South Shropshire, Tues 27 

& Thurs 29 Nov 

Beauty 18 

Oliver Hermanus’ drama 

tells the story of Francois 

van Heerden, a mid-forties, 

white, Afrikaansspeaking 

family man living 

in Bloemfontein. 


Birmingham, Sun 11 Nov 

LIBRARY THEATRE 

0121 303 2868 

MAC 0121 446 3232 

ODEON 0871 224 4007 

REEL Quinton 0121 421 

5316 

SHOWCASE 0871 220 1000 

VUE CINEMA Star City 08712 

240 240 

Black Country 

CINEWORLD WOLVERHAMP- 

TON 0871 200 2000 

LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CEN- 

Beloved 15 

Real-life mother and 

daughter Chiara 

Mastroianni and 

Catherine Deneuve star in 

a romantic drama which 

follows the loves and 

losses of a mother and 

daughter over a forty-year 

period. Showing at The 

Edge Arts Centre, Much 

Wenlock, South 

Shropshire, Mon 26 Nov 

Blow-Up 15 

In 1960s London, a successful 

young photographer 

on a trip to a local 

park photographs a mysterious 

beauty, but soon 

discovers something disturbing 

when he develops 

the pictures. Showing at 


Coventry, Fri 2 & Sat 3 


Call Me Kucha tbc 

Documentary following 

gay rights activist 

David Kato as the 

tries to repeal 

Uganda’s homophobic 

laws and liberate 

his fellow LGBT men 

and women, or 

‘kuchus’. Showing at 


Coventry, Thurs 22 Nov 

Cloudburst 15 

Romantic comedy road 

movie starring Olympia 

Dukakis and Brenda 

Fricker. Showing at mac, 

Birmingham, Fri 9 Nov 

Coraline 12a 

Dakota Fanning, Teri 

Hatcher, Dawn French 

and Jennifer Saunders 

lend their voices to this 

animated adventure 

based on Neil Gaiman’s 

international bestselling 

book. Showing at mac, 

Birmingham, Sat 3 Nov 

Diana Vreeland: The 

Eye Has To Travel PG 

An intimate portrait of the 

life and work of legendary 

fashion icon and 

Harpers Bazaar editor 

Diana Vreeland. Showing 

at mac, Birmingham, 

Wed 14 - Thurs 15 Nov 

The Doors: Live At The 

Hollywood Bowl ‘68 12a 

Screening of what’s 

often described as the 

best Doors performance 

ever captured on film. 

Showing at OMH, 

Shrewsbury, Mon 12 Nov 

Elena 15 

Russian drama concern- 

TRE, WOLVERHAMPTON 

01902 716055 

ODEON MERRY HILL, 

DUDLEY 0871 22 44007 

SHOWCASE, DUDLEY 

0871 220 1000 

SHOWCASE, WALSALL 

0871 220 1000 

Shropshire 

OMH SHREWSBURY 

01743 281281 

CINEWORLD, SHREWSBURY 

0871 200 2000 

MAJESTIC, BRIDGNORTH 

01746 761815 

ODEON TELFORD 

ing a dutiful housewife 

who hatches a desperate 

plan to protect her family 

after her husband suffers 

a heart attack. Showing at 

mac, Birmingham, Tues 

20 - Thurs 22 Nov 

Ginger And Rosa 12a 

Elle Fanning, Annette 

Benning and Christina 

Hendricks star in the latest 

film from critically 

acclaimed filmmaker 

Sally Potter, which 

explores the friendship 

between two inseparable 

girls in 1962 London. 


Birmingham, Fri 9 - Thurs 

15 Nov; Warwick Arts 

Centre, Coventry, Fri 16 - 

Thurs 22 Nov; OMH, 

Shrewsbury, Mon 19 - 


Goodnight Mr Tom PG 

John Thaw stars in an 

award-winning adaptation 

of Michael Morpurgo’s 

novel. Showing at 


Coventry, Sat 10 Nov 

Hit So Hard 

Documentary featuring 

footage shot by Patty 

Schemel, the acclaimed 

and openly gay drummer 

for Courtney Love’s seminal 

rock band Hole. 

Showing at Light House 

Media Centre, 

Wolverhampton, Mon 12 


Holy Motors 18 

Leos Carax’s bizarre 

metaphysical journey 

between life, love and 

death, featuring the 

extraordinary French 

actor Denis Lavant in a 

variety of roles. Kylie 

Minogue also stars. 


Shrewsbury, Tues 13 - 


Hope Springs 12a 

Romantic comedy starring 

Meryl Streep and 

Tommy Lee Jones as a 

middle-aged couple who, 

after thirty years of wedlock, 

feel the need to 

seek marriage counselling. 

Steve Carrell also 

stars. Showing at Artrix, 

Bromsgrove, Mon 5- Fri 9 

Nov; Ludlow Assembly 

Rooms, South 

Shropshire, Tues 6 - 

Thurs 8 Nov; Wem Town 


Tues 13 & Thurs 15 Nov; 

Artrix, Bromsgrove, Mon 

19 - Wed 21 Nov 

0871 224 4007 

OAKENGATES PICTURE 

HOUSE 

01952 615607 

WEM TOWN HALL 

01939 232299 

Staffordshire 

APOLLO, STAFFORD 

0871 220 6000 

CINEWORLD, BURTON- 

UPON-TRENT 0871 200 2000 

STOKE FILM THEATRE, 

01782 411188 

ODEON TAMWORTH 

0871 224 4007 

The Imposter 15 

Bart Layton’s debut feature 

centres on a young 

Frenchman who convinces 

a grieving Texan 

family that he’s their sixteen-year-old 

son, who’s 

been missing for three 

years. Showing at Stoke 

Film Theatre, Thurs 1 Nov 

The Italian Job PG 

Screening of the classic 

action-comedy starring 

Michael Caine. Showing 

at Electric Cinema, 

Birmingham, Sat 10 Nov 

Keep The Lights On 18 

What begins as a highly 

charged first encounter 

soon becomes something 

much more in Ira 

Sachs’ latest drama. 


Birmingham, Sat 10 Nov; 

Light House Media 

Centre, Wolverhampton, 


Killing Them Softly 15 

Brad Pitt and Ray Liotta 

star in a crime thriller 

based on the novel 

Cogan’s Trade by 

George V Higgins. 

Showing at Stoke Film 

Theatre, Thurs 22 Nov 

Kiss Me15 

Swedish romantic drama 

concerning Mia and Frida 

who, both in their thirties, 

meet for the first time at 

their parents’ engagement 

party. Showing at 

mac, Birmingham, Tues 

13 Nov 

The Last Man On Earth 

PG 

Post-apocalyptic 1964 

horror fantasy starring 

Vincent Price. Showing at 

mac, Birmingham, Sun 4 


Lawless 18 

John Hillcoat’s authentic, 

gritty and uncompromising 

crime drama which, 

set in America’s deep 

south in the Depression 

era, tells the tale of a 

gang of bootleggers 

whose livelihood is threatened 

by a new deputy’s 

desire to cut their profits. 

Showing at Artrix, 

Bromsgrove, Wed 14 - 

Thurs 15 Nov; Ludlow 


Shropshire, Tues 27 & 


Led Zeppelin: 

Celebration Day PG 

Experience Led 

Zeppelin’s historic 2007 

Warwickshire 

ODEON, COVENTRY 

0871 224 4007 

ODEON, NUNEATON 

0871 224 4007 

SHOWCASE, COVENTRY 

0871 220 1000 

APOLLO 4, LEAMINGTON 

SPA 01926 427 448 

ROYAL, LEAMINGTON SPA 

01926 334418 


COVENTRY 02476 524524 

concert at London’s O2 

Arena. Showing at OMH, 

Shrewsbury, Sun 4 Nov 

Les Jeux Interdits 

(Forbidden Games) 12a 

Wartime drama concerning 

a young French girl 

orphaned in a Nazi air 

attack who is befriended 

by the son of a poor 

farmer. Showing at 


Coventry, Tues 20 Nov 

Looper 15 

Emily Blunt and Bruce 

Willis star in a sci-fi actioner 

set in 2072. Showing at 

Light House Media 

Centre, Wolverhampton, 

Thurs 1 Nov; Warwick Arts 

Centre, Coventry, Fri 2 - 

Thurs 8 Nov; Stoke Film 

Theatre, Fri 16 & Sat 17 

Nov; mac, Birmingham, 

Fri 16 - Tues 20 Nov 

Monsieur Lazhar 12a 

Comedy-drama set in a 

Montreal public grade 

school. Showing at Wem 

Town Hall, North 

Shropshire, Tues 6 Nov; 

The Edge Arts Centre, 

Much Wenlock, South 


Moonrise Kingdom PG 

Bill Murray and Bruce 

Willis star in Wes 

Anderson’s latest tale of 

small-town characters 

who come together in the 

form of a search party 

convened to look for a 

pair of young lovers 

who’ve eloped in 1960s 

New England. Showing at 

Wem Town Hall, North 

Shropshire, Thurs 8 Nov 

Mythical Monsters 

Special screening featuring 

a selection of children’s 

favourite monsters, 

including The Gruffalo 

and The Gruffalo’s Child, 


Centre, Coventry, Sat 17 


The Nine To Five 

Experience18 

Join Charlie Hides (aka 

Kandi Kane Baxter) for a 

bawdy and irreverent 

screening of the camp 

classic starring Dolly 

Parton, Jane Fonda and 

Lily Tomlin. Showing at 

mac, Birmingham, Fri 16 


Now Is Good 12a 

Dakota Fanning stars as 

seventeen-year-old Tessa 

Scott in a film adaptation 

of Jenny Downham’s 



01527 577330 

MALVERN THEATRE 

0845 287 2146 

WAREHOUSE, 

KIDDERMINSTER 

01562 747773 

VUE, WORCESTER 

0871 224 0240 

Visit whatsonlive.co.uk 

for venue website 

details 

For full listing information, including times and dates, 

visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk

novel Before I Die. 

Showing at Ludlow 


Shropshire, Mon 12 - Tues 


On The Road tbc 

Adventure drama based 

on Jack Kerouac’s seminal 

pseudo-autobiography. 


Centre, Coventry, Fri 2- 

Thurs 8 Nov; Royal Spa 

Centre, Leamington Spa, 

Fri 16 - Thurs 22 Nov; 

Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 

South Shropshire, Wed 21 - 

Thurs 22 Nov; Stoke Film 

Theatre, Fri 23, Sat 24 & 

Tues 27 Nov 

Once Upon A Time In 

Anatolia 15 

Acclaimed crime drama 

that’s based on the real life 

experiences of one of its 

writers. Showing at The 

Edge Arts Centre, Much 

Wenlock, South Shropshire 

Orphee PG 

Jean Cocteau’s 1950s 

romantic fantasy. Showing 

at Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 


Pandora’s Box PG 

GW Pabst’s 1929 silent 

film follows the rise and fall 

of captivating and amoral 

young prostitute Lulu. 


Centre, Coventry, Sat 3 Nov 

Paris-Manhattan 15 

A romantic comedy centered 

on a Woody Allenobsessed 

pharmacist 

(Taglioni) and her would- 

Joyful Noise PG 

Queen Latifah and Dolly 

Parton play two dames 

who lock horns in a fight 

to win the National 

Joyful Noise 

Competition. 

Released 5 November 

Seeking A Friend For 

The End Of The World 15 

Steve Carell plays a 

morose insurance broker 

whose wife leaves 

him after the earth is 

given three weeks 

before its collision with 

an asteroid called 

Matilda. However, after 

befriending his neighbour 

Penny, played by 

Keira Knightley, he finds 

himself on a road trip 

where anything can 

happen. 


be lover (Bruel). Showing 

at Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry, Sun 18 Nov 

Parlez-moi de Vous 15 

The story of Melina, a latenight 

presenter of a radio 

programme devoted to 

emotional and sexual 

problems. Showing at 


Coventry, Mon 19 Nov 

The Perks Of Being A 

Wallflower 12a 

Emma Watson stars in 

Stephen Chbosky’s 

romantic drama which 

explores numerous contemporary 

issues. 


Shrewsbury, Fri 9 - Thurs 


Private Peaceful12a 

Maxine Peake stars in 

Michael Morpurgo’s classic 

rites-of-passage story 

concerning two brothers 

who fall for the same girl. 


Birmingham, Fri 2 - Tues 6 

Nov; Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry, Fri 9 - Mon 12 


Room 237 15 

Documentary about hidden 

meanings in Stanley 

Kubrick’s The Shining. 

Showing at Electric 

Cinema, Birmingham, Sun 

4 - Thurs 8 Nov; mac, 

Birmingham, Sun 25 - Mon 


Ruby Sparks 15 

Paul Dano (Little Miss 

Sunshine) stars as a nov- 

DVD NEW RELEASES 

Killer Joe 18 

Matthew McConaughey 

stars as the eponymous 

killer hired by a young 

drug dealer to take out 

his evil mother in order 

to collect the insurance. 


Katy Perry: Part Of Me 

PG 

Documentary featuring 

scenes from Katy Perry’s 

California Dreams world 

tour which also takes a 

trawl through her life, 

touching on her divorce 

from Russell Brand. 


Margin Call 15 

Thriller set in an investment 

bank during the 

early stages of the economic 

downturn - aka 

the Great Recession. 

The Stellar cast includes 

Kevin Spacey, Jeremy 

Irons and Demi Moore. 


elist struggling with writer’s 

block whose eponymous 

protagonist miraculously 

materialises. Showing at 

OMH, Shrewsbury, Fri 16 - 


Rust And Bone 15 

Jacques Audiard’s 

acclaimed subtitled drama 

follows a father who, put in 

charge of his young son, 

leaves Belgium to live with 

his sister and her husband 

as a family. Showing at 

Electric Cinema, 


15 Nov; mac, Birmingham, 

Fri 23 - Thurs 29 Nov 

The Sapphires PG 

Feel-good movie set in 

Australia in 1968 and 

telling the story of four 

aboriginal sisters who 

become the southern 

hemisphere’s answer to 

The Supremes. Showing 

at Warwick Arts Centre, 

Coventry, Fri 23 - Thurs 29 


Searching For 

Sugarman 12a 

A heartwarming and surprising 

documentary 

about the enigmatic 

1970s folk singer 

Rodriguez. Showing at 


Rooms, South 


Shadow Dancer 15 

Andrea Riseborough 

stars as an informant for 

M15 who spills the beans 

in order to protect her 

son. Clive Owen also 

Men In Black 3 PG 

Tommy Lee Jones 

and Will Smith star as 

government agents 

assigned to monitor 

extraterrestrials living 

undercover in New 

York. Released 5 Nov 

Friends With Kids 18 

Jennifer Westfeldt 

writes,directs and stars 

in a romantic comedy 

about two thirtysomething 

best friends who 

decide to have a baby 

together while continuing 

to date other people. 

Adam Scott, Chris 

stars. Showing at Royal, 

Leamington Spa, Fri 2 - 

Wed 7 Nov; OMH, 

Shrewsbury, Fri 2 - Thurs 


The Shining 15 

Stanley Kubrick’s classic 

1980 thriller starring Jack 

Nicholson. Showing at 


Birmingham, Thurs 8 Nov; 

mac, Birmingham, Fri 23 - 


Skyfall 12a 

Daniel Craig returns as Ian 

Fleming’s James Bond 

007 in the longest-running 

film franchise of all time. 

Showing at Malvern 

Theatre, until Thurs 8 Nov; 


Birmingham, until Thurs 15 

Nov; OMH, Shrewsbury, 

Fri 23 - Thurs 29 Nov 

Strawberry Fields15 

Frances Lea’s low-budget 

drama set in the transitory 

world of strawberry pickers 

in the Kent countryside. 


Birmingham, Mon 5 - 


The Suicide Shop (Le 

Magasin des Suicides) 15 

Quirky French animation 

which imagines a city 

where the most successful 

shop is the one that 

sells poisons and ropes 

to help you end your life. 


Centre, Coventry, Sat 17 


O’Dowd and Megan Fox 

also star. 


Friends With Kids 

Arthur Christmas U 

Billy Nighy, Imelda 

Staunton, Hugh Lawrie 

and James McAvoy 

lend their voices to this 

acclaimed animated 

Take This Waltz 15 

Michelle Williams and 

Seth Rogan star in 

Sarah Polley’s romantic 

comedy, which questions 

how long-term 

relationships affect love, 

sex and the way we look 

at ourselves. Showing at 


Rooms, South 

Shropshire, Mon 19 - 

Tues 20 Nov 

To Rome With Love 12a 

An all-star cast come 

together in this Woody 

Allen comedy, which follows 

the intertwining 

romances, adventures 

and predicaments of visitors 

to, and residents of, 

Rome. Showing at 


Birmingham, Mon 19 

Nov; Ludlow Assembly 

Rooms, South 

Shropshire, Sat 24 & 

Mon 26 Nov 

Une Vie Meilleure 15 

A touching film that 

explores the basic desire 

to improve your circumstances 

amidst the current 

financial turmoil. 


Centre, Coventry, Fri 16 


Untouchable 15 

French biographical 

drama concerning a 

paraplegic aristocrat 

who takes on a young 

black man from ‘the projects’ 

as his careworker. 


family film from 

Aardman Animations 

that follows the misadventures 

of Father 

Christmas’s son, Arthur. 


The Lorax U 

Animated adventure 

with a strong environmental 

message, based 

on the children's book 

by Dr Seuss and featuring 

the voice talents of 

Zac Efron and Taylor 

Swift. 


Ted 15 

Ted is the constant companion 

of John (Mark 


8 Nov; Stoke Film 

Theatre, Tues 13 & Thurs 

15 Nov; Light House 

Media Centre, 

W’hampton, Fri 16 - 


Vito 

Documentary which 

explores the story of Vito 

Russo, founding father of 

the gay liberation movement 

and author of The 

Celluloid Closet. Showing 

at mac, Birmingham, Sun 


Walkabout 12a 

Adventure drama set in 

the Australian outback. 


Centre, Coventry, Fri 2 & 


We Are Poets PG 

An uplifting and inspiring 

documentary follows a 

group of young performance 

poets from Leeds, 

chosen to represent the 

UK in the annual poetry 

slam competition. 

Showing at Wem Town 



What Are They Telling 

Us It’s Illegal For? 

