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News from around the region
Cirquoise Circus returns to Albrighton for Easter
The circus is coming to Albrighton Garden Centre this Easter.
Featuring ‘death-defying acrobatics, awesome contortionists and kid-friendly fun’, Cirquoise Circus will perform at the venue from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 12 April. Tickets can be booked by visiting the website at britishgardencentres.com
Comedy festival return for funnyman Scott Bennett
With Ignacio Lopez and Esther Manito already confirmed for this year’s edition of the Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival flagship gala show, organisers have announced that Scott Bennett will return as the event’s MC.
Commenting on the news, SICFest director Beth McGowan said: “Scott was just brilliant as our MC last year - and as a firm favourite of comedy lovers in Shrewsbury, it made sense to invite him back again. We have secured three class acts so far, with yet more to follow!”
Taking place on Sunday 12 July, the gala
show is the culmination of the five-day festival, which will see comedians performing at various venues throughout the town. To find out more, visit sicfest.co.uk
Operatic society to bake up a treat in the Potteries
North Staffs Operatic Society are serving up a ‘theatrical treat’ this month, when they perform The Great British Bake Off Musical at Stoke Repertory Theatre from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March. The production follows a group of amateur bakers from all walks of life as they enter the tent in the hope of winning the coveted Star Baker title. To find out more and book tickets, visit nsosltd.org/gbbo
A Garden Of Love in Wolverhampton church
Wolverhampton’s St Peter’s Church is to host a performance by Birmingham early-music ensemble Ex Cathedra late next month. Featuring ‘a programme of evocative imagery and shimmering harmony’, the concerttitled The Garden Of Love - takes place at the venue on Saturday 25 April. To find out more and purchase tickets, visit bmusic.co.uk
Exhibition continues to show at RAF Cosford
An exhibition highlighting the longoverlooked contributions of Black African and Caribbean Royal Air Force veteransparticularly those connected to the regioncontinues to show at the RAF Museum Midlands in Cosford.
The Forgotten Generations: Lest We Forget is a free exhibition which remains available to view at the venue until Sunday 10 May, after which it will go on a national tour.
Jamie musical to return to the Midlands in 2027
The 10th anniversary production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie will visit three West Midlands venues during a spring and summer tour of the UK in the first half of next year.
The hit show runs at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury from Monday 1 to Saturday 6 February 2027, the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 23 to Saturday 27 February and Birmingham’s The Alexandra from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 May.
To find out more and book tickets, head to everybodystalkingaboutjamie.co.uk
It’s Curtains Up for fastpaced comedy in Oldbury
Oldbury Repertory Players’ 2026 season of shows continues in late spring with a production of Peter Quilter’s Curtain Up. A fast-paced comedy about five women who inherit equal shares in a dilapidated theatre and plan to bring it back to life, the show will run at Oldbury Rep from Saturday 9 to Saturday 16 May. To find out more and book tickets, visit the website at oldburyrep.org
Location change for Wolverhampton Pride
The 2026 edition of Wolverhampton Pride will take place in the new location of the city’s West Park this summer.
Returning on Saturday 6 June, the popular event will feature on-stage entertainers, a funfair, community stalls, children's entertainment and food & drink outlets. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting the festival’s website at pridewton.co.uk
Deaffest back in the city
The 16th edition of deaf film & arts festival Deaffest takes place in Wolverhampton in the late spring.
Running from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 May and featuring the 10th Film & TV Awards, the event will explore the influence of costume and fashion in movies, television and the arts, showcase premieres and global screenings that include sign language dialogue (with subtitles provided to ensure accessibility), and present ‘engaging workshops and thought-provoking panel discussions’. The festival’s events will be held at LockWorks Cinema and University of Wolverhampton at The Halls.
To find out more, visit deaffest.co.uk
Midlands date for John Bishop
John Bishop will make a Midlands stop-off in spring next year as part of a brandnew tour.
The Liverpool comedian is bringing his Let’s Go Round Again show to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 1 May 2027. For further information and to book tickets, visit johnbishoponline.com
Goldblum in the Black Country
American film star Jeff Goldblum has announced his first-ever UK tour with his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra - and he will be kickstarting it in the Midlands! Jurassic Park and Wicked star Jeff will play Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall on Thursday 28 May. Tickets for the gig can be bought at aegpresents.co.uk
Tom & Nile at the Racecourse
Music icons Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers & CHIC will perform in an outdoor show at Chester Racecourse this summer.