Young People from 

Telford New Town examine 

the statement that 

‘home taping is illegal’ 

and speak to the BPI, 

Island Records, and Paul 

Weller of the Style 

Council. Showing at mac, 

Birmingham, Thurs 29 


Wahlberg), who finds 

his relationship with his 

girlfriend threatened 

when she objects to 

Ted’s obnoxious and 

crude behaviour. 


Ted 


Visual Arts 

Beat Streuli: New Street 

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, 

Wed 21 November - Sun 3 February 

Close-up images of people, often captured 

unawares as they make their way along city 

streets, are the stock-in-trade of highly rated Swiss 

artist Beat Streuli. This latest exhibition of his work 

blends photography, video and digital projections 

to present a celebration of an artist whose creations 

have offered a thought-provoking reflection 

on modern life and times. Huge images from 

Streuli’s extensive archive, capturing human 

moments in cities such as Sydney, Brussels, New 

York, São Paulo, Guangzhou and Cape Town, 

wallpaper Ikon’s first floor, and are complemented 

by a slide and video installation featuring thousands 

of snapshots taken in Castellón (Spain) and 

Birmingham during summer 2012. 

Beat Strueli - Birmingham 

Fiona Rae: Maybe You Can Live On 

The Moon In The Next Century 

New Art Gallery, Walsall, until Sun 30 December 

Drawing inspiration from a wide range of sources 

and artists, former Goldsmiths Art College pupil 

Fiona Rae first came to prominence in 1988 when 

she featured in Damien Hirst’s group show 

Freeze. This saw Rae’s international reputation 

develop at high speed, resulting in a nomination 

for Tate’s Turner Prize in 1991. Having since been 

exhibited widely in museums and galleries, Rae’s 

work continues to be held in high regard, and features 

in many private and public collections 

throughout the world. This particular exhibition 

brings together paintings created between 2000 

and 2011, a period which saw Rae introduce dramatic 

changes to her artistic practice. 

Revealed: Government Art Collection 

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Fri 16 November - Sun 24 February 

Works by LS Lowry, Bridget Riley, Grayson Perry, Martin Creed and Andy Warhol all feature 

in this latest major exhibition to grace the Gas Hall at Birmingham Museum and Art 

Gallery. For the very first time, more than two hundred works of art - ranging from historical 

to contemporary - are being brought together under one roof to tell the story of the 

Government Art Collection since it began in 1898. The exhibits all come from 

Government buildings across the world, with many having been commissioned for new 

embassy buildings or to record important national events. 

Horses 

The Barber Institute, Birmingham, 

until Wed 30 January 

Man’s relationship with domestic 

horses is here explored through 

a series of prints and drawings 

from the Barber’s collection. 

Rarely seen photographs of Sir 

Henry and Lady Barber, both 

keen equestrians, feature in the 

exhibition, and are presented 

alongside Ferdinand Victor 

Eugene Delacroix’s A Study Of A 

Horse (pictured). 


VisualArts PREVIEWS 

Ongoing exhibitions 

His Dark Materials: 

New Art By Adie Blundell 

Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry, 

Sat 24 November - Sun 17 March 

Questioning the nature of human existence, 

this debut solo exhibition from Coventrybased 

artist Adie Blundell uses large-scale 

detailed drawings of ravens, albatrosses and 

other bird-like creatures to explore our precarious 

position in 

the world. Sculptures 

formed from various 

new and reclaimed 

items - including 

latex, plaster, salt and 

iron - also feature, 

and reflect the multiple 

obsessions which 

dominate the artist’s 

life. 

Pop Highlights 

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 

Sat 17 November - Wed 15 May, 2013 

An eye-catching fibreglass maquette of King 

Kong by Nicholas Monro features alongside 

works by Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, Roy 

Lichtenstein and Richard Hamilton in this, the 

latest display of Pop Art to grace the 

Wolverhampton Art 

Gallery. New works 

gifted to the collection 

by well-known art 

collectors Jean and 

Eric Cass are also on 

display, including 

sculptures by Allen 

Jones and Karel 

Appel. 

Painters And Players 

Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, 

Sat 10 November - Sun 6 January 

John Prescott Knight (1803-1881) is the only 

Stafford-born artist with a national reputation. 

Although now largely forgotten, in his time he 

was a highly regarded painter of portraits 

and genre scenes. He was also the son of 

actor and comedian Edward Knight, a man 

who was closely linked with the earliest days 

of theatre in Stafford. This entertaining exhibition 

brings the intriguing story of the theatre 

in nineteenth century Stafford together with 

Staffordshire County Council’s important and 

recently conserved collection of JP Knight 

paintings. 


Jacqueline by Andy Warhol 

(c) Andy Warhol Estate, DACS, 

London 2012 

VisualArts LISTINGS 

For full listing information on Visual Art 

exhibitions, including times and dates, 


ANTONY DONALDSON 

Exhibition featuring 

early works from the 

‘60s & '70s alongside 

more recent pieces, 



Gallery 

DRAWBRIDGE ART GROUP 

AUTUMN EXHIBITION until 


Complex 

MUSCLES, BALLS & 

BOWLS Exhibition which 

explores the history of 

sport in Shakespeare’s 

time, until Sun 4 Nov, 

Nash’s House & New 

Place, Stratford-upon- 

Avon 

A CENTURY OF ART The 

work of both current 

and past members of 

the Coventry and 

Warwickshire Society of 

Artists (CWSA) is here 

showcased in a celebration 

of the group’s 

one hundred year history, 

until Sun 4 Nov, 

Herbert Museum & Art 

Gallery 

YAEL BARTANA EXHIBI- 

TION Trilogy of films 

based on the activities 

of the Jewish 

Renaissance Movement 

in Poland, until Sun 4 

November, Ikon, 

Birmingham 

THE LIDICE STORY 

Exhibition commemorating 

the seventieth 

anniversary of the 

destruction of the small 

mining village of Lidice 

in Czechoslovakia, until 

Sun 4 Nov, The 

Potteries Museum, 


ANN VERONICA 

JANSSENS: OSCAR Video 

portrait of the Brazilian 

architect Oscar 

Niemeyer at the age of 

one hundred-and-two, 

until Sun 4 Nov, Ikon 

Gallery, Birmingham 

TONY AREFIN EXHIBITION 

Exhibition celebrating 

the work of graphic 

designer Tony Arefin 

(1960-2000), until Sun 4 

Nov, Ikon Gallery, 

Birmingham 

Birmingham 

ARTIFEX Sutton Coldfield 

0121 323 3776 

BARBER INSTITUTE 

0121 414 7333 

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & 

ART GALLERY 0121 303 

2834 

THE BURROWS GALLERY, 

THE CUSTARD FACTORY 

0121 224 7344 

CASTLE GALLERIES 

0121 633 0015 

IKON GALLERY 

0121 248 0708 

THE EMBROIDERERS 

GUILD This exhibition, 

mounted as a tribute to 

athletes around the 

world, features no fewer 

than three thousand 

embroidered postcardsized 

images depicting 

the life and times of 

over two hundred sporting 

nations, until Sun 4 

Nov, Artrix, Bromsgrove 

WORCESTER SOCIETY OF 

ARTISTS Sixty-fifth annual 

exhibition, until Sat 10 

Nov, Worcester City Art 

Gallery & Museum 

OTHER PLACES Exhibition 

of work by Ann 

Wilkinson and Anne 

Guest exploring the hidden 

narratives that 

reside in our everyday 

places yet exist only in 

our imagination, until 

Sat 10 Nov, Bilston 

Craft Gallery 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 

Members of 

Wolverhampton’s 

diverse communities 

respond to the city’s art 

collection, until Sat 10 

Nov, Wolverhampton Art 

Gallery 

AUTUMN SHOWCASE 

Featuring an array of 

autumnal artwork, until 

Sat 17 Nov, Bilston Craft 

Gallery 

VANLEY BURKE: BY THE 

RIVERS OF BIRMINAM 

Photographic exhibition 

that documents the history 

of Handsworth's 

Jamaican community 

since the mid-1960s, 

until Sun 18 Nov, mac, 

Midlands Arts Centre, 

Birmingham 

THE ART OF SURVIVAL 

This exhibition, forming 

part of Conjunction 12, 

features various surviving 

specimens and fragile 

fragments - ranging 

from ancient artefacts to 

contemporary artworks, 

until Sun 18 Nov, The 

Potteries Museum & Art 

Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent 

MADE @ THE CONE 

Working with a diverse 

range of media, the 

Made@The Cone collective 

create a stunning 

Museums & Art Galleries 

NUMBER NINE THE GALLERY 

0121 643 9099 

RBSA GALLERY 0121236 

4353 

THREE WHITE WALLS 

GALLERY 

0121 643 0078 

Black Country 

BANTOCK HOUSE 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

01902 552195 

BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY 

01902 552507 

BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS 

MUSEUM, DUDLEY 

range of handcrafted 

items, until Sun 18 Nov, 

Red House Glass Cone, 

Stourbridge 

SOUREN MOUSAVI SOLO 

EXHIBITION Featuring 

works inspired by the 

Iranian artist’s journey to 

freedom, until Sun 18 

Nov, Gallery 150, 


LEGEND! Hands-on family 

exhibition that 

explores tales of dashing 

knights and brave 

princesses. An event 

part-funded by the 


Archeological Society, 


Worcester City Art 

Gallery & Museum 

HARMINDER JUDGE: IN 

THIS STRANGE HOUSE 

Sinister and enigmatic 

presentation comprising 

film, digital prints and 

sculptural installation, 


New Art Gallery, Walsall 

FUNCTION III 

Photographic competition 

providing a platform 

for the region's 

best young, creative talent, 


The Barber Institute, 

Birmingham 

REDDITCH: MEDIEVAL 

BEGINNINGS TO THE 

GREAT WAR The first in a 

series of projects and 

events to celebrate the 

fiftieth anniversary in 

2014 of Redditch being 

designated a New 

Town, until Sun 25 Nov, 

Forge Mill Needle 

Museum, Redditch 

THE OLYMPICS Exhibition 

of paintings, sculpture, 

ceramics and textiles, 

all inspired by the 

Olympic Games and 

the Olympic Torch 

Parade, until Sat 20 

Nov, The Willow Gallery, 


Shropshire 

MAN OF NOTE Exhibition 

that celebrates Harry 

Eccleston's legacy as 

an artist and printmaker, 

until Sat 1 Dec, 


Gallery 

AENEAS WILDER: UNTI- 

TLED 162 See the Gallery 

transformed through 

intervention by Aeneas 

Wilde - an artist who 

develops complex, 

extraordinarily beautiful 

structures in response 

01384 812745 

DUDLEY MUSEUM 

& ART GALLERY 

01384 815575 

LIGHT HOUSE MEDIA CENTRE 

WOLVERHAMPTON 

01902 716055 

THE NEW ART GALLERY 

WALSALL 01922 654400 

RED HOUSE GLASS CONE 

01384 812750 

WOLVERHAMPTON ART 

GALLERY 01902 552055 

Staffordshire 

THE POTTERIES MUSEUM & 

ART GALLERY 01782 232323 

SHIREHALL GALLERY 

STAFFORD 01785 278345 

to any environment in 

which he’s working, 

until Sat 1 Dec, Warwick 


CASTLE HIGH ART Annual 

exhibition by the museum’s 

local school, until 

Sat 1 Dec, Dudley 

Museum & Art Gallery 

MADE TO MAKE Discover 

the wealth of talent and 

inspiration developed in 

the region as eight 

alumni of the 

Birmingham Institute of 

Art and Design’s School 

of Jewellery MA showcase 

their recent work, 

until Sat 1 Dec, Bilston 

Craft Gallery 

TRANSPLANTATION: A 

SENSE OF PLACE & CUL- 

TURE Exhibition which 

brings together leading 

UK & Australian-based 

makers of narrative jewellery, 


Bilston Craft Gallery 

TRANSITIONS: DRAWINGS 

FROM THE COLLECTION OF 

MIMA This exhibition of 

works from the collection 

of mima 

(Middlesbrough Institute 

of the Arts) presents 

drawings by several key 

artists in post-war 

America, many of whom 

are best known for 

working in three dimensions, 



Coventry 

THE BIG DRAW: DOT TO 

DOT Project that pushes 

the boundaries on a 

classic childhood activity, 

until Sun 2 Dec, mac, 

Birmingham 

LIVING CITY Sarah 

Taylor Silverwood’s 

works examine the 

relationship between 

humans and architecture 

through a series of 

drawings and textbased 

pieces, until Sun 

2 Dec, The Barber 


JODIE CAREY: SOLOMON’S 

KNOT Using a wide 

range of media, Jodie 

Carey’s work explores 

ideas of time, memory 

and materiality, of time 

passing, memories fading, 

of absence and 

loss... until Sun 30 Dec, 

The New Art Gallery, 

Walsall 

THE DIG! Exhibition 

showcasing archaeological 

finds uncovered so 

far, until Mon 31 Dec, 

STAFFORDSHIRE MUSEUM, 

SHUGBOROUGH 

01889 881388 

Warwickshire 

COMPTON VERNEY GALLERY 

01926 645500 

HERBERT ART GALLERY 

COVENTRY 02476 832386 

MEAD GALLERY WARWICK 

02476 524524 

ROYAL PUMP ROOMS 

01926 742700 


WORCESTER CITY ART 

GALLERY 01905 25371 

Visit whatsonlive.co.uk 

for venue website details

VisualArts LISTINGS 

For full listing information on Visual Art 

exhibitions, including times and dates, 


Nash’s House & New 

Place, Stratford-upon- 

Avon 

TAKING ACCOUNT OF OUR 

PAST Find out about the 

story of the Smith, Son 

and Wilkie accountants 

cataloguing project, 

including behind-thescenes 

images of conservation 

and storage of 

the records, until Mon 

31 Dec, Wolverhampton 

City Archives 

THE STORIES OF SHAKE- 

SPEARE Joint exhibition 

from the Royal 

Shakespeare Theatre 

& the Shakespeare 

Birthplace Trust, until 

Mon 31 Dec, Royal 

Shakespeare Theatre, 


DEAR SHAKESPEARE 

New display that showcases 

a small but rare 

collection of letters written 

by famous authors, 

from Oscar Wilde to 

Bram Stoker, until Mon 

31 Dec, Nash’s House 

& New Place, Stratfordupon-Avon 

EMPOWERED: THE ART 

AND HISTORY OF CERE- 

BRAL PALSY MIDLANDS 

Paintings and sculpture 

created by artists from 

the Birmingham-based 

charity Cerebral Palsy 

Midlands, until Tues 1 

Jan, Birmingham 


WEST MIDLANDS OPEN 

A biennial collaboration 

between Birmingham 

Museum’s Trust and 


Gallery, until Sat 5 Jan, 

W’hampton Art Gallery 

DINOSAURS UNCOVERED 

Unique exhibition featuring 

life-size 

dinosaurs, real and 

replica fossils and 

holographic video presentations 

by wildlife 

expert Chris Packham, 

until Sun 6 Jan, 

Herbert Art Gallery & 

Museum, Coventry 

HORROR IN HOLLYWOOD: 

THE JAMES WHALE STORY 

Featuring previously 

unseen cartoons, paintings 

and illustrations by 

Dudley-born film director 

James Whale, until 

Sat 1 Jan, Dudley 


LOVE AND DEATH: VICTO- 

RIAN PAINTINGS FROM 

THE TATE Exclusive exhibition 

featuring iconic 

paintings from the Tate 

alongside related works 

from Birmingham's own 

collection, until Sun 13 

Jan, Birmingham 


THROUGH OUR HANDS 

Exhibition featuring 

works from ten textile 

artists, national and 

international, who 

approach quilting as a 

contemporary art form, 

until Sun 13 Jan, The 

Royal Pump Rooms, 


CITY OF HOME BY ALINA 

KISINA Photographic 

exhibition by the 

Ukraine-born artist that 

captures her home 

town of Kiev in a halfabstract,half-representational 

format, until Fri 

25 Jan, Light House 

Media Centre, 

Wolverhampton 

BACK TO THE FUTURE 

Exhibition exploring the 

world-renowned glass 

collections and 

archives in the Dudley 

Borough, demonstrating 

their importance to 

the region's contemporary 

glass-makers and 

designers, until Sun 27 

Jan, Broadfield House 

Glass Museum, 

Kingswinford 

IN FRONT OF NATURE 

The first ever UK exhibition 

devoted entirely to 

the paintings and 

career of one of 

Scandanavia's most 

important painters, 

Thomas Fearnley, until 

Sun 27 Jan, The Barber 


SCOOTERMANIA 

Showcase of British 

scooters from the ‘50s 

& ‘60s, until Sun 3 

March, Coventry 

Transport Museum 

STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD: 

DARK AGE DISCOVERY 

Featuring more than 

two hundred pieces 

from the fabulous 

Anglo-Saxon hoard, 

until Sun 1 Sep, 2013, 

The Potteries Museum 

& Art Gallery, Stoke-on- 

Trent 

ARTIST ROOM A yearlong 

exhibition featuring 

sculptures, paintings 

and prints. This display 

will be accompanied by 

a series of inspired 

satellite exhibitions, 

events and activities 

through the course of 

the year, until Sat 27 

Oct, 2013, The New Art 

Gallery, Walsall 

MASTER OF LIGHT Lawrie 

Williamson’s exhibition 

of original oil paintings 

& works on paper, 

Thurs 1 - Fri 30 Nov, 

Artifex Gallery, 

Birmingham 

JOHN PAUL VILLAFRATI: 

WORKING OUR WAY WEST 

Exhibition of artwork 

from Simon Randall & 

Carla Smith, all of which 

is themed on the stories 

and characters featured 

on John Paul’s new EP, 

Working Our Way West, 

Master Of Light - Artifex Gallery, Birmingham 

Fri 2 Nov - Sat 1 Dec, 

Urban Coffee Company, 

Church St, Birmingham 

ELIZABETH CADD An exhibition 

of watercolours, 

collage and monoprints 

by Shropshire-based 

artist Elizabeth Cadd, 

including paintings of 

Shropshire, Italy and 

the Dorset coast, Fri 2 

Nov - Fri 21 Dec, 


Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

EMILIA NYLEN - 

BODYSCAPES Exhibition 

that records the shape, 

structure and fabric of 

the human body, Wed 7 

Nov - Sun 2 Dec, Artrix, 

Bromsgrove 

A DICKENSIAN CHRIST- 

MAS Exhibition which 

marks the anniversary 

year of Charles Dickens 

two hundredth birthday, 


Jan, Bantock House 

Museum, 

Wolverhampton 

MISTER VOLDER GOES TO 

THE CITY Taking an 

ambiguous short story 

as their starting point, 

artists Rebecca Hurst 

and Ben Pacey use 

simple materials and 

low-fi digital techniques 

to create compelling, 

atmospheric images, 

Sat 10 Nov - Sun 13 

Jan, mac, Birmingham 

CELEBRATION OF YOUNG 

ACHIEVEMENT A celebration 

of creative work by 

past and current pupils 

at a local school in 

Wolverhampton, Sat 17 

Nov - Sat 15 Dec, 


PENN HOSPITAL: EXPLOR- 

ING THE HISTORY A partnership 

exhibition 

between W’hampton 

Culture, Arts and 

Heritage Learning and 

Community 

Engagement Team and 

the Black Country 

Partnership NHS 

Foundation, Sat 17 Nov 

- Sat 15 Dec 


CHRISTMAS 

FESTIVAL 

24 – 25 NOV, 10AM – 4PM 

FREE 

Glassblowing demonstrations, 

gift shop grotto, craft activities, 

meet Santa and Mrs Claus 

BACK TO THE FUTURE 

UNTIL 27 JAN 

An exhibition celebrating 

400 years of glass making: 

exciting and innovative 

new work created by 

West Midlands glass artists 

inspired by pieces from the 

museum’s world-renowned 

collection 

CHRISTMAS 

CRAFT 

MARKET 

24 – 25 NOV, 10AM – 4PM 

FREE 

Craft stalls, children’s trail 

glassblowing demonstrations, 

MADE @ 

THE CONE 

UNTIL 18 NOVEMBER 

Handcrafted items by the 

cone’s creative tenants 

HAVE A GO DAY 

3 NOVEMBER 

Try your hand at a 

craft with the tenants: 

From £5 

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS OPENING OPENING TIMES: TIMES: CLOSED CLOSED 24 DEC DEC 2012 2012 - 1 2 JAN JAN 2013 2013 


PLUS 

SANTA @ THE CONE 

8, 9, 15, 16, 22 AND 23 DEC 

Meet Santa, do a trail, 

make a craft, 

watch glassmaking. 