Tickets for the Friday 14 August event can be purchased by visiting livenation.co.uk
Hit Burlesque musical heading for the Midlands region
Hit West End musical Burlesque is heading out on a UK tour, during which it will visit three Midlands venues - Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent Theatre (25 to 29 August), Birmingham’s The Alexandra (6 - 17 October) and Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre (6 - 10 April, 2027).
Executive-produced by and featuring the music of Christina Aguilera - who co-starred with Cher
Lucy Beaumont hits the road
Comedian Lucy Beaumont will make multiple Midlands stop-offs when she hits the road with a brand-new tour in the autumn. To find out where and when the Hull-born comic will be performing, visit her website at lucybeaumont.co.uk
in the Golden Globe-nominated film on which the musical is based - the show follows the central character of Ali, whose New York City search for her mother leads her into ‘a dazzling underground world of music and dance that will change her life forever’.
For tickets visit burlesqueonstage.com
Living history spectacle set to journey through nearly 1,000 years of history
A large-scale festival will this summer transport visitors through nearly 1,000 years of history.
Covering the period from 1066 to the Second World War, The Big Battle of Abbots Bromley takes place on Sunday 21 June at High Ash Farm in, yes, you guessed it, Abbots Bromley. The eventwhich brings together more than 200 reenactors from 10-plus living-history groups - features immersive displays, authentic encampments, and full-scale battle recreations.
The get-together is being hosted by Lee Chapman of Chappers Photography. Tickets for the festival can be purchased by visiting his website at chappersphotography.co.uk
BalletBoyz dance into the region
Pioneering dance company BalletBoyz are heading to three Midlands venues this summer as part of a new UK tour.
Presenting a dance documentary fusing live performance with film, the award-winning ensemble will make visits to Lichfield Garrick (Tuesday 9 June), Birmingham Rep (Tuesday 16 June) and Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn (Friday 19 June). For tickets, visit the website of the relevant venue.
First Word
Stafford orchestra to host late-summer play day
Stafford Sinfonia is inviting orchestral musicians from across the region to join an intensive play day in the summer (Saturday 22 August). The day will culminate in a performance of Richard Strauss' An Alpine Symphony at Stafford Grammar School. To find out more, visit staffordsinfonia.com
Status Quo’s Rossi to return to the Potteries
Status Quo’s Francis Rossi will visit Stokeon-Trent’s Regent Theatre in the autumn (Friday 9 October) as part of a UK tour.
Commenting on his forthcoming show, Songbook: Quo - Past, Present, Future, Francis said: “I’ll be keeping a whole lot of the hits in the set, of course, but also mixing it up with a couple of curveballs.
“These theatre shows are a great way to really connect with the audience and try something a little bit different.”
To find out more and purchase tickets, visit atgtickets.com/stoke
New Jesus sculpture in venue’s Faith Zone
A new sculpture of Jesus Christ is the latest addition to the Faith Zone at Oswestry’s British Ironwork Centre.
Commenting on the new arrival, which has been crafted from scrap and recycled metal, the venue’s chairman, Clive Knowles, said: “We’ve spent two years preparing and perfecting this sculpture, as we know it will matter tremendously to our surrounding communities and our visitors.”
Dom all set to get Trigger Happy in the Midlands
News from around the region
Midlands ballet stars to reimagine controversial classic
The world premiere of Birmingham Royal Ballet Director Carlos Acosta’s The Maiden Of Venice - a groundbreaking reimagining of controversial 19th-century classic La Bayadère - is among the many highlights of the company’s 2026/27 season.
Commenting on his new ballet and La Bayadère - which has often been criticised for its depiction of Indian culture - Carlos said: “Since arriving at BRB five years ago, I have had a vision of re-making La Bayadère.
Community-led Pride in Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands Pride will return in the summer with a community-led weekend of events.
It is such an important ballet - to me personally, but also to the sector and to audiences. I understand why it has become problematic, but I feel passionate about not allowing it to be buried or to be, in effect, cancelled... I am so happy that my company of amazing dancers will have the opportunity to perform this new version.”
To find out more about the 2026/27 programme of productions, visit brb.org.uk
Conservation award for Wolverhampton venue
Comedian Dom Joly will visit four West Midlands venues in the autumn as part of a tour to mark the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking Trigger Happy TV television show. Dom will appear at Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday 26 September, Wolverhampton’s Wulfrun Hall on Tuesday 29 September, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury, on Thursday 29 October and Dudley Town Hall on Friday 20 November... For further information and to purchase tickets, visit domjoly.tv/live
Taking place from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 June, the festival is ‘a celebration of LGBTQ+ lives, creativity and pride across the region’. Rather than being centred in a single location, the 2026 edition of the event will take place across towns, villages and community spaces throughout the Moorlands. For updates, visit outsidearts.org
Amateur favourites to present Calendar Girls
Shrewsbury Musical Theatre Company make a welcome return to the town’s Theatre Severn venue next month to present their new production of Calendar Girls The Musical. The show will run from Wednesday 15 to Saturday 18 April. To book tickets, visit the website at theatresevern.co.uk
The Victorian Society’s Birmingham & West Midlands Group has selected Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton as the winner of its 11th annual Conservation Award. The award was presented in recognition of the National Trust-managed property’s Big MEND Project.