£7 / £5 babe in arms 

WINTER TRAIL 

1 DEC - 6 JAN. BROADFIELD 

CLOSED ON MONDAYS 

FREE 

Looks for the festive clues 

at the Cone and Broadfield 

ADULT CRAFT CLASSES 

1, 8, 15 Dec – Kiln fused glass @ Cone - £21 

30 Nov, 21 Dec – Various crafts @ Broadfield - 

£5.25 

FAMILY CRAFTS 

8 Dec – Broadfield - £3.75 

Visit the website for a full programme.

Events 

The Footman James Classic Motor Show NEC, Birmingham, Fri 16 - Sun 18 November 

Attracting over ninety thousand visitors from all over the world, and 

featuring more than twelve hundred cars, the Footman James Classic 

Motor Show is considered to be the UK equivalent of France’s 

Retromobile and Germany’s Techno Classica - both internationally 

acclaimed events in the motoring calendar. Featuring exhibits from 

Britain’s best motoring clubs, the Footman James provides a showcase 

for rare marques - ranging from pre-war through to retro classics 

- American muscle cars, Japanese performance cars and British 

sports cars. 

The BBC Good Food Show 

NEC, Birmingham, Wed 28 November - 


James Martin and James D’Acampo are just 

two of the famous faces who’re appearing at 

this winter version of the acclaimed BBC 

show, an event that’s positively packed with 

inspiring ideas for budding chefs and food 

enthusiasts. In keeping with the current trend 

for baking, this year’s event sees the introduction 

of The Great British Bake Off stage, where 

familiar faces 

from the popular 

TV programme 

will host a 

packed timetable 

of events. And if 

you’re lucky, you 

may even catch 

a glimpse of the 

judges - the 

queen of cakes 

Mary Berry and 

master baker 

Paul Hollywood. 

Other attractions at the three-day event include the Wheeler Dealer 

Live Stage - hosted by TV motoring show presenters Mike Brewer 

and Ed China - an impressive Restoration Theatre, where a team of 

mechanics will be on hand to show visitors how to restore a cherished 

classic car, and more than three hundred trade stands featuring 

a wide range of parts, spares, tools and memorabilia. New for 

2012, and a scoop for racing enthusiasts, Hammerite Waxoyl, a 

brand by AkzoNobel, will be displaying the Vodafone McLaren 

Mercedes Formula One car. 

Antiques For Everyone NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 1 - Sun 4 November 

WIN 

TICKETS 


to enter 

A special display of rare and unusual oil lamps is sure to prove a major attraction at this 

month’s Antiques For Everyone. More than eighty individual lamps belonging to collector 

Nigel Reynolds feature at this year’s winter show, complimenting the usual vast array of fine 

art and antiques that make this twice yearly get-together such a popular event for collectors 

and enthusiasts from across the world. 



Events PREVIEWS 

Crafts For Christmas 

NEC, Birmingham, 

Thurs 8 - Sun 11 November 

The perfect event for craft enthusiasts, this 

annual gathering brings together three 

shows under one roof. Crafts For Christmas 

offers a huge selection of handmade gifts 

from hundreds of exhibitors, and includes a 

brand new Graduate Area featuring works by 

newly qualified British designers and makers. 

Cake International, meanwhile, provides 

handy hints and tips for would-be makers, 

while Art Materials Live offers the perfect 

opportunity for visitors to view stunning displays 

and works of art, as well as discovering 

new methods, materials and techniques. 

GCCF Supreme Cat Show 

NEC, Birmingham, Sat 24 November 

Now here's a purr-fect opportunity to get 'up 

close and purr-sonal' with marvellous moggies 

aplenty! The Supreme Cat Show brings 

together pussies and kittens of all shapes, 

sizes, breeds and pedigrees, and features 

breeders talks, a ‘best decorated pen’ competition, 

both pedigree and non-pedigree 

cats in competition, and lots of trade stands 

selling everything a cat and its owner could 

possibly need. So if you love your commonor-garden 

moggy and are 'feline' in the mood 

for what should be a great day out, then this 

is the show for you! 

Blitz Family Day 

Coventry Transport Museum, Herbert Art 

Gallery & Museum & Coventry Cathedral, 


Families visiting three of Coventry’s main 

attractions are provided with an insight into 

what life was like during World War Two this 

month, with different activities taking place at 

each location. The activities on offer include 

‘make do and mend’, wartime cooking, 

codebreaking and first aid. The event, in 

commemoration of the anniversary of the 

Coventry Blitz, is free of charge, and children 

who complete three or more activities will 

receive a special Blitz Family Day badge in 

recognition of their achievement. 

International Dirt Bike Show 

Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, Thurs 1 - Sun 4 November 

Continuing with the successful low cost admission initiative introduced last year, this year’s 

International Dirt Bike Show sees well-known motorcycling brands Honda, KTM, Suzuki, 

Kawasaki and Husaberg exhibit at the event for the first time. Key attractions for 2012 include 

the Extreme Mountain Bike Show where Danny Butler will lead his team in displays of skill, 

agility and choreographed routines and the have-a-go activity zone, where children from five 

to eleven can experience the fun of riding a restricted 50cc motorcycle on a specially design 

circuit. Other highlights include stage shows, a trials zone and the Evoshock Moto Jumble 

where enthusiasts can purchase second-hand parts, spares, tools, accessories, jumble, old 

books and the like. 

Birmingham International 

Tattoo 

National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, 


More than one thousand military musicians 

and performers from across Europe and the 

UK are lined-up to perform at this year’s 

Tattoo. The Band of the Irish Guards takes 

the lead at a show which also includes entertainment 

courtesy of the Royal Air Force 

Cosford Queen’s Colour, the United 

Kingdom Disco Display Team, the 

Birmingham Tattoo Town Crier and the 

Racing Dogs ‘Flybelt’ Competition. 

Frankfurt Market 

Birmingham City Centre, 

Thurs 15 November - Sat 22 December 

Birmingham’s Frankfurt Market is now well 

known throughout the UK for being the 

largest outdoor Christmas market in the 

country. Celebrating its eleventh year, the 

market is a focus for the second city’s festive 

celebrations, offering a wide range of traditional 

handmade toys, art and items from 

throughout the world, as well as plenty of 

food and drink, including German mulled 

wine (Glutelin), grilled sausages, vegetarian 

options, pretzels and German beer. Groups 

of local carol singers and schoolchildren will 

also be staging special performances in 

Victoria Square during the run-up to 

Christmas. 

Gorgeous Craft Show 

Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire, 


A wealth of ideas for Christmas gifts is once 

again on offer at this annual selling exhibition, 

which brings together works from some 

of the region’s best designer-makers and 

purveyors of quality produce. With items for 

sale at prices to suit all pockets, this annual 

showcase of some of ‘Shropshire’s finest’ 

features an array of unique and interesting 

items, from fine furniture, ceramics, glassware, 

textiles and jewellery through to 

mouthwatering cakes, chutneys, meats and 

sweet treats. 


Events PREVIEWS 

Worcester Victorian 

Christmas Fayre 

Worcester City Centre, Thurs 29 November - 


This year marks the twentieth anniversary of 

Worcester’s hugely popular festive celebration. 

The annual event, which attracts in 

excess of one hundred thousand visitors, is 

regarded as the leading themed street market 

in the West Midlands, and this year 

opens with a lantern procession through the 

city. In addition to the one hundred-and-forty 

stalls which grace Worcester’s historic 

streets - selling crafts, gifts and speciality 

foods - this ever-popular event also features 

an array of period entertainment, from choirs 

and juggling stiltwalkers to a period carousel 

and barrel organ music. 


Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre 

Ludlow Castle, South Shropshire, Sat 24 - Sun 25 November 

Motley minstrels, chivalrous knights, courtly ladies, firebreathing jesters, a giant monk and a 

duo of medieval musicians offer just a taste of the entertainment which awaits visitors to 

Ludlow’s Medieval Christmas Fayre. Just what the doctor ordered to get you in the festive 

spirit, this popular two-day event provides a perfect opportunity to purchase unusual 

Christmas gifts, peruse plenty of displays and enjoy numerous medieval performances. It also 

offers the chance to sample some of the town’s many culinary delights, which, given Ludlow’s 

reputation as a purveyor of fine food, should certainly prove to be well worth a nibble.

Events LISTINGS 

For full listing information on Events 

including times and dates visit, 



THUR 1 NOV 

SPOOKTACULAR HALF 

TERM FUN until Fri 2 

Nov, Museum of 

Cannock Chase 

HALF TERM FAMILY FUN 

AT THE FARM Featuring 

spooky crafts, pumpkin 

carving, fun quizzes 

and trails, until Fri 2 

Nov, Shugborough 

Historic Working Estate, 

Staffordshire 

CERAMIC DROP-IN 

WORKSHOPS Offering 

visitors a chance to create 

their very own halloween 

ceramic monster, 

until Fri 2 Nov, 

Coalport China 

Museum, Ironbridge, 

Shropshire 

MAD SCIENCE WEEK 

SPOOKTACULAR! A week 

of mad science workshops 

where visitors 

can create gloopy lava 

lamps, make fake 

blood, discover bulging 

brains, spin edible spiders’ 

webs and blow 

up pumpkins, until Fri 2 


Wolverhampton 

TILE DECORATING 

WORKSHOPS Make your 

own 'terrifying tile' with 

the spookiest of 

designs, until Fri 2 Nov, 

Jackfield Tile Museum, 

Ironbridge, Shropshire 

AUTUMN JEWELS - HOLI- 

DAY ACTIVITIES 

Seasonal craft activities 

including pumpkin 

carving!, until Fri 2 Nov, 

Worcestershire County 

Museum, Hartlebury 

Castle 

HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN 

TRAIL until Sat 3 Nov, 

Kenilworth Castle 

TECHNO TERRORS Join 

the drop-in workshop 

and build the meanest, 

scariest Techno Terror 

you can!, until Sun 4 

Nov, Enginuity, 


THE HAUNTED CASTLE 

Frightful family fun this 

Halloween, with creepy 

characters galore, 

spookily themed walking 

trails and haunted 

towers and turrets, until 

Sun 4 Nov, Warwick 

Castle 

HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS 

AND FOCUS ON FAWKES 


Commandery, 

Worcester 

HALLOWEEN MAIZE MAZE 

SPOOKTACULAR! A 

spooky spectacular for 

families, until Sun 4 

Nov, The Follies, 

Hawkstone Park, North 

Shropshire 

SPOOKY SHAKESPEARE 

Halloween-inspired fun, 

until Sun 4 Nov, Hall's 

Croft; Nash's House, 

Anne Hathaway’s 

Cottage & New Place, 


FAMILY FUN DAYS - HAL- 

LOWEEN Spooky outdoor 

trails with takehome 

activities, until 

Sun 4 Nov, Packwood 

House, Warwickshire 

HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN 

TRAIL Discover spooky 

secrets & ghastly tales, 


Stokesay Castle, South 

Shropshire 

HALLOWEEN HOLIDAY 

TRAIL A family trail with 

a Halloween theme to 

lead you around the 

grounds and keep your 

little ones entertained, 


Attingham Park, Nr 

Shrewsbury 

DAYTIME FAMILY HAL- 

LOWEEN HAUNTED CAS- 

TLE until Sun 4 Nov, 

Tamworth Castle 

HALLOWEEN HALF TERM 

AT THE MONKEY FOREST 

Featuring a variety of 

ghoulish activities 

throughout the week, 


Trentham Monkey 

Forest, Stoke-on-Trent 

HALLOWEEN HAUNTINGS 

Take a trip along the 

site’s Halloween activity 

arcade where wacky 

games, pumpkin carving 

and spooky stories 

await... until Mon 5 

Nov, Park Hall 

Countryside 

Experience, Oswestry, 


REDDITCH: MEDIEVAL 

BEGINNINGS TO THE 

GREAT WAR The first in a 

series of projects and 

events to celebrate the 

fiftieth anniversary in 

2014 of Redditch being 

designated a New 

Town, until Sun 25 Nov, 

Forge Mill Needle 

Museum, Redditch 

HALLOWEEN ARTS & 

CRAFTS Spooktacular 

workshop run by a professional 

artist, Thurs 1 

Nov, Solihull Arts 

Complex 

ADULT CRAFT WORKSHOP 

- CANAL ART COASTER 

Learn the techniques of 

traditional canal art 

painting and make your 

own decorative coaster... 


Walsall Museum 

SCARY SOCK MONSTER 

PUPPETS Drop-in workshop 

to create a scary 

sock monster puppet 

for Halloween, Thurs 1 

Nov, Bilston Craft 

Gallery 

FOOD & CRAFT MARKET 

Thurs 1 Nov, Castle 

Square, Ludlow 

GHOST TOUR OF THE 

CASTLE Wrap up warm 

for a guided tour where 

you’ll encounter ghosts 

from the castle’s history, 

Fri 2 Nov, 

Whittington Castle, 


Aztec Weekend - Cadbury World, Birmingham 

ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE 

Britain’s premier dedicated 

antiques event, 

Thurs 1 - Sun 4 Nov, 

NEC, Birmingham 

SUPER SLAM WRESTLING 

A brand new line-up of 

top stars from America 

face the best of British 

talent in a two hour, 

action-packed event for 

all the family to enjoy, 

Fri 2 Nov, Royal Spa 

Centre, Leamington 

Spa 

HANDMADE CONTEMPO- 

RARY CRAFT FAIR 

Featuring a wide variety 

of crafts to suit all 

pockets, Fri 2 & Sat 3 

BONFIRE & 

FIREWORK DISPLAY 

Fri 2 Nov, Hickman 

Park, 

Wolverhampton 

FIREWORKS CELE- 

BRATION Fri 2 Nov, 

Trentham Estate, 

Staffordshire 

TRADITIONAL 

BONFIRE EVENING 

Sat 3 Nov, Black 

Country Living 

Museum, Dudley 

BROWNHILLS BON- 

FIRE & FIREWORK 

DISPLAY Sat 3 Nov, 

Holland Park, 

Brownhills 

OSWESTRY BONFIRE 

& FIREWORKS Sat 3 

Nov, Brogyntyn 

Park, Oswestry, 


BONFIRE & FIRE- 

WORK DISPLAY Sat 3 

Nov, West Park, 

Wolverhampton 


WORKS NIGHT Sat 3 

Nov, Ragley Hall, 

Warwickshire 

FIREWORKS NIGHT 

Family fireworks 

and hot metal 

extravaganza, Sat 3 

Nov, The Shire Hall 

Gallery, Stafford 

ALLSORTS ART FAIR 

Featuring an assortment 

of art and craft 

work, oil paintings, 

watercolours, photography, 

textiles, sculptures, 

jewellery, glassware, 

feltwork and much 

more... Sat 3 Nov, 

Solihull Arts Complex 

HALLOWEEN CRUISE A 

spooky evening of 

magic, illusion, mindreading 

and hypnotism 

with Rob Chapman, Sat 

3 Nov, Sabrina Boat, 

Victoria Quay, 

Shrewsbury 

CRAFT FAIR Sale of work 

by local makers, 

including pottery, fabrics 

and jewellery, Sat 3 

Nov, Bantock House 

Museum, 

Wolverhampton 

AZTEC WEEKEND Sat 3 - 

Sun 4 Nov, Cadbury 

World, Birmingham 

ON DESIGN A day devoted 

to design, including 

a talk with curator and 

leading designer 

James Langdon and an 

afternoon symposium 

about design in a fine 

art context, Sat 3 Nov, 

Ikon Gallery, 

Birmingham 

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER 

Nov, Blists Hill, 

Ironbridge, 

Shropshire 

WARWICK TOWN 


WORKS Sat 3 Nov, 

Warwick 

Racecourse 

BONFIRE NIGHT AND 

FIREWORKS Sat 3 

Nov, Shugborough 

Historic Working 

Estate, 

Staffordshire 

BONFIRE GALE Sat 3 

Nov, Kenilworth 

Castle, 

Warwickshire 

MALVERN 


Nov, The Three 

Counties 

Showground, 

Malvern 

HIMLEY BONFIRE & 


Nov, Himley Hall & 

Park, Dudley 

FIREWORKS FRENZY 

Featuring Jet vehicles, 

monster truck 

and stunts, topped 

off with a huge 

bonfire and firework 

display, Sat 3 Nov, 

Santa Pod 

Raceway, 

Northampton 

FIREWORK FESTIVAL 

Sat 3 Nov, West 

Midlands Safari 

Park, Bewdley 

ROUND TABLE FIRE- 

WORKS DISPLAY Sat 

3 Nov, Tudor 

Grange Park, 

Solihull 

VIKINGS AND FIRE- 

WORKS Sun 4 Nov, 

Tutbury Park, 

Staffordshire 


WORKS NIGHT Sun 4 

Nov, West Midlands 

Showground, 

Shrewsbury 

BONFIRE & 

FIREWORK 

EXTRAVAGANZA 

Featuring fun fair, 

BONFIRE EVENTS IN YOUR AREA 

FLIP ANIMATION Dip 

your toes into the world 

of animation and bring 

your imagination to life 

using a range of 2-D 

and 3-D techniques, 



Gallery 

ANTIQUE AND 

COLLECTORS FAIR Sun 4 


Counties Showground, 

Malvern 

ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS 

FAIR Sun 4 Nov, Castle 

Square, Ludlow 

Firework extravaganza - Blists Hill, Ironbridge 

stalls, catering and 

the Beacon Radio 

Roadshow, Sun 4 

Nov, Weston Park, 

Staffordshire 

TODDLER BONFIRE 

NIGHT - NO BANGS! 