The three-year initiative, which addressed urgent issues in the building's timber frame, plasterwork and exterior, made use of traditional skills and appropriate materials in order to match the original design and construction.
News from around the region
A shire return for Wildlife Photographer exhibition
The Wildlife Photographer Of The Year exhibition opens at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery next month.
The Natural History Museum’s globally acclaimed showcase of breathtaking images will be available to view at the venue from Saturday 25 April to Saturday 20 June. For further information, visit the website at shropshiremuseums.org.uk
Young creatives invited to apply for latest grants
A trust which provides grants to musicians, dancers, singers and performers aged between 16 and 30 has opened its 2026 round of funding.
The Alan Surtees Trust is inviting interested parties to apply for one of four grants of up to £2,000. Applicants must show exceptional skill, talent and promise in their field, with their output ‘influenced by folk or traditional music & arts from any culture’. The closing date for grant applications is Thursday 30 April... To find out more about the qualifying criteria, visit the website at alansurteestrust.org.uk
In Times Of Dragons...
Tori Amos is performing at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall next month (Friday 10 April) in support of her latest album, In Times Of Dragons. For further information and tickets, visit toriamos.com
Lichfield food festivals to go ahead in 2026
Lichfield District Council has confirmed it will deliver the Lichfield Food & Drink Festivals this spring and summer.
The popular events - returning as free, community-focused celebrations of local food, drink and makers - will take place on Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 May and from Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August.
Special sunflower theme for charity’s colour runs
Local cancer charity Lingen Davies is once again hosting its popular colour runs this spring (Sunday 17 May).
Taking place in Telford, Shrewsbury and Powys, each 5k run will have a special sunflower theme. To find out more, including how to sign up to take part, visit the charity’s website at lingendavies.co.uk
RSC to stage Game Of Thrones world premiere
The Royal Shakespeare Company is bringing Game Of Thrones to the stage in Stratfordupon-Avon this summer.
Brand-new play The Mad King is a prequel to the original books and HBO’s long-running television series.
Described as ‘a sweeping new stage epic’, the production spans the final years before the events of the original novels, which were written by George RR Martin, who is serving as executive producer on the show.
Commenting on the news, George said:
“When I first wrote Game Of Thrones, I never
New initiative champions South Asian creativity
Playback Creates, a Midlands-based not-forprofit platform championing South Asian creativity, has launched a flagship musicdevelopment programme.
Taking the title Homegrown, the initiative has seen 11 talented young creatives step into professional recording studios, receive dedicated development time, and benefit from hands-on industry guidance. The Homegrown programme will culminate in a live showcase at Wolverhampton’s Vaal & Vaal on Thursday 12 March. For further information, visit weareplayback.co.uk
Free-to-view exhibit at Shrewsbury Prison
A new capital punishment exhibit has opened at Shrewsbury Prison, providing ‘a rare and reflective insight into one of the most challenging chapters in Britain’s justice system’.
The exhibit is free to view and can be
imagined that it would be anything other than a book... For me, the RSC was the obvious choice when thinking about putting a Game Of Thrones story on the stage. Shakespeare is the greatest name in English literature, and his plays have been a constant source of inspiration to me and my writing.” Priority booking will go on sale from Tuesday 14 April, with public booking to be announced next month. For early access, visit rsc.org.uk/join to become an RSC member.
accessed via the prison café. No attraction ticket is required. To find out more, visit the website at shrewsburyprison.com
Black Country date for Welsh male voice choir
The only British choir ever to be crowned Choir of the World is heading to the Black Country in late spring.
Welsh male voice choir and Britain’s Got Talent finalists Johns’ Boys will perform at Dudley Town Hall on Saturday 16 May.
To find out more and purchase a ticket, visit the venue’s website at boroughhalls.co.uk
The Constant Wife is a lovely, short, sweet, to-the-point comedy. The dynamics in that family - the funniness between the mother and the sisters, and the husbandI think people will find really amusing and warm. “
By Jessica Clixby
WIFEY MATERIAL
Star of stage & screen Kara Tointon is heading up the cast in a new touring version of W Somerset Maugham’s subversive comedy