Enjoy the crackling 

bonfire being lit 

and join in with the 

special bonfire 

songs, Mon 5 Nov, 

Avoncroft Museum, 

Bromsgrove 

FIREWORKS SPEC- 

TACULAR Mon 5 

Nov, Pype Hayes 

Park, 

Wolverhampton 

WILLENHALL BON- 

FIRE & FIREWORK 

DISPLAY Sat 10 Nov, 

Willenhall 


Events LISTINGS 

For full listing information on Events 

including times and dates visit, 


AUTUMN WALK Take a 

walk through the park 

with head Gardener 

Martin Gee, Sun 4 Nov, 

Weston Park, 

Staffordshire 

ARTS AND CRAFTS 

POTTERY A short course 

for adults which focuses 

on the gallery's display 

of arts & crafts 

ceramics - in particular 

Ruskin Pottery - to 

inspire participants to 

create their own 

objects in three halfday 

sessions, Sun 4 



BRIDAL FAYRE Sun 4 

Nov, Wolverhampton 

Wanderers Football 

Club 

FAMILY SUNDAY: EXPLOR- 

ING CLAY Sun 4 Nov, 

The New Art Gallery, 

Walsall 


MON 5 NOV 

CONSERVATION TOUR OF 

THE STAFFORDSHIRE 

HOARD Mon 5 Nov, 

Birmingham Museum & 

Art Gallery 

WWE WORLD TOUR Live 

televised event featuring 

some of the biggest 

names on the professional 

wrestling circuit, 

Mon 5 - Tue 6 Nov, LG 


LUDLOW LECTURES 

Series of six lectures on 

the history and landscape 

of Ludlow and 

the Marches, Tue 6 


Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

POETRY CAFE Featuring 

a new theme every 

month, Wed 7 Nov, 


Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

CONSERVATION TOUR OF 

THE STAFFORDSHIRE 

HOARD Wed 7 Nov, 


Art Gallery 

DRIFT WHAT YA BRUNG 


PUBLIC DRIFT DAY Wed 7 

Nov, Santa Pod 

Raceway, Northampton 

WINTER TOUR Chance to 

see the house after the 

season has ended, 

Thurs 8 Nov, Soho 


LUDLOW LOCAL PRODUCE 

MARKET Thurs 8 Nov, 

Castle Square, Ludlow, 


HOBBY CRAFTS 2012 The 

ideal place to purchase 

your creative craft 

materials!, Thurs 8 - 

Sun 11 Nov, NEC, 

Birmingham 

CRAFTS FOR CHRISTMAS 

Thurs 8 - Sun 11 Nov, 


CAKE INTERNATIONAL Fri 

9 - Sun 11 Nov, NEC, 

Birmingham 

INTERNATIONAL MODEL 

BOAT SHOW An exhibition 

dedicated to all 

aspects of marine modelling, 

Fri 9 - Sun 11 

Nov, Warwickshire 

Exhibition Centre 

FAMILY ART DAY Creative 

team activities for all 

the family to enjoy, Sat 



ST MARY'S HOSPICE 

CHARITY BAZAAR Join St 

Mary's Hospice for their 

annual Christmas 

Bazaar, Sat 10 Nov, 

Birmingham Botanical 

Gardens 

MAD JACK’S RACE 

Annual five mile run 

around the park in 

association with the 

Shrewsbury Athletics 

Club, Sat 10 Nov, 

Attingham Park, 

Shrewsbury 

MEMORY BOOKS WORK- 

SHOP Make up a scrap 

book about your family... 

Sat 10 Nov, Walsall 

Local History Centre 

DIWALI: GLOW Activities 

include traditional contemporary 

dance performances 

and workshops, 

Dhol drumming 

and mehndi – henna 

hand patterns. Also a 

children’s workshop 

making ultra violet 

glowing rangoli patterns 

and a unique 

glowing Diva dance, 

Sat 10 Nov, The New 

Art Gallery, Walsall 

BIRMINGHAM PARADE 

See Father Christmas 

lead a magical parade 

as Birmingham’s countdown 

to Christmas 

begins... Sat 10 Nov, 

starting at Victoria 

Square, Birmingham 

WHAT THE DICKENS? - A 

VICTORIAN MURDER MYS- 

TERY Evening of thrills 

& surprises as Mr 

Dickens is confronted 

with a most grisley 

crime, Sat 10 Nov, 

Worcestershire County 

Museum, Hartlebury 

Castle 

GRAND SLAM OF DARTS 

Sat 10 - Sun 18 Nov, 

Civic Hall, 

Wolverhampton 









create their own ceramic 





AMERICAN STYLE 

WRESTLING Sun 11 Nov, 


Stourbridge 

CHRISTMAS CRAFT & 

GIFT FAYRE Sun 11 Nov, 

Shrewsbury Town 

Football Club 


MON 12 NOV 

AUTUMN TEA DANCE Mon 

12 Nov, Solihull Arts 

Complex 

CONSERVATION CENTRE 

OPEN WEEK Gain exclusive 

behind-the-scenes 

access to aircraft conservation 

work and 

have a rare opportunity 

to view current projects, 

Mon 12 - Sat 17 Nov, 

RAF Cosford, Nr 

Wolverhampton 

THE 23RD ERASMUS 

DARWIN MEMORIAL 

LECTURE Lichfield 

Science and 

Engineering Society 

presents Great Ideas of 

Biology with Sir Paul 

Nurse, Tue 13 Nov, 





of Ludlow and 



Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

SERVANT TOURS Service 

with a smile as 

Victorian servants take 

visitors on a tour of 

their working lives, Tues 

13 Nov, Wightwick 

Manor, Wolverhampton 

CIVIC SOCIETY LECTURE 

Wed 14 Nov, Ludlow 

Assembly Rooms, 




Square, Ludlow, South 

Shropshire 

TOUR WITH DAI MORGAN 

EVANS Take an exclusive 

tour of Wroxeter 

Roman City and the 

Roman Town House 

with Professor Dai 

Morgan Evans, Thurs 

15 Nov, Wroxeter 

Roman City, Shropshire 

THE SKILLS SHOW A 

unique opportunity for 

visitors to be inspired 

by skills in action, 


The NEC, Birmingham 

BIRMINGHAM FRANKFURT 

CHRISTMAS MARKET 

Thurs 15 Nov - Sat 22 

Dec, Birmingham City 

Centre 

SILVER JEWELLERY 

WORKSHOP Made To 

Make exhibitor 

Katherine Richmond 

showcases different 

metalworking techniques 

to enable you to 

design and produce 

your own piece of jewellery, 

Fri 16 Nov, 


THE FOOTMAN JAMES 

CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW 

Fri 16 - Sun 18 Nov, 


SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL 

OF VIENNA Highly 

trained horses and riders 

from the four hundred-and-thirty-year-old 

High School for 

Classical 

Horsemanship return to 

Birmingham to present 

their new show, 

Imperial Dream, Fri 16 - 

Sun 18 Nov, National 

Indoor Arena, 

Birmingham 


PUBLIC DRIFT DAY Sat 17 

Nov, Santa Pod 


BLITZ FAMILY DAY 

Experience life during 

WWII at three Coventry 

venues, Sat 17 Nov, 

Coventry Transport 

Museum, Coventry 

Cathedral & The 

Herbert Museum & Art 

Gallery 

LOCAL HISTORY FAIR 

Featuring stalls representing 

historical 

groups and societies 

from in and around the 

local area, as well as 

family-friendly activities, 

Sat 17 Nov, W’hampton 

City Archives 

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE 

WOODS... Fun woodland 

activities designed for 

the whole family to 

enjoy, Sat 17 Nov, 

Moseley Old Hall, 

Wolverhampton 

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS 

Mark the festival of light 

with traditional music, 

lights and dancing, Sat 

17 Nov, The Potteries 

Museum & Art Gallery, 


GORGEOUS A unique 

showcase of the 

region's finest designermakers 

and Shropshire 

food producers, Sat 17 

- Sun 18 Nov, Enginuity, 


CRAFT & CHRISTMAS 

GIFT FAYRE Sat 17 - Sun 

18 Nov, Himley Hall & 

Park, Dudley 

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR 

Chance to purchase 

innovative works from 

some of the region's 

most creative people, 


Coventry Transport 

Museum 

ANTIQUE & COLLECTORS 

FAIR Sun 18 Nov, Castle 


Shropshire 

WINTER WONDERLAND 

Sun 18 Nov, Museum 

of Cannock Chase 

FRIENDS CRAFT FAIR AND 

CAROLS Sun 18 Nov, 

Birmingham Botanical 

Gardens 









create their own ceramic 





CAMPERS CHRISTMAS A 

Christmas light show 

with a difference - see 

the camper vans and 

scooters blinged with 

lights and decorations 

in front of the museum, 

Sun 18 Nov, Coventry 

Transport Museum 


Get in the mood for 

Christmas and choose 

from a wide range of 

locally produced arts, 

crafts and festive produce 

for use as really 

unique Christmas gifts, 

Sun 18 Nov, 

Dudmaston Estate, Nr 

Bridgnorth, Shropshire 


MON 19 NOV 




of Ludlow and 



Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

MEET THE HOUSEKEEP- 

ERS Spend a morning 

with the dedicated and 

highly skilled 

Conservation 

Housekeepers and the 

House Steward, Tues 

20 Nov, Wightwick 

Manor, Wolverhampton 

CHRISTMAS RETAIL 

SHOWCASE Featuring an 

array of locally produced 

wares, Tues 20 

Nov - Sat 12 Jan, 


SPOTLIGHT Put your 

own object under the 

spotlight, Wed 21 Nov, 


Art Gallery 

LUDLOW LOCAL PRODUCE 

MARKET Thurs 22 Nov, 



WINTER TOUR Chance to 

see the house after the 

open season has 

ended, Thurs 22 Nov, 

Soho House, 

Birmingham 

FESTIVE GIFT FAIR Thurs 

22 - Sun 25 Nov, NEC, 

Birmingham 

CHARLES DICKENS’ FEAST 

OF FESTIVE FRIGHTEN- 

ERS! Performance by 

Don’t Go Into The 

Cellar Theatre co, Fri 

23 Nov, Bantock House 

& Museum, 

Wolverhampton 

NATIONAL ENGINEERING 

& CONSTRUCTION 

RECRUITMENT 

EXHIBITION Fri 23 - Sat 

24 Nov, NEC, 

Birmingham 

CHRISTMAS RAG RUG 

WREATH MAKING WORK- 

SHOP With craft specialist 

Jessie Lindon, Fri 23 

- Sat 24 Nov, Back to 

Backs, Birmingham 

FIRE 2012 Two days of 

impartation, ministry & 

teaching, Fri 23 - Sat 24 

Nov, LG Arena, 

Birmingham 

BIRMINGHAM 

INTERNATIONAL TATTOO 

Featuring marching 

bands, dog display 

teams, field guns and 

all the trappings that 

make up a military 

spectacle, Sat 24 - Sun 

25 Nov, National Indoor 


MOTORCYCLE LIVE 

Featuring displays from 

all the major bike manufacturers, 

a line-up of 

new models, off-road 

machines, classic 

favourites, custom and 

touring bikes, along 

with the latest in scooters 

and mopeds, Sat 

24 Nov - Sun 2 Dec, 


G.C.C.F SUPREME CAT 

SHOW Prestige event in 

the feline calendar - the 

Crufts of the Cat Fancy, 

Sat 24 Nov, NEC, 

Birmingham 

THE BIRMINGHAM 

VINTAGE, CRAFTS & 

CURIO BAZAAR Including 

more than sixty stalls 

showcasing wares from 

vintage & collectable 

traders, handmade 

crafts by local designer 

makers, speciality food 

& great gift ideas for 

Christmas. Live music 

from the 40s & 50s and 

a vintage ladies’ hair 

salon also feature... Sat 


Museum And Art 

Gallery 

ART BOOK & ZINE FAIR 

Sat 24 Nov, The New 

Art Gallery, Walsall 

ROCK AND FOSSIL

IDENTIFICATION Have 

your rocks and fossils 

identified by resident 

experts, Sat 24 Nov, 

Dudley Museum & Art 

Gallery 

TRADITIONAL CRAFT FAIR 

Featuring thirty stalls, 

locally produced food, 

craft demonstrations, 

children’s craft activities 

and entertainment, Sat 

24 Nov, Shropshire 

Wildlife Trust, 

Shrewsbury 

TOWN CHRISTMAS 

LIGHTS SWITCH-ON Sat 

24 Nov, Castle Square, 

Ludlow, South 

Shropshire 

SOFT LEATHER GARLAND 

- ADULT WORKSHOP Join 

tutor Sarah Benson and 

make your own beautiful 

soft leather garland... 


Walsall Leather 

Museum 

FESTIVE MEDIEVAL BAN- 

QUETS Evening of mirth, 

merriment & festivities, 

Sat 24 Nov, Coombe 

Abbey, Warwickshire 

FLIGHTS OF FANCY 

Brand new event featuring 

puppets and memorabilia 

from the iconic 

science fiction shows of 

Gerry & Sylvia 

Anderson, Sat 24 - Sun 

25 Nov, RAF Museum, 

Cosford, Shropshire 

SANTA’S SPECTACULAR 

GROTTO & FARM VILLAGE 

FUN Featuring fun fair 

rides, reindeer hunt 

and children’s shows, 


Hatton Country World, 

Warwick 

EVENING TOURS BY CAN- 

DLELIGHT Sat 24 - Sun 

Nov, Back to Backs, 

Birmingham 

THE WINTER 

MEMORABILIA SHOW The 

longest running and 

most established event 

for fans of movies, cult 

TV, comics, video 

games, sport & music... 


NEC Birmingham 

WARLEY NATIONAL 

MODEL RAILWAY 

EXHIBITION Annual 

national model railway 

exhibition, Sat 24 - Sun 

25 Nov, NEC, 

Birmingham 

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 

WEEKEND Sat 24 - Sun 

25 Nov, Cadbury World, 

Birmingham 

SANTA HUNTS Embark 

on a fun-filled search 

for Santa as costumed 

guides and magical 

clues point the way to 

Santa’s workshop, 

where a surprise gift 

awaits, Sat 24 - Sun 25 

Nov, Black Country 

Living Museum, Dudley 

CHRISTMAS GROTTO No 

child’s Christmas would 

be complete without a 

trip to see Father 

Christmas, Sat 24 - Sun 



LUDLOW MEDIEVAL 

CHRISTMAS FAYRE 

Jesters, entertainers 

and historical re-enactments 

create a perfect 

atmosphere in which to 

get ahead with your 

Christmas shopping, 


Ludlow Castle, South 

Shropshire 

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 

AND CRAFT FAYRE 

Featuring glassmaking 

demonstrations, open 

studios, stalls, trails 

and craft activities for 

children, Sat 24 - Sun 

25 Nov, Red House 

Glass Cone, Dudley 

11TH MALVERN DRIVE IN 

CLASSIC CAR & BIKE 

AUTOJUMBLE Sun 25 



Malvern 

CRAFT FAIR Sun 25 Nov, 

Ford Green Hall, Stokeon-Trent 

CHRISTMAS MEDIEVAL 

MARKET Sun 25 Nov, 



TOY COLLECTORS FAIR 

Sun 25 Nov, The Three 


Malvern 


Sun 25 Nov, Highbury 

Hall, Moseley, 

Birmingham 

STIR UP SUNDAY Make 

your very own 

Christmas pudding to 

take home, Sun 25 

Nov, Warwickshire 

Museum, Warwick 


MON 26 NOV 

CHRISTMAS CERAMIC 

WORKSHOP Christmasthemed 

clay modelling 

workshop, Mon 26 Nov, 

Coalport China 

Museum, Ironbridge, 

Shropshire 

FROM PARK TO PLATE 

Warden-led two hour 

guided walk though the 

parkland, Tues 27 Nov, 

Charlecote Park, 

Warwickshire 

MEET NIGELLA LAWSON 

Chance to meet the 

Domestic Goddess and 

purchase a signed 

copy of her latest book, 

Nigellissima, Tues 27 

Nov, Waterstones, New 

Street, Birmingham 


PUBLIC DRIFT DAY Wed 

28 Nov, Santa Pod 


THE BBC GOOD FOOD 

SHOW WINTER 2012 The 

biggest winter foodie 

event of the year, with 

speciality producers 

and live demos from 

top chefs including 

James Martin, Hairy 

Bikers and Gino 

D’Acampo... Wed 28 

Nov - Sun 2 Dec, NEC, 

Birmingham 

THE LUDLOW PUDDING 

EXPERIENCE Promising a 

great day out for foodies!, 

Wed 28 Nov, 


Rooms, South 

Shropshire 

NATIONAL TRUST 

LECTURE Discover why 

we celebrate Christmas 

in the way we do, Wed 

28 Nov, Royal Spa 


Spa 




Shropshire 

FANCY EVERGREENS: A 

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO 

TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS 

DECORATIONS Featuring 

a short tour of the 

Edwardian Locksmith’s 

House and demonstrations 

on how to make 

different types of traditional 

evergreen 

arrangements - just in 

time for advent, Thurs 

29 Nov, The 

Locksmith’s House, 

Willenhall 

VALUATION DAY: FINE ART 

& ANTIQUES Fieldings 

Auctioneers will be on 

hand to value your 

ceramics, jewellery, collectables, 

clocks, 

watches, books etc... 

Thurs 29 Nov, Bantock 

House & Museum, 

Wolverhampton 

BONNETS UP DAY An 

opportunity for technically 

minded types to 

get under the bonnets 

of three of the Heritage 

Motor Centre's cars, Fri 

30 Nov, Heritage Motor 

Centre, Gaydon, 

Warwickshire 

CHRISTMAS WREATH 

MAKING Expert driven 

workshop where visitors 

can learn about the 

different techniques 

used to make wreaths 

before getting creative 

and making their very 

own festive decoration 

to take home, Fri 30 

Nov, Kenilworth Castle 

A CRAFTPLAY CHRISTMAS 

AT BANTOCK Explore all 

that glitters and shimmers 

in a special seasonal 

sensory and creative 

event for children 

aged nought to four 

years, Fri 30 Nov, 

Bantock House & 

Museum, 

Wolverhampton 

CHRISTMAS AT 

COUGHTON See the 

house decorated for 

Christmas before the 

family arrives, and celebrations 

begin... Fri 30 

Nov, Coughton Court, 


FROST FAIR Annual 

event featuring quality 

local craft and food 

stalls and plenty of 

inspiration for 

Christmas gifts, Fri 30 

Nov - Sun 2 Dec, 

Attingham Park, 

Shrewsbury 

NATIVITY TRAIL Telling 

the original Christmas 

story through the eyes 

of some of the world’s 

greatest artists, Fri 30 

Nov - Mon 24 Dec, 


Art Gallery 


Variety is the 

Life Of Spice.. 

Come out to play with a huge network of new friends. 

A warm welcome awaits you! 

Wouldn’t you love to be invited to 

join a thriving club of 3000 friends 

in the West Midlands (and 15,000 

nationally!) who really know how 

to enjoy themselves? 

Well here’s your chance. We’re a 

friendly, local action, adventure and 

social group offering a wide variety 

of opportunities for our members to 

have fun together. 

There’s literally something for 

everyone; be it the latest adrenaline 

pumping outdoor activities… 

weekends & holidays… sports 

nights… workshops on fascinating 

subjects… or social nights including 

theatre, parties and ‘behind the 

scenes’ visits to all sorts of unusual 

places you’ve always wanted to go. 

Events take place at locations 

across the West Midlands. Lots of 

our members are single and come 

along on there own, but we also 

welcome couples and groups of 

friends. There’s no hidden agenda 

– we’re just one happy family of 

friends. Members are all ages 

(18–80!) and from all walks of life. 

The one unifying factor of anyone 

joining Spice is that they want to live 

life to the full. 

Membership is equivalent to the 

cost of just a pint of beer a week. 

In fact, our money back promise 

means that satisfaction is 

guaranteed. 

Get your FREE comprehensive 

information pack today call: 

0121 353 6161 (24 hours) 

email claire@spicebham.com 

or visit www.spicebham.com 

So what will 

you be doing 

tomorrow? 

“It’s an opportunity to get to do lots of things you wouldn’t otherwise do

Thursday 1st November 

■ Halesowen and Quinton Pub Night 

■ Movember 2012 - Join our Spice Team 

■ Nine Steps to Happiness 

■ Proof House Private Tour 

Friday 2nd November 

■ Halloween Sleepover Party Night 

Saturday 3rd November 

■ Barnt Green + Lickey Hills Ramble 

■ Deer Walk with a Ranger at 

Bradgate Park 

■ Off Road Karting 

■ Sandra's Bon Voyage Party 

■ Sandra's Bon Voyage Party 

Accomodation packages 

■ Scuba Taster Morning Experience 

■ The Idiot B*stard Band 

■ Walk with Wolves - Bedford 

■ Western Style Rifle Shooting Afternoon 

■ Wyre Forest Mountain Biking 

+ Map Reading 

Sunday 4th November 

■ Fire Eating Workshop (in tribute to Bob) 

■ Firework Spectacular at Tutbury 

■ Glass Art Workshop 

■ Golf - Learn to Play in a Day 

(Warwickshire) 

■ Land Yachting Introduction 

■ Power Kiting and Kite Buggy Full Day 

■ Whittington + Hopwas Moderate 

Ramble 

■ Wrekin Ramble 

Monday 5th November 

■ Badminton For Fun - Worcester 

Tuesday 6th November 

■ Adventure Golf at Star City! 

■ Life Behind The Lens 

■ Make up Application Skills for Beginners 

Wednesday 7th November 

■ Badminton For Fun - Coventry 

■ Badminton For Fun - Wolverhampton 

■ Curry and Quiz - Solihull 

■ Felicity Aston - Alone in Antarctica 

■ Fencing for Beginners 

■ Tamworth and Lichfield Pub Night 

■ Walking With The Wounded 

Thursday 8th November 

■ Indian Dhol Drumming 

■ Preview Evening (MAC) 

■ Rodizio Rico Dining Experience at 

The Cube 

Friday 9th November 

■ Ballachulish Bargain Break 

■ Coniston and South Lakes Walking 

Weekend 

■ New Members Easy Walking Weekend 

■ Night in the Trenches 

■ North Downs Walking and Social 

Weekend 

Saturday 10th November 

■ Abseiling for the Terrified 

■ Barber Institute Tour 

■ Glass Blowing Workshop - Make a 

Christmas Bauble 

■ Hawks, Owls, Tudors and Battles 

■ Kinder Scout Night Ramble 

■ Kinder Southern Edge Day Ramble 

■ Knowle Easy Ramble 

■ Lichfield/Trent Valley Easy Moderate 

Cycle 

■ Practical Tactical Airsoft Shooting 

What our members are up to in November 2012 

■ Rally Driving Lesson 

■ Turkish Bath and Swim 


■ Beginners Horse Trek 

■ Birmingham at War Afternoon Walk 

■ Go Ape in Cannock 

■ Helicopter Lesson 

■ Malverns South and Eastnor Ramble 

■ Segway Intro and Woodland Race 

at Garlands 



■ Spice Book Club 


■ Asian Funeral Home Talk and Tour 

■ Solihull Pub Night 

■ Unihoc (Mixed Indoor Hockey) 



■ Badminton For Fun - 

Wolverhampton 

■ Badminton at NIA 

■ Slade and Sweet Live In Concert 

■ Stylistics at the Jam House 

■ Sutton Pub Night 


■ Blacksmithing Evening 

■ Ghost Walk of Sutton Coldfield 

■ Warwick / Leamington Pub Night 


■ Friday Fish and Chips Race Night 

■ Llangollen Luxury Walking Weekend 

■ Mendips and Cheddar Gorge 

Walking Weekend 

■ Serenity Weekend 

■ Spanish Riding School of Vienna 


■ BBC Birmingham Behind the 

Scenes 

■ Barn Dance and Supper 

■ Beginners Motorbiking 

■ Broadway Ramble 

■ Fast Effective Reading Day Workshop 

■ Glass Blowing Workshop - Make a 

Christmas Bauble 

■ Lichfield Cathedral Library Tour 

■ Trick Horse Riding 

■ Vulcan Bomber Restoration 

Experience 

■ What to Wear Workshop 


■ Dance Routine to "I Gotta Feeling!" 

■ How to Make Friends and Influence 

People 

■ Medieval Jousting 

■ Microlighting Experience Flight 

■ Mountain Biking for Beginners 

■ SWAT Training Mission 

■ Ultimate Craft Day at Redhouse Cone 

■ Wilmcote Easy Ramble 



■ Bromsgrove Pub Night 


■ Drumming Experience for Beginners 

■ Kings Heath Pub Night 

■ Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway Plaza) 

Wednesday 21st November 




■ Cotswold Outdoor Discount Evening 

■ Personal Safety for Women 

■ Pub Games Night 

Thursday 22nd November 

■ Cooking Masterclass Show - Easy 

Christmas Entertaining 

■ Curry and Quiz - Wolverhampton 

■ Furry Fables -Stories of our British 

Mammals 

Friday 23rd November 

■ Indoor Shooting 

■ Murder Mystery Evening at 

Dunsley Hall 

■ Shootout and Party Food at the 

Kiddies Playcentre! 

■ Spice Hits Town at the Jam House 

■ Welsh Cottage Walking Break 


■ Caer Carodoc Ramble 

■ Early Morning At Dudley Zoo 

■ Hoar Cross Easy Ramble and Lunch 

■ Jazz Night and Chinese Meal 

■ Kurburgring Karting! 

■ McLaren MP4-12C Thrill 

■ Off Road Driving Day at Wrexham 

■ Rally Driving Lesson 

■ Symonds Yat Adventure Mission 


■ Aircraft Wreck Trek 

■ Clent Easy/Moderate Ramble 

■ Glass Art Workshop 

■ Learn to Horse Ride in a Day 

■ Mickleton Ramble 

■ Quad Bike Trekking at Garlands 



■ Learn to Snowboard Course 

■ Recreational Skiing 

■ Singers Hill Synagogue Visit 

■ Ski Lesson - Beginners 

■ Tubing Session 


■ Blacksmithing Evening 

■ Cinderella by Birmingham Royal Ballet 

■ Confessions of a Tour Guide 

■ Indoor Climbing at Redpoint 





■ Quiz 


■ Movember Moustached Mexican Meal 

■ Unihoc (Mixed Indoor Hockey) 


■ Charity Sleep Out 

■ Portland and Dorset Walking Weekend 

■ The Merry Wives Of Windsor 

■ Windermere Hydro Walking Weekend 

■ York Christmas Markets Social and Party 

Weekend 

For future listings visit: 

www.spicebham.com 

...and meet lots of people you wouldn’t otherwise meet”. Jamie, Spice member

Christmas 

countdown... 

As preparations for the forthcoming festivities gain momentum, What’s On takes a look at what Midlands 

audiences can expect from yet another bumper festive season of entertainment on offer in the region... 

The Midlands has always attracted some of the biggest names in 

showbiz for the Christmas period, and 2012 is certainly no exception. 

Birmingham Hippodrome favourite Brian Conley will be up for some 

swashbuckling fun at the venue when he heads an impressive cast in 

a festive version of Robinson Crusoe. He’s joined for the occasion by 

Birds Of A Feather star Lesley Joseph. Meanwhile, over in 

Wolverhampton, the Grand Theatre plays host to veteran entertainer 

Keith Harris and chums Orville and Cuddles, who’ll be performing 

alongside Benidorm and Loose Women presenter Sherrie Hewson, 

former Corrie shopkeeper Reg Holdsworth, and local lass Niki Evans 

in what’s sure to be a ‘giant’ performance of Jack And The Beanstalk. 

Stoke on Trent’s favourite Jonathan Wilkes will be shining his buttons 

Festive show LISTINGS 


productions, including times and dates, 


KNICK KNACK AND DOO 

DAD Presented by 

Lyngo Theatre, The 

Lowry and mac, Tues 13 

Nov - Sun 2 Dec, mac, 

Birmingham, £8.00 

JAMES AND THE GIANT 

PEACH Birmingham 

Stage Company present 

Roald Dahl's classic 

adventure for children, 


Feb, Old Rep, 

Birmingham, £12.00 - 

£18.50. Family tickets 

£56.00 

THE MOUSE AND HIS 

CHILD Tamsin Oglesby's 

adaptation of Russell 

Hoban's acclaimed children's 

tale, Sat 17 Nov - 

Sat 12 Jan, Royal 

Shakespeare Theatre, 

Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Tickets from £14.00 

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Sat 

17 Nov - Sat 19 Jan, 

New Vic Theatre, 

Newcastle-under-Lyme, 

£14.00 - £21.00 

THE WIND IN THE 

WILLOWS Alan Bennett's 

stage adaptation of 

Kenneth Grahame's 

classic tale, Wed 28 


Crescent Theatre, 


£28.00 

SLEEPING BEAUTY 

Featuring Iain Lauchlan 

as the Dame, Wed 28 



Coventry, £12.00 - 

£20.50 

WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR 

HUNT Adapted from the 

picture book written by 

Michael Rosen and 

illustrated by Helen 

Oxenbury, Sat 1 - Sun 

30 Dec, Warwick Arts 

Centre, Coventry, 

£12.00 (£10.00) 

CINDERELLA Presented 

by Image Theatre, Fri 

30 Nov - Mon 31 Dec, 

Crewe Lyceum, £14.00 

(£10.00) 

HELLO, DOLLY! Fri 30 

Nov - Sat 12 Jan, The 

Curve, Leicester, £9.75 

- £30.50 

ERIC IN WONDERLAND Fri 

30 Nov - Sat 15 Dec, 

New Vic Theatre, 

Newcastle-under-Lyme, 

£16.00 - £21.00 

SLEEPING BEAUTY 

Starring Linda Nolan as 

the Evil Carabosse, 

Mon 3 - Sun 30 Dec, 

Palace Theatre, 

Redditch, £14.50 - 

£17.50. Family tickets 

£61.00 

CINDERELLA Tue 4 - Sat 

29 Dec, Bedworth Civic 

Hall 

THE LION, THE WITCH 

AND THE WARDROBE 

Wed 5 - Sat 8 Dec, 

Dudley Little Theatre 

JACK AND THE 

BEANSTALK Thurs 6 Dec 

- Sun 13 Jan, Theatre 

Severn, Shrewsbury, 

£12.00 - £16.00 

SNOW WHITE Fri 7 - Mon 

31 Dec, Royal Spa 


Spa, £8.50- £13.50 

at the Regent Theatre, making a welcome return to the Potteries to 

star in Cinderella, while a Christmas show with a difference is heading 

to Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre, where Bonnie Langford 

takes top billing in Dolly Parton’s 9 To 5 The Musical. 

Alan Bennett’s adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved children’s 

tale The Wind In The Willows is sure to provide yet another festive 

treat, courtesy of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (showing at 

Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre). 

So why not check out our full run-down of ‘what's on where and with 

who’ this forthcoming Christmas - we've included ticket prices as well, 

to help you make an informed decision about how best to enjoy the 

festive season 2012... 

CINDERELLA Fri 7 - Mon 

31 Dec, The Place, 


Telford, £8.00 - £14.50. 

Family tickets £45.00 - 

£48.00 

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 

Fri 7 Dec - Sun 6 Jan, 

Lichfield Garrick, 

£13.50 - £22.50 

JACK AND THE 

BEANSTALK Featuring 

Loose Women presenter 

Sherrie Hewson as 

Lady Temple Savage, 

alongside Keith Harris, 

Orville and Cuddles, 

Sat 8 Dec - Sun 20 Jan, 

The Grand Theatre, 

Wolverhampton, £15.50 

- £25.50 

CRACKERS A brand new, 

crazy Christmas comedy, 

Sat 8 - Sat 22 Dec, 


Coventry, £7.75 - 

£14.25 (£7.50 - £12.25) 

GRIMM TALES Presented 

by Poole Hayes Youth 

Theatre, Wed 12 - Sun 

16 Dec, Arena Theatre, 

Wolverhampton, £9.00 

(£7.00) 

CINDERELLA Featuring 

Jonathan Wilkes, Thurs 

13 Dec - Fri 4 Jan, 

Regent Theatre, Hanley, 

Stoke-on-Trent, £9.50 - 

£30.25 

CINDERELLA Starring 

Ruth Madoc, Jamie 

Rickers and Emma 

Nowell, Thurs 13 Dec - 

Sun 6 Jan, Malvern 

Theatre, £11.00 - 

£22.00 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: 

THE ROCK 'N' ROLL PANTO 

The classic fairytale is 

given a rock'n'roll twist, 

Thurs 13 Dec - Sat 12 

Jan, Stafford 

Gatehouse Theatre, 

£16.95 (£12.95). Family 

£50.00 

DICK WHITTINGTON 

Starring Malcolm Stent, 

Fri 14 Dec - Mon 14 

Jan, Solihull Arts 

Complex, £11.00 - 

£17.50 

PETER PAN Sat 15 Dec - 

Sat 29 Dec, Blue 

Orange Theatre, 

Birmingham 

ROBINSON CRUSOE AND 

THE CARIBBEAN PIRATES 

Starring Brian Conley 

and Lesley Joseph, Sat 

15 Dec - Sun 27 Jan, 

Birmingham 

Hippodrome, £14.00 - 

£37.50 

9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL 

New musical comedy 

starring Bonnie 

Langford, Natalie 

Casey, Jackie Clune, 

Amy Lennox and Ben 

Richards, Mon 17 Dec - 

Sat 5 Jan, New 



£42.00 

PUSS IN BOOTS Thurs 20 

Dec - Tue 1 Jan, Bridge 

House Theatre, 

Warwick. Tickets from 

£9.50 

THE SELFISH GIANT 

Sealegs Puppet 

Theatre Company present 

an adaptation of 

Oscar Wilde's fairytale, 

Fri 21 - Sat 22 Dec, 


Theatre, £7.00. Family 

ticket £24.00 

THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD 

Tall Stories return with a 

musical stage adaptation 

of Julia 

Donaldson's award-winning 

story, Sat 22 Dec - 

Wed 16 Jan, 

Birmingham Town Hall, 

£10.50 


@ The Crescent Theatre 

Sheepcote St, Birmingham B16 8AE 

28 November to 19 January 

Tickets from £9, with Family Tickets available 

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company presents 

By Kenneth Grahame, adapted for the stage by Alan Bennett, 

additional lyrics and music by Jeremy Sams 

Christmas 2012 with The REP 

With music and merriment, 

The Wind in The Willows 

will keep you entertained 

and enthralled, no matter 

what your age! 

Book Online birmingham-rep.co.uk Box Office 0121 236 4455 

Registered Charity No.223660 



Box Office 01743 281 281 

Book Online www.theatresevern.co.uk 




Media SponSor 

What’s On 

MAGAZINE GROUP 

Over 100 stalls selling 

seasonal gifts with a 

medieval flavour 

LUDLOW CASTLE, 

LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE 

Saturday 10am ~ 9pm 

(last admission 8.30pm) 

Sunday 10am ~ 4pm 

(last admission 3.30pm) 

WITH MORE MUSIC, MINSTRELS, MERRIMENT 

AND MIRTH THAN EVER BEFORE 

Knights ~ Dragons ~ Giants ~ Juggler 

Minstrels ~ Dancers ~ Storytellers 

PLUS The bone-crunching Plantaganet’s Combat 

Stanchester Quire’s Saturday Night Christmas Carols 

Wynndebagge’s Winter Warmer Show 

Falconry Displays ~ Motley Minstrels’ Gathering 

The Bed of Nails and Fire Juggling 

For details & tickets ring 

Ludlow Visitor Information Centre on 01584 875053 

or visit our website... 

Thurs 8 - Sun 11 November 

OPEN 9.30AM - 5.30PM (SUN 5.00PM) 

Exclusive 

Show Offers 

& Free 

Workshops! 

Buy tickets on-line www.ichf.co.uk 

or phone Ticket Hotline 01425 277988 

Tickets: Adults £9 in advance, £11 on the door 

Seniors £8 in advance, £10 on the door 

Children under 16 FREE if acc by parent 

International 

400 

OVER 

EXHIBITORS! 

3 SHOWS 

PRICE OF 1 

SAVE 

£2 OFF 

.00 

EACH ADULT AND SENIOR TICKET 

ORDERED BY 5PM MON 5TH NOVEMBER 

The world’s largest Sugarcraft, Cake Decorating & Baking Show! 

9-11 NOVEMBER 

Open 9.30am - 5.30pm (Sunday 5pm) 

Separate Entry Price Tickets: Adults £10 in advance, 

£12 on the door Seniors £9 in advance, £11 on the door 

Separate 

Entry Fee




THE 

Great Barr 

HOTEL 

Christmas Parties 

from £17.95 Inc. buffet & disco 

Christmas Family Sunday Lunch 

Adults from £16.95, Children from £10.95 

Sing-a-long Lunch 

£15.95 Inc. 3 course Christmas meal, raffle, bingo & 

hits from “the blitz” 

Christmas Day lunch 

Adults £59.50, Children £29.95 

New Years Eve 

from £39.95 Inc. Gala Buffet & Disco 

Full Christmas Brochure 

Available to download from 

www.thegreatbarrhotel.com 

Great Barr Hotel, 

Pear Tree Drive, Great Barr. 

B43 6HS Tel: 0121 357 1141 

BOOKINGS 

0800 

373 853 


classifieds 

GREAT CAR PARKS 

THROUGHOUT 

THE MIDLANDS 

INCLUDING OUR HURST ST CAR PARK 

IN THE HEART OF 

SOUTHSIDE, BIRMINGHAM 

JUST 200 YARDS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THEATRE, 

THE GLEE CLUB AND ARCADIAN CENTRE 

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST CAR PARK OR TO 

DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF A SEASON TICKET VISIT: 


 

www.ncp.co.uk 

Taking all Christmas party bookings now! 

Special Offers & Party Packages 

on all business staff parties. 

● V.I.P Areas 

● Extensice Luxurious Bar, 

● Private Waitress Service & Sexy Dancers Around 

● Ladies Welcome 

Tel: 0121 643 8553 

info@thesunsetclub.co.uk 

www.thesunsetclub.co.uk. 

89 Holloway Head, 

Birmingham City Centre B1 1QP 

BOOK 

NOW!

Clubbing 

BIRMINGHAM 

AIR Heath Mill Lane, Digbeth, B9 4AL. Tel: 

0121 766 6646 

BAMBU Kottwall House, Wrottesley Street, 

B5 4BN Tel: 0121 6224124 

BUSHWACKERS 103 Edmund St, B3 2HZ 

Tel: 0121 236 4994 

FLARES NIGHTCLUB 55 Broad St, B15 

1AY Tel: 0121 252 3100 

GATECRASHER 183 Broad St, 

B15 1DA Tel: 0121 525 1300 

02 ACADEMY 16-18 Horsefair, Bristol St, 

B1 1DB Tel: 0121 622 8250 

REFLEX 36-37 Broad St, B1 2DY Tel: 

0121 643 0444 

SNOBS NIGHTCLUB 29 Paradise Circus, 

Queensway, B1 2BJ Tel: 0121 643 5551 

BLACK COUNTRY 

OCEANA WOLVERHAMPTON Bilston Rd, 

Wolverhampton Tel: 0845 402 5290 

SHROPSHIRE 

C:21 NIGHTCLUB 21 Abbey Foregate, 

Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 271821 

BUTTERMARKET Howard Street, 

Shrewsbury Tel: 01743 281712 

VELVET 13 Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury 

SY1 2DJ Tel: 01743 281712 

FEVER 19 - 21 Hills Lane, Shrewsbury 

SY1 1QU Tel: 01743 247508 

THE OFFICE 27a Market Street, 

Oakengates TF2 6EN Tel:01952 616536 

PUSSYCATS NIGHT CLUB 17 Tan Bank, 

Wellington, TF2 6EJ Tel: 01952 224260 

SPIRIT NIGHTCLUB 18 Abbey Foregate, 

Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 355055 

STAFFORDSHIRE 

COURTURE & NOIRE ET BLANC 139 

Newport Rd, Stafford, ST16 2EZ Tel: 01785 

244755 

LIQUID Brunswick St, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 

1DR Tel: 01782 284333 

REFLEX 3-5 Brockley Square, Stoke-on- 

Trent ST1 5LY Tel: 01782 206170 

TRINITY NIGHTCLUB Spinning School 

Lane, Tamworth,ST1 1DR Tel: 01827 58772 

WARWICKSHIRE 

CAREYS NIGHTCLUB Hereford Place, 

Coventry CV1 3JZ Tel: 02476 227 397 

EVOLVE NIGHTCLUB 2 Spencer Street, 

Leamington Spa, Coventry CV31 3NF Tel: 

01926 881449 

JJ’S Skydome Leisure Park, Croft Rd, 

Coventry CV1 3AZ. Tel: 02476 555913 

LIQUID & ENVY Leicester Road, 

Nuneaton CV11 4B. Tel: 02476 344216 

REFLEX Church St, Nuneaton, CV11 4BW 

Tel: 02476 344216 

WORCESTERSHIRE 

BUSHWACKERS Trinity St, Worcester 

WR1 2PW Tel: 01905 26878 

TRAMPS Angel Place, Worcester WR1 

3QN Tel: 019905 26936 

VELVET LOUNGE Angel Place, Worcester 

WR1 3QN. Tel: 01905 619966 

Party mischief on the cards in Brum 

The Custard Factory, Birmingham, Thurs 8 - Sat 10 November & Thurs 15 - Sat 17 November 

Two weekends of ‘epic clubbing adventures’ are on the cards this month when The Town rolls into 

Birmingham for the first ever time. The Old Library in the city’s Custard Factory is playing host to 

what’s being described as ‘the ultimate funhouse’, bringing together exciting DJs and live acts. The 

party fun is kicked off on the first Thursday by the Scratch Perverts - aka Tony Vegas and Prime Cuts 

- who’re considered to be among the best turntablists in the world today. The Other Tribe, Stealing 

Signs, Chew Lips, Leftside Wobble, Sam Redmore and DJ Sam Pepper are just a handful of the 

other acts booked to appear. For a full line-up, visit, www.thetown.co.uk 

Gay SCENE 

Little Mix reschedule Nightingale date 

Nightingale Club, Birmingham, Sat 17 November 

X Factor 2011 winners Little Mix are set to bring their brand of 

high-energy pop to Birmingham’s gay village mid-month 

when they perform at the Nightingale Club. The British fourpiece, 

comprising Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne 

Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall, shot to stardom last year when 

they became the first group ever to win The X Factor. The girls 

were first scheduled to appear at the Nightingale back in 

September, but had to cancel due to illness. Let’s hope 

they’re on top form for this, their debut solo gig in the city... 

GAY NIGHTCLUBS 

BIRMINGHAM 

CLUB CHIC 28 Horsefair, B1 1DD. 

Tel: 0121 666 6808 

THE CORE Sherlock Street, B5 6NB 

Tel: 0121 622 2797 

THE NIGHTINGALE Kent St, B5 6RD 

Tel: 0121 622 1718 

THE VILLAGE INN & UNDERGROUND 

152 Hurst St, B5 6RY Tel: 0121 622 4742 

BLACK COUNTRY 

THE LION Birchills St, Walsall, WS2 8NG 

Tel: 01922 610977 

GORGEOUS Salop St Wolverhampton, 

WV3 0SR Tel: 0844 357 8570 

SHROPSHIRE 

C21 18-21 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. 

SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 271821 (MON ONLY) 

SPIRIT 22 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, 

SY2 6AE Tel: 01743 355055 (MON ONLY) 

STAFFORDSHIRE 

THE FACTORY Bryan St, Hanley, Stoke- 

On-Trent, ST1 2AA Tel: 01782 478799 

WARWICKSHIRE 

RAINBOWS Short St, Coventry CV1. 

Tel: 02476 551738 

WORCESTERSHIRE 

VELVET CLUB Angel Row, Worcester, 

WR1 3QN Tel: 01905 20218 


Books TV 

Camp David 

By David Walliams 

As one half of the award-winning 

comedy duo behind much-loved 

TV series Little Britain, David 

Walliams earned instant celebrity 

status, with people around the 

country mimicking some of the 

show’s many famous catchphrases, 

including, "eh eh eh eh" and 

"computer says no". But behind 

the comedy lies a man who’s 

both complex and fascinating; a 

man who possesses a sharp intellect, 

a sensitive disposition and a 

refreshing honesty - and who’s 

often described as 'a bundle of 

contradictions'. Now, with the 

publication of his autobiography, 

readers are provided with a 

wealth of material to help them 

unravel the mystery that is David Walliams. Providing a candid insight into 

his life, Camp David tells of Walliams’ childhood growing up in the ‘posh 

end’ of Banstead in the 1970s, his strained relationship with his father, and 

why he remains a ‘mummy’s boy’ to this very day... 

Pete Townshend: Who I Am 

By Pete Townshend 

Regarded as one of the greatest musical 

talents Britain has ever produced, Pete 

Townshend is not only the principle songwriter 

and lead guitarist for The Who, he’s 

also credited with being the creator of the 

concept album, has worked as a literary 

editor, developed scripts for stage and TV, 

and written songs that have defined a 

generation. Now, in what’s being 

described as one of the most eagerly 

awaited autobiographies of recent times, 

Townshend shares stories from his incredible 

life, describing what it’s like to be one 

of the world’s most respected musicians 

in one of rock’s greatest ever bands, and why he’s wanted to give it all up. 

Rod: The Autobiography 

By Rod Stewart 

Described as ‘the rock autobiography of 

the decade’, Rod Stewart’s new book 

offers an entertaining and revealing 

account of the rock’n’roll lifestyle of one of 

Britain’s most endearing artists. Now a 

dedicated family man, Rod’s fifty years as 

a musician have seen him produce one of 

the most memorable rock anthems of all 

time, be inducted into the Hall of Fame 

twice, perform the world’s largest ever 

concert, and play out his not-so-private life 

- the marriages, divorces and affairs with 

some of the world’s most beautiful women 

- for all the world to see. This honest and 

frank account charts the journey that Rod 

took from being a plumber’s son in North 

London to an international star. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

TOP 5 

BOOKS 

The Casual Vacancy 

JK Rowling 

Cheryl: My Story 

Cheryl Cole 

Jamies 15-Minute Meals 

Jamie Oliver 

The Hairy Dieters 

The Hairy Bikers 

Fifty Shades Freed 

EL James 

James Corden to bring new crime thriller 

to the BBC... 

Award-winning Gavin And Stacey star James Corden has joined 

forces with fellow actor Matthew Baynton (Deano in Gavin And 

Stacey) to produce a new crime caper for the BBC. The new 

six-part comedy thriller centres around two hapless office workers 

who become inadvertently caught up in a criminal conspiracy 

and find themselves hurled into a deadly underworld. 

Corden and Baynton began devising the storyline when they 

worked together on Gavin And Stacey, and Baynton recently 

commented that he was excited to be finally ‘making it a reality’. 

Filming on The Wrong Mans commences in January. 

Casting announced for The Syndicate 

Casting for a second series of the much-acclaimed drama The 

Syndicate has been announced by the BBC. Mark Addy (Great 

Expectations), Alison Steadman (Gavin And Stacey), Jimi Mistry 

(EastEnders), Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey) and Natalie 

Gavin (Prisoners’ Wives) have all been confirmed for the six-part 

series, which follows a syndicate of five poorly paid Bradford 

hospital workers who share a life-changing win on the lottery. 

Filming begins on new ITV drama 

ITV has announced that filming on the latest addition to their 

portfolio of new drama has now commenced. Set during the 

London Blitz of 1940, Murder On The Home Front is loosely 

based on the memoirs of Molly Lefebure, a World War Two secretary 

to Home Office Pathologist and pioneer of modern forensics 

Keith Simpson. Shedding new 

light on the everyday horrors of living 

in a city gripped by fear, Murder On 

The Home Front follows the working 

relationship of Dr Lennox Collins - a 

pathologist new to murder cases - 

and his secretary Molly Cooper. 

Together, the two discover that a serial 

killer is at large under cover of the 

Blitz, and set about convincing 

Lennox’s unsympathetic boss to have 

faith in their methods and theories. 

Patrick Kennedy and Tamzin 

Merchant head the cast, with the 

series due for screening next year. Tamzin Merchant

Eating Out 

Restaurant in search 

of reviewers... 

Birmingham’s Strada restaurant is on the lookout 

for budding reviewers willing to sample its new 

autumn menu. Twenty people, local to 

Birmingham, will be selected from those who 

submit an entry on the Strada website - closing 

date 9 November. Successful candidates will then 

be invited to pop along and titillate their tastebuds 

with some of the eatery’s new, freshly prepared 

authentic dishes. These include 

Strozzapreti Pugliese, Pizza Speck, Pollo 

Milanese and Tegamaccio, a Puglia-style stew of 

red mullet, clams, squid, mussels and prawns in 

a piquant home-made tomato and white wine 

sauce. For visitors with a sweet tooth, the 

tiramisu and the Cioccolato Fondente, with its 

melting chocolate centre, should prove the ultimate 

temptation. Interested in becoming a 

reviewer? Visit www.strada.co.uk for more details. 

Midlands chef through to final 

Liam Davies, chef at the Bar 8 Brasserie at 

Hogarth’s Hotel near Dorridge, Solihull, has 

earned himself a place in the finals of a national 

cookery competition. Liam - who works under 

Martin Blunos, Hogarth’s Michelin-starred 

Culinary Director 

- will join mentor 

chef Paul Foster 

from Tuddenham 

Mill in Suffolk in 

the final of 

Visionary Chef 

2012 at 

Northampton 

City College on 

29 November. 

Strada 

Liam Davies 

Birmingham restaurants 

sparkle for Diwali 

Diwali, the Indian festival of light, takes place 

mid-month, and two Birmingham restaurants 

have announced that they’re to celebrate the 

occasion with special Diwali-related menus. 

Moseley’s fine dining Itihaas restaurant is offering 

a special Diwali Thali for guests to enjoy between 

5 and 9 November, while over in Hall Green, The 

Horseshoe Bar and Restaurant is planning an 

evening of glitz and glamour with Bombay Bling 

on 17 November. 

Avant le theatre... le Truc 

REVIEW 

Le Truc is situated on 

Ladywell Walk in the 

Arcadian Centre, just a 

stone’s throw away from 

the Birmingham 

Hippodrome. As such, it’s 

an obvious place to grab a 

bite to eat before a show - 

which is exactly what we 

did. 

The restaurant presents a 

fine wooden façade, with 

numerous windows 

through which to preview 

the venue’s curious décor. 

Inside, its appearance is 

smart-casual and stylish, 

with more than a nod to 

artistic decadence, the 

main wall being decorated 

with caricatured portraits of 

Serge Gainsbourg, lit by 

boudoir-style chandeliers. 

This obvious homage is a 

clue to the connections Le 

Truc has with both the 

Birmingham and European 

art scene. The restaurant 

was recently involved in 

the visual pop culture festival 

Eye Candy, and this 

month is one of a number 

of venues in both 

Birmingham and Berlin to 

be hosting the art exhibition 

Frame, which showcases 

work by both local 

and international artists. All 

this we discovered while 

talking with Le Truc’s 

General Manager Tim, 

whose enthusiasm for both 

food and art was contagious. 

But this was all an added 

bonus - we came for the 

food, after all! Two menus 

were on offer; the dinner 

menu, available from 5pm 

to 7.30pm, and the a la 

carte. Individually, they 

offered a varied selection - 

together, we were spoiled 

for choice. After some 

deliberation on our part 

and knowledgeable assistance 

from our lovely waitress, 

a decision was made 

- chicken liver parfait with 

toast, pear and apple chutney 

for me; potted shrimp 

and toast for my dining 

companion. My parfait was 

indeed ‘parfait’; amazingly 

light and flavoursome, with 

the sweet chutney a delicious 

accompaniment. My 

fellow diner enjoyed the 

shrimp, which came with 

more than a hint of lemon. 

For main course, there was 

only ever one choice for 

me - the cassoulet; a 

hearty feast of traditional 

French sausage, chicken 

and cannellini beans 

cooked in a rich tomato 

sauce. I love it, and I wasn’t 

disappointed. My com- 

panion stayed with the dinner 

menu and had what he 

described as the best lamb 

shank he’d ever tasted - 

beautifully flavoured and 

accompanied by fantastically 

cheesy Chez Jules 

gratin. My choices, all from 

the a la carte, cost £18.50. 

My co-diner’s, from the 

dinner menu, £13.50 (£18 

with wine and coffee). 

Water was provided at the 

table, so there was no 

pressure to buy drinks - 

my glass of sauvignon was 

most definitely wanted! 

Although our meal was 

enjoyed at a leisurely 

pace, we still got to the 

theatre in good time. But 

we didn’t have the chance 

to sample from the dessert 

menu or sip cocktails afterwards 

in the chic bar area, 

so a return visit to Le Truc 

is most definitely sur les 

cartes. Ted Finlay 

Food: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Service: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Ambience: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Overall value ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

OVERALL ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Le Truc, 

21 Ladywell Walk, 

Birmingham, 

B5 4ST 

Tel: 0121 622 7050 


Restaurant REVIEWS 

Variety is the spice 

of life... 

Located near the Hippodrome’s 

side entrance, Chung Ying 

Garden has occupied its spot in 

Birmingham’s China Town since 

1987. 

With its low ceilings, and tables 

accommodating large parties as 

well as couples and small 

groups, it was easy to feel at 

home on our visit. While this 

Cantonese restaurant doesn’t 

possess the flash contemporary 

interiors of some of its newer 

neighbours, what it does offer in 

spades is variety; this became 

quickly apparent when we were 

presented with a menu which 

resembled the This Is Your Life 

book - complete with its own 

contents page! 

Choices included meat-based 

dishes ranging from paperwrapped 

venison to deep-fried 

duck, seafood dishes aplenty, 

and options for those wishing to 

sample a set menu or deluxe 

banquet. Vegetarians were also 

very well catered for on a menu 

that boasted plenty of food typical 

to Hong Kong. And, if a 

favourite Cantonese or Chinese 

dish happened to be absent, 

the chefs - some of whom have 

been with the restaurant for 

twenty years - were happy to 

whip it up. 

Some starters seemed a little 

pricey, particularly the deepfried 

mixed vegetables I 

ordered, which, at £8, rivalled 

the cost of the vegetarian 

mains. However, when a huge 

plate arrived, it was evident that 

I should have shared it 

(although as it was delicious, I 

would have found that difficult!). 

My dining companion tucked 

into battered butterfly king 

prawns. While undoubtedly 

good, at a cost of £11 the 

prawns should perhaps have 

been fully shelled. We both followed 

up our starters by sam- 


pling the restaurant’s famous 

dim sums - there are two pages’ 

worth of fillings from which to 

choose. These were positively 

divine, and at prices of between 

£2 and £4, are a real must-have 

whenever you visit. 

Mains, again, were very generous 

in size. I opted for a rather 

spicy vegetarian Ma Por tofu 

(£8.50), which packed a real 

punch. 

Although near fit-to-burst, we 

finished with very reasonably 

priced desserts (the drinks, too, 

were well priced by restaurant 

standards, again making Chung 

Ying Garden a thumbs-up for 

group visits.) 

The upstairs function room has 

played host to a variety of 

events over the years, but 

apparently restaurant diners 

could soon be treated to live 

music as part of their dining-out 

experience. If so, we will most 

certainly be making a return 

visit, to sample a few more of 

the three hundred-plus dishes 

on offer. Claire Lloyd 

Food: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Service: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Ambience: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Overall value ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

OVERALL ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 

Chung Ying Garden 

17 Thorp Street 

Birmingham China Town 

B5 4AT 

Tel: 0121 666 6622 

LOOKING FOR A 

RESTAURANT ON YOUR 

DOORSTEP? 

VISIT 



for Birmingham and the West Midlands 

Restaurant LISTINGS 

For full listing information on 

restaurants, including opening times and type of cuisine, 

visit: www.whatsonlive.co.uk 

Birmingham 

AALTO RESTAURANT 

Hotel La Tour, Albert 

Street, Birmingham B5 

5JT 0121 718 8000 

AL FRASH 186 Ladypool 

Road, Sparkbrook, B12 

8JS 0121 753 3120 

THE ASQUITH 11 Newhall 

Street, Birmingham, 

B3 3NY 0121 200 1588 

ASHA’S 12-22 Newhall 

Street, B3 3LX 0121 

200 2767 

AZZARI TOO 

204 Lightwoods Rd, 

B67 5AZ 0121 429 

6621 

BANK 4 Brindleyplace, 

B1 2JB 0121 633 4466 

BAR EPERNAY 171-172 

Wharfside Street, 

The Mailbox, B1 1RL 

0121 632 1430 

BAR ESTILO 10-114 

Wharfside St, The 

Mailbox, B1 1RF 0121 

643 3443 

BARNT GREEN INN 

Kendal End Rd, Rednal 

B45 8PZ 0121 445 

4949 

BARAJEE 265 Broad St, 

B1 2DS 0121 643 6700 

BELLA ITALIA 102 New 

St, B2 4HQ 0121 

6431548 

BERLIOZ Burlington 

Arcade, New St, B2 

4JQ 

0121 633 1737 

BLUE MANGO Regency 

Wharf, Broad St, B1 

2DS 

0121 633 4422 

BLUE GINGER 32 Poplar 

Road, Kings Heath, 

B14 7AD 0121 444 

0999 

BLUU Fleet St, Summer 

Row, B3 1JH 0121 236 

9013 

BRANDED BULL STEAK- 

HOUSE 175 Broad 

Street, B15 1DT 0121 

643 5968 

BUONISSIMO 1 Albany 

Rd, Harborne, B17 9JX 

0121 426 2444 

BYZANTIUM 11 York 

Road, Kings Heath, 

B14 7SA 0121 444 

5444 

CAFE IKON 1 Oozells 

Square, Brindleyplace, 

B1 2HS 0121 248 3226 

CAFE ROUGE 

Brindleyplace, Broad 

Street, B1 2HJ 0121 

643 6556 

CAFE SOYA Unit 2, 

Upper Dean Street B5 

4SG 0121 622 3888 

CARLUCCIO’S The 

Water’s Edge, 

Brindleyplace 

B1 2HP 0121 633 9262 

CELEBRITY INDIAN 

44 Broad St, B1 2HP 

0121 643 8969 

THE CHAMELEON 1 

Victoria Square, B1 

1BD 0121 643 2233 

CHEZ JULES 5a Ethel St, 

B2 4BG 0121 633 

4664 

CHI 61 Newhall St, 

B3 3RB 0121 233 3150 

CHUNG YING 

16-18 Wrottersley 

Street, B5 4RT 0121 

622 5669 

CHUNG YING GARDEN 17 

Thorpe St, B5 4AT 

0121 666 6622 

CIELO 6 Oozells Square, 

Brindleyplace, B1 2JB 

0121 632 6882 

CITY CAFE GRILL Hylton 

Garden Inn, 1 

Brunswick Square, 

Brindleyplace, B1 2HW 

0121 643 1003 

COFFEE ROOM BAR & 

BISTRO Hurst St, B5 

4TD 0121 605 4343 

COTE The Mailbox, 

B1 1RX 0121 631 1587 

CUCINA RUSTICA 24 

Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX 

0121 233 2277 

DEL VILLAGGIO 

Unit 528, Middle Mall, 

The Bullring. B5 4BE 

0121 643 1400 

DEOLALI BAR RESTAU- 

RANT 

23A St Mary's Row, 

Moseley B13 8HW 

0121 442 2222 

DUET CUISINE Unit 1, 

Fort Dunlop. B24 9FD 

0121 748 1234 

EDMUNDS 6 Brindley 

place, B1 2JB 0121 

633 4944 

FUMO 1 Waterloo Street, 

Birmingham B2 5PG 

0121 643 9979 

HARJEES SPICES 512 

Stratford Road, 

Sparkhill, Birmingham, 

B11 4AH 

0121 773 6130 

THE HORSESHOE BAR & 

RESTAURANT 1214 

Stratford Road, B28 

9BH 0121 777 

2340 

ITIHAAS 18 Fleet St, B3 

1JL 0121 212 3383 

ITIHAAS BRASSERIE 

Selfridges Food Hall, 

Bullring, Birmingham 

B5 4BP 0121 212 3383 

JAMIES ITALIAN Middle 

Mall, Bullring Shopping 

Centre, B5 4BE 

0121 270 3610 

JIMMY SPICES Regency 

Wharf, Broad St, B1 

2DS 0121 643 2111 

JUJU’S Canal Square, 

B16 8EH 0121 456 

3384 

THE JUNCTION 212 High 

Street, Harborne, B17 

9PT 0121 428 2635 

KINNAREE THAI 22 

Waterfront Walk, B1 

1SN. 0121 665 6568 

LA BANCA 1986 

Pershore Road, 

Cotteridge, Kings 

Norton, Birmingham 

B30 3AS 0121 459 

2204 

LA BASTILLE 220 

Corporation St, B4 6QB 

0121 236 1171 

LAS IGUANAS Arcadian 

Centre, Hurst St, B5 

4TD 0121 622 4466 

LA PLANCHA 113 

Alcester Road, 

Moseley, Birmingham 

B13 8DD 0121 449 

5430 

LASAN 3-4 Dakota 

Buildings, James St, St 

Paul’s Square, B3 1SD 

0121 212 3664 

THE LOFT LOUNGE 

143 Bromsgrove St, 

B5 6RG 0121 622 

2444 

LOVES The Glasshouse, 

Browning St, B16 8FL 

0121 454 5151 

MANIC ORGANIC 

46 Poplar Road, 

B14 7AG 0121 441 

3802 

MAHARAJA 23/25 Hurst 

St, B5 4AS 0121 622 

2641 

MECHU 47 - 59 Summer 

Row, B3 1JJ 0121 212 

1661 

METRO BAR & GRILL 73 

Cornwall St, B3 2DF 

0121 200 1911 

MILLER & CARTER 178- 

180 Wharfside St, The 

Mailbox, B1 1RN 

0121 643 7738 

MINT Yew Tree Retail 

Park, Stoney Lane 

Yardley, B25 8YP 

0121 789 8908 

MIRAGE FUSION 

Broadway Casino, 

Broadway Plaza 

Ladywood Middleway, 

B16 8LP 0121 456 

5557 

MOUNT FUJI The 

Bullring, B5 4BH 0121 

633 9853 

OLD JOINTSTOCK PUB 4 

Temple Row, B2 5NY 

0121 200 1892 

NATHANIEL’S RESTAU- 

RANT 13 St Mary’s Row, 

Moseley, Birmingham, 

B13 8HW, 0121 449 

9618 

OLD SPECKLED HEN 

Mere Green Road, 

Sutton Coldfield. B75 

5BL 0121 308 9410 

OPUS 54 Cornwall St, 

B3 2DE 0121 200 2323 

THE ORIENTAL The 

Mailbox, 128-130 

Wharfside St, B1 1RQ 

0121 633 9988 

PASTA DE PIAZZA 11 

Brook Street, St Paul’s 

Square, B3 1SA 

0121 236 5858 

PEACHY KEENS 1741 

Coventry Road, Yardley 

B26 1DS 0121 764 

5519 

PENNY BLACKS 

The Mailbox, 132-134 

Wharfside St, B1 1XL 

0121 632 1460 

PEPPERS 5b Broad 

Street, Birmingham B15 

1EJ 0121 633 4411 

PICCOLINO 

9 Brindleyplace, B1 

2HS 0121 634 3055 

PITCHER & PIANO 

Brindleyplace, B1 2HP 

0121 643 0214 

PONTE DI LEGNO 44-44a 

Woodbridge Rd, 

Moseley, B13 8EJ 

0121 449 8064 

POPPY RED Arcadian 

Centre, Birmingham B5 

4TD 0121 687 1200 

PUNJABI HAVELI 1558 

Stratford Rd, Hall 

Green, B28 9HA 0121 

745 3636

PURNELL’S 55 Cornwall 

St, B3 2DH 0121 212 

9799 

PUSHKAR 245 Broad St, 

B1 2HQ 0121 643 7978 

THE RECTORY 50-54 St 

Paul’s Sq, B3 1QS 

0121 605 1001 

RED PEPPERS 117 

Wharfside St, B1 1RF 

0121 643 4202 

ROSE MURREE 94 -96 

Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, 

B16 8LU 0121 456 4500 

SABAI SABAI 

25 Woodbridge Rd, 

Moseley, B13 8EH 

0121 4494498 

SAN CARLO 4 Temple St, 

B2 5BN 0121 633 0251 

SHAH’S Unit 16, 1160 

Warwick Road, Acocks 

Green B27 6BP 0121 

707 8297 

SHIMLA PINKS 215 Broad 

St, B15 1AY 0121 633 

0366 

SHOGUN TEPPANYAKI 

The Mailbox, 27 - 29 

Wharfside St, B1 1RD 

0121 632 1253 

SIMPSONS, 20 Highfield 

Rd, Edgbaston B13 3DU 

0121 454 3434 

THE SLUG AND LETTUCE, 

Brindley Place, 

Birmingham B1 2HL 

0121 633 3049 

SPICE EXCHANGE, 

1845 Pershore Rd 

Kings Norton, B30 3DJ 

0121 451 1007 

STRADA 109-111 

Wharfside St, The 

Mailbox B1 1XL 

0121 643 7279 

SYRIANA 1 Constitution 

Hill, B19 3LG 0121 

2369444 

TGI FRIDAYS 180 Hagley 

Road, Edgbaston, 

Birmingham B16 9NY 

0121 454 1930 

THAI EDGE 7 Oozells Sq, 

B1 2HL 0121 643 3993 

TIN TIN CANTONESE, 

The Waters Edge, 

Brindleyplace, B1 2HL 

0121 633 0888 

ULYSSES 42a Bristol 

Street, B5 7AA 0121 622 

3159 

THE VAULTS Newhall 

Place, Newhall Hill, 

B1 3JH 0121 212 9837 

VMF - ASTON VILLA FOOT- 

BALL CLUB Villa Park, 

Trinity Rd, B6 6HE 0121 

326 1570 

WAGAMAMA Brindley 

Place, birmingham B1 

2HL 0121 643 7656 

THE WAREHOUSE CAFE 54- 

57 Allison Street, 

Digbeth, B5 5TH 

0121 633 0261 

WING WAH 278 

Thimblemill Lane, B7 

5HD 0121 327 7879 

WOKTASTIC Paradise 

Place, B3 3HJ 0121 236 

3130 

WONGS 5-11 Fleet St, B3 

1JP 0121 212 1888 

ZIZZI 183 High St, 

Harborne B17 9QE 

0121 428 4228 also at 

The Mailbox B1 1RL 

0121 632 1333. 

10 Poplar Rd, Solihull, 

B91 3AB 0121 704 5030 

ZORBAS 359-361 Olton 

Boulevard, Solihull B27 

7DP 0121 706 4709 

Black Country 

ARBOUR LIGHTS 127-128 

Lichfield Street, Walsall 

WS1 1SY 01922 613361 

BANKS BISTRO Chapel 

Ash, Wolverhampton 

WV1 4EP 01902 238433 

BELLA 82 Chapel Ash, 

Wolverhampton. 01902 

427555 

BENGAL FUSION 174 High 

St, Lye, Stourbridge DY9 

8LN. 01384 891111 

BILASH 2 Cheapside, 

Wolverhampton, WV1 

1TU 01902 427762 

THE BLUE BRICK 

Broad Gauge Way, 

Wolverhampton WV1 

1AA 01902 875301 

BRAVACCIOUS 4 Upper 

Green, Wolverhampton 

WV6 8QQ 01902 

756052 

CAFE CHAMPAGNE 253- 

255 Bilston Road, 


2JN 01902 458024 

CASA CASITA Upper 

Gornal, Dudley. DY3 

1UP 01902 676754 

CATELLANI’S 6 School St, 


4LR 01902 428928 

CINNAMON COURT Bentley 

Mill Way, Walsall WS2 

0BP 0121 568 6664 

THE COWSHED Clive 

Farm Clive Rd, 

Pattingham, WV6 7EN 

01902 701888 

THE CROOKED HOUSE 

Coppice Hill, Himley DY3 

4DA 01384 238583 

THE DITCH 1 Town Hill, 

Walsall, WS1 2EU 

01922 643215 

DON SALVO 25 Darlington 

Street, Wolverhampton 

WV1 4HW 01902 712819 

DUNSLEY HALL Dunsley 

Rd, Kinver, DY7 6LU 

01384 877077 

THE FAIRLAWNS AT 

ALDRIDGE 178 Little 

Aston Road, Aldridge, 

Walsall WS9 0NU 01922 

455122 

FARADAYS The 

Waterfront, Brierley Hill, 

Dudley, DY5 1UR 

01384 482 882 

FIVE RIVERS Vicarage 

Place, Walsall WS1 3NA 

01922 646164 

FOUR STONES Adam’s 

Hill,Clint, Stourbridge, 

DY9 9PS 01562 883260 

FRANZLS 151 Milcote Rd, 

Smethwick, B67 5BN 

0121 429 7920 

FRENCH CONNECTION 

3 Coventry St, 

Stourbridge DY8 1EP 

01384 390940 

FRENCH HEN Bromsgrove 

Rd, Clent, Stourbridge 

DY9 9PY 01562 883040 

GOLDEN MOMENTS 2-3 

Ablewell St, Walsall WS1 

2EQ 01922 640363 

LE BRASSERIE 5 Lower 

Mill Street, 

Kidderminster. DY11 

6UU 01562 744976 

MADE IN THAI Darlington 

St, Wolverhampton WV1 

4HW 01902 312512 

PARADISE BALTI 7 Lower 

Mill Street, Kidderminster 

DY11 6UU 01562 60479 

THE MANGO TREE Chester 

Road, Stonnall, Walsall 

WS9 9HJ 01922 457344 

THE PIE FACTORY 50 Hurst 

Lane, Tipton DY4 9AB 

0121 557 1402 

RED FORT Fold St, 


4LP 01902 424440 

RISTORANTE ROMAGNA 4 

Upper Green, Tettenhall, 


8QQ 01902 756052 

SAFFRON Wolverhampton 

Road, Oldbury B69 4RR 

0121 552 1752 

SIMON’S 520 Chester Rd, 

Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 

0PU 0121 580 9293 

SPICES Hollywell Rd, 

Wednesbury. WS10 7PA 

0121 502 0720 

THE SPRINGHILL 

Warstones Rd, Penn, 


4LB 01902 342530 

THE SUMMERHOUSE 92 

Gospel End Rd, Dudley 

DY3 4AN 01902 676 

102 

THORNESCROFT 

Bridgnorth Rd, 


7EQ 01902 700 253 

THE WOODMAN Claverley, 


7DG 01746 710 553 

Shropshire 

AFTAB 25 High St, 

Ironbridge TF8 7AD 

01952 432055 

ALBRIGHT HUSSEY 

Ellesmere Rd, 

Shrewsbury, SY4 3AF 

01939 290 523 

BISTRO JACQUES 77/77a 

Mardol, Shrewsbury SY1 

1PZ 01743 272586 

BUTLERS Park St, Shifnal, 

TF11 9BA 01952 

460662 

CASA NARANJO Barracks 

Passage, Wyle Cop, 

Shrewsbury SY1 01743 

588165 

CASA RUIZ 45 High 

Street, Bridgnorth, WV16 

4DX 01746 218 084 

CHEZ MAW Best Western 

Valley Hotel, Buildwas 

Rd, Ironbridge, TF8 7DW 

01952 432247 

THE COTTAGE Tern Hill, 

Market Drayton TF9 3PX 

01630 638984 

CROMWELLS 11 Dogpole, 

Shrewsbury SY1 1EN 

01743 361440 

DA VINCI’S 26 High St, 

Ironbridge, TF8 7AD 

01952 432250 

DORRINGTON OLD HALL 

PERSIAN CUISINE Main 

road, Dorrington, 

Shropshire SY5 7JD 

01743 719100 

DRAPERS 10 St Mary’s St 

Shrewsbury, SY1 1DZ 

01743 344679 

THE FEATHERS Brockton, 

Much Wenlock TF13 6JR 

01746 785202 

FENNELS 8 Market Place, 

Shifnall TF11 9AZ 01952 

463020 

THE FOX INN 46 High St, 

Much Wenlock TF136AD 

01952 727292 

FRANK CAFE BAR 128 

Frankwell, Shrewsbury 

SY3 8JX 01743 354422 

THE GOLDEN CROSS 14 

Princess St, Shrewsbury, 

SY1 1LP 01743 362507 

GRANARY BAR & GRILL 

Weston Park, Westonunder-Lizard, 

Nr Shifnal, 

TF11 8LE 01952 852107 

HADLEY PARK HOUSE 

Hadley Park, Telford TF1 

6QJ 01952 677269 

THE HAYWARDS at The 

Lion Hotel, Wyle Cop, 

Shrewsbury SY1 1UY 

01743 353107 

HILL VALLEY HOTEL 

Tarporley Road, 

Whitchurch SY13 4HA 

0844 879 9049 

THE INN AT GRINSHILL 

The High Street, 

Grinshill, Shrewsbury, 

SY4 3BL 01939 220410 

KING & THAI Avenue Rd, 

Broseley, Telford TF12 

5DL 01952 882004 

THE KNIGHTON HOTEL 

Broad Street, Knighton, 

Powys LD7 1BL 01547 

520530 

LA BÉCASSE 17 Corve St, 

Ludlow, SY8 1DA 01584 

872 325 

LA DOLCE VITA 35 Hills 

Lane, Shrewsbury SY1 

1QU 01743 249126 

LA LANTERNA The Old 

Vestry, St Julian's 

Church, Shrewsbury 

SY1 1UH 01743 233552 

LION & PHEASANT 50 

Wyle Cop Shrewsbury 

SY1 1XJ 01743 770345 

THE LION QUAYS Moreton, 

Oswestry SY11 3EN 

01691 684300 

LOCH FYNE Talbot House, 

Market Street, 

Shrewsbury SY1 1LG 

01743 277140 

MAD JACKS 15 St Mary’s 

St, Shrewsbury, SY1 

1EQ 01743 358870 

THE MALTHOUSE The 

Wharfage, Ironbridge 

TF8 7NH 01902 433712 

MORGANS 1 Bellstone, 

Shrewsbury SY1 1HU 

01743 239114 

MR UNDERHILLS Dinham 

Weir, Ludlow Shropshire 

SY8 1EH 01584 874431 

THE MYTTON & MERMAID 

Atcham, Shrewsbury, 

SY5 6QG 01743 761220 

THE OLD ORLETON INN 

Holyhead Rd, 

Wellington, TF1 2HA 

01952 255011 

THE OLD RECTORY HOTEL 

& RESTAURANT Lowe Hill 

Road, Wem, Shropshire 

SY4 5UA 01939 233233 

THE PEACH TREE 21 

Abbey Foregate, 

Shrewsbury, SY2 6AE 

01743 355055 

THE PLUME OF FEATHERS 

Harley, Shrewsbury SY5 

6LP 01743 727360 

THE POUND AT LEEBOT- 

WOOD Leebotwood, Nr 

Church Stretton SY6 

6ND 01694 751477 

RENAISSANCE, 29a 

Princess St,Shrewsbury, 

SY11LW 01743 354289 

ROMOLO Victoria Avenue, 

shrewsbury SY1 1HH 

01743 233244 

SARACENS Shrewsbury 

Rd, SY4 4AG 01939 

210877 

SEBASTIANS 45 Willow St, 

Oswestry SY11 1AQ 

01691 655444 

SHALIMAR 23 Abbey 

Foregate, Shrewsbury 

SY2 6AE 01743 366658 

SHERAZ 79 Wyle Cop, 

Shrewsbury SY1 1UT 

01743 242321 

THE SILVERTON the Old 

Dairy, 9-10 Frankwell, 

Shrewsbury SY3 8JY 

01743 248000 

TIN TINS Wellington 

Road, Telford TF2 8AJ 

01952 608688 

TRAITORS GATE Castle St, 

Water Lane, Shrewsbury 

SY1 2BX 01743 249152 

THE WALLS Welsh Walls, 

Oswestry SY11 1AW 

Edmunds, Birmingham 

01691 670970 

ZIZZI RISORANTE 39-40 

High Street, Shrewsbury 

SY1 1SF 01743 353232 

Staffordshire 

NO 5 Gaol Mews, 

Stafford ST16 3AN 

01785 22 9900 

95 HIGH GREEN Cannock. 

WS11 1BH 01543 

573905 

1709 THE BASSERIE 3-5 

Lombard St, Lichfield. 

WS13 6DP 01543 

257986 

BELLA ITALIA 20 

Greengate St, Stafford, 

ST16 2HS 

01785 211968 

CHANDLERS Corn 

Exchange, Conduit St, 

Lichfield, WS13 6JU 

01543 416688 

THE CORNER HOUSE 

Second Avenue, Burton- 

On-Trent DE14 2WF 

01283 542321 

CURRY KUTEER 31 

Greengate Street, 

Stafford ST16 2HY 

01785 253279 

ESSENCE OF THE ORIENT 

27 Broad Eye, Stafford 

ST16 2QB 01785 

229988 

FOUR SEASONS Swinfen 

Hall Lichfield, WS14 

9RE 01543 481494 

THE GREEN ROOM Castle 

Dyke, Lichfield WS13 

6HR 01543 412121 

INDIAN VILLAGE 

8 Lombard St, Lichfield. 

WS13 6DR 01543 

253415 

INDICA Virage Park, 

Cannock. WS11 0HN 

08712 070417 

JASMINE PEKING 21 High 

St, Eccleshall, Stafford 

ST21 6BW 01785 

851200 

LA DOLCE VITA 19 Stafford 

St, Stone ST15 8QW 

01785 817 985 

THE LODGE 24 

Birmingham Road, 

Shenstone. WS14 0LQ 

01543 483334 

MALABAR 1-2 Water 

Street, Stafford, ST16 

2AG 01785 227 500/600 

MARLOES 13 London 


Restaurant LISTINGS 

Road, Newcastle under 

Lyme, ST4 1LQ 01782 

661983 

THE MILL 1 Mill St, 

Stone, ST15 8BA 01785 

818456 

THE NAVIGATION INN 

Newport Road, Gnosall, 

Stafford ST20 0BN 

01785 822327 

OLD VICARAGE 2 Main St, 

Branston, Burton, DE14 

3EX 01283 533222 

PASTICHE BISTRO 1 - 2 

Mill Street, Stafford, 

ST16 2AJ 01782 263 

737 

THE PEARL18 Market St, 

Kidsgrove, ST7 4AB 

01782 788887 

THE PEAR TREE Swinfen, 

Nr. Lichfield, WS14 9QR 

01543 481807 

PORTOFINO 38-40 Marsh 

St Stoke-On-Trent, ST1 

1JD 01782 209444 

THE RED ROOM 7 

Newcastle Road, 

Congleton CW12 4HN 

01260 297871 

THE SWAN HOTEL 46 

Greengate Street, 

Stafford ST16 2JA 

01785 258142 

THORNBURY HALL, RASOI 

Lockwood Rd, Kingsley 

Holt, Stafford ST10 2DH 

01538 750831 

WOLSELEY ARMS 

Wolseley Bridge, 

Stafford ST17 0XS 

01889 883179 

Warwickshire 

7 SQUARE 7 Old Square, 

Warwick CV34 4RA 

01926 411 755 

NO. 9 CHURCH STREET 

Stratford upon Avon, 

Warwickshire CV37 6HB 

01789 415522 

ART KITCHEN 7 Swan St, 

Warwick CV34 4BJ 

01926 494303 

AUBERGINE 32 Smith St, 

Warwick CV34 4HS 

01926 400 086 

THE ALMANACK Abbey 

End North, Kenilworth 

CV8 1QJ 01926 353637 

THE BLUEBELL 93 High 

Street, Henley-in-Arden, 

Warwickshire, B95 5AT 

01564 793049 

BLUE BISTRO 21 Spon St, 

Coventry, CV1 3BA 024 

7622 9274 

BROWNS Earl St, 


Coventry CV1 5RU 0247 

622 1100 

CARLUCCIOS 13 

Waterside, Stratford- 

Upon-Avon CV37 6BA 

01789 267424 

CASTLES 6 Castle St, 

Warwick. CV34 4BP 

01926 492525 

CATALAN 6 Jury St , 

Warwick CV34 4EW 

01926 498 930 

THE CHURCH STREET 

TOWNHOUSE 16 Church 

Street, Stratford-upon- 

Avon CV37 6HB 01789 

262222 

EGO 29 The Square, 

Kenilworth, CV8 1EF 

01926 864463 

FINEST CATCH B’ham Rd, 

Henley in Arden. B95 

5QR 01564 793783 

FIVE RIVERS 20-22 

Victoria Terrace, 

Leamington Spa, CV31 

3AB 01926 431999 

GEORGETOWN 23 Sheep 

St, Stratford-Upon-Avon, 

CV37 6EF 01789 

204445 

HELP OUT MILL Heather 

Rd, Shakerstone, 

Nuneaton. CV13 0BT 

01530 260666 

HOGARTH’S HOTEL 4 

Ashes Rd, Solihull, B93 

8QE 01564 779988 

HORTONS 165 High 

Street, Solihull B91 3ST 

0121 709 3177 

INDIA RED 1-2 Abbey St, 

Nuneaton. CV11 5BP 

02476 342090 

JIMMY SPICES 64-66 

Station Rd, Solihull, B91 

3RX 0121 709 2111 

LE BISTRO PIERRE Swans 

Nest, Bridgford, Stratford 

upon Avon. CV37 7LT 

01789 264804 

MATRICARDIS 97 High St, 


5AT 01564 792735 

MERCHANTS Swan Street, 

Warwick CV34 4BJ 

01926 403833 

NAYA 148 High St, 


5BS 01564 793089 

NAILCOTE HALL Nailcote 

Lane, Berkswell, 

Coventry, CV7 7DE 

02476 466174 

NICOLINIS 14 The Parade, 


4DW 01926 421620 

ONE ELM 1 Guild St, 

thE dINNEr cLub (ESt 86) 

a rEcIpE for fINE food aNd Good compaNy 

SINGLE? 

For the more discerning 

unattached person, age 30-45 or 45+ 

Stratford-Upon-Avon, 

CV37 6QZ 01789 

404919 

OSCARS 39 Chandos St, 


4RL 01926 452807 

PEEL’S Hampton Manor, 

Hampton-in-Arden, 

Solihull, B92 0EN 01675 

446080 

PREZZO 1-3 High St, 

Warwick CV34 4AP 

01926 475867 

QUEANS RESTAURANT 15 

Dormer Place, 

Leamington Spa CV32 

5AA 01926 315522 

RESTAURANT 23 

34 Hamilton Terrace, 

Holly Walk Leamington 

Spa, CV32 4LY 01926 

422422 

ROBBIES 74 Smith St, 

Warwick CV34 4HU 

01926 400470 

ROOFTOP RESTAURANT 

@ The RST, Waterside, 

Stratford-upon-Avon, 

CV37 6BB 01789 

403449 

SAFFRON GOLD Market St, 

Westgate House, 

Warwick CV34 4DE 

01926 402061 

THE SAXON MILL 

Coventry Rd, Guys Cliffe, 

Warwick CV34 5YN 

01926 492 255 

SIGNATURES @ The 


Events weekly include dining out, dinner dances, black tie balls, 

theatre, parties, weekends away and holidays abroad. 

Not a datING aGENcy 

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

www.thedinnerclubuk.com 

Coventry, CV1 1GS 

02476 846762 

TAILORS 22 Market Place, 

Warwick CV34 4SL 

01926 410590 

THAI ELEPHANT 

20 Regent St, 

Leamington Spa, 

Warwick CV32 5HQ 

01926 886882 

THE TREVELYAN Warwick 

Rd, Stratford-upon-Avon, 

CV37 ONR 

01789 295252 

WARWICK SPICE 24 Smith 

St, Warwick CV34 4HS 

01926 491736 

THE VINE INN 86 - 88 

West St, Warwick CV34 

6AW 07873 219005 

ZIZZI 85-87 Regent 

Square House, Parade, 

Leamington Spa CV 32 

4NL 

ZORBA’S Olton Boulevard, 

Solihull. B27 7DP 0121 

706 4709 


01926 852980 

ANAKARI 47 The Tythings, 

Worcester. WR1 1JT 

01905 21412 

ANGEL CHEF 1 Angel St, 

Worcester WR1 3QT 

01905 731131 

ANUPAM 85 Church 

Street, Malvern. WR14 

2AE 01684 573814 

BACCHUS 44 Worcester 

Road, Bromsgrove B61 

0TA 01527 877557 

BENEDICTOS 34 Sidbury, 

Worcester WR1 2HZ 

01905 21444 

BINDLES 55 Sidbury, 

Worcester. WR1 2HU 

01905 611120 

BRAMBLINGS Hither 

Green Lane, Redditch, 

B98 9BE 01527 406600 

BROWNS 24 Quay St, 

Worcester. WR1 2JJ 

01905 23263 

THE BRIDGE INN Plough 

Rd, Tibberton, Droitwich. 

WR9 7NQ 01905 

345874 

THE BROOK INN Elcocks 

Bank, Redditch. B97 

5UD 01527 543209 

BROWNS 24 Quay St, 

Worcester WR1 2JJ 

01905 26263 

THE CHASE INN Chase 

Rd, Upper Colwall, 

Malvern. WR13 6DQ 

01684 540276 

CHESTERS 51 New St, 

Worcester, WR1 2DL 

01905 611638 

CROWN & SANDYS 

Main Rd, Ombersley, 

WR9 0EW 01905 

620252 

EWE & LAMB Hanbury 

Rd, Bromsgrove. B60 

4DN 01527 871929 

THE FIG TREE 99 Church 

Street, Gt Malvern, 

WR14 2AE 01684 

569909 

FOUR SEASONS 61 

Lowesmoor, Worcester 

WR1 2RS 01905 27026 

FUSION BRASSERIE 

Hawbridge, Stoulton, 

Worcester WR7 4RJ 

01905 840647 

THE GARDENERS ARMS 

Vines Lane, Droitwich. 

WR9 8LU 01905 772936 

THE GATE 36 Dodford Rd, 

Bournheath, 

Bromsgrove 

B61 9JR 01527 878169 

THE INN AT STONEHALL 

Stonehall Common, 

Worcester, WR5 3QG 

01905820462 

KING CHARLES II King 

Charles House, New St, 

Worcester WR1 2D 

01905 22449 

L’AMUSE BOUCHE 51 

Graham Rd, Malvern. 

WR14 2HU 01684 

572427 

LANGTREYS 89a High St, 

Bromsgrove. B61 8AQ 

01527 878242 

LITTLE VENICE 1 - 3 St 

Nicholas St, Worcester 

WR1 1UW 01905 

726126 

LOTUS HOUSE 33 

Ombersley St, Droitwich. 

WR9 8QX 01905 

770079 

MAEKONG THAI 12 

Wagamma, Birmingham 

Worcester Rd, 

Bromsgrove. B61 7AE 

01527 578888 

MASSALLA LOUNGE 35 

Broad St, Worcester 

WR1 3NH 01905 

729955 

MUG HOUSE Claines 

Lane, Worcester WR3 

7RN 01905 456649 

OLD RECTIFYING HOUSE 

North Parade, Worcester 

WR1 3NN 01905 

619622 

ON THE ROCKS, Worcester 

Rd, Bromsgrove. B61 

7AE 01527 882412 

PORTOFINO, 6 Worcester 

Rd, Droitwich. WR9 8AD 

01905 794799 

PORTWAY ITALIAN, 

Alcester Rd, Redditch. 

B48 7HT 01564 824794 

PUCCINI'S, 12 Friar St, 

Worcester WR12LZ 

01905 27770 

RAJDOOT Cutnall Green, 

Droitwich. WR9 0PW 

01299 851000 

RILY’S The Quadrant, 

Redditch B98 8AE 01527 

60544 

ROSADOS’S 2 Finstall Rd, 

Aston Fields, 

Bromsgrove. B60 2DZ 

01527 889948 

SAFFRON BISTRO 15 New 

St, Worcester WR1 2DP 

01905 610505 

SINGAPORE 29 Friar St, 

Worcester WR1 2NA 

01905 613005 

THAI GALLERY 26-32 Friar 

St, Worcester WR1 2LZ 

01905 25451 

THAI LOTUS 147 

Worcester Rd, 

Bromsgrove. B61 7HN 

01527 882606 

THAI RAMA Walwyn Rd, 

Gt Malvern. WR13 6QX 

01684 541563 

THE WILDMOOR OAK 

Top Road, Wildmoor, 

Bromsgrove B61 0RB 

0121 453 2696 

To get your restaurant listed here 

e: j.cartwright@whatsonlive.co.uk 

or call Jon Cartwright 

on 01743 281703

Christmas 

CELEBRATE 

WITH US.... 

Nestled in the heart of St. Paul's Square 

and against the backdrop of the stunning 

St Paul's Cathedral, Cucina Rustica is the 

perfect setting for your stylish and 

indulgent Christmas party. 

We are determined to make it a 

Christmas dining experience you 

won't forget with our beautiful location, 

added festive treats that await you at your tables. 

VIEW OUR DELECTABLE CHRISTMAS 2012 MENU 

WHICH IS NOW LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE! 

Cucina Rustica 

Tel: 0121 233 2277 

Saint Paul's Square, 24 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham, B3 1DX 

Email: info@cucinarustica.co.uk web: www.cucinarustica.co.uk

Nov 2012 - View Online - Whats On Live

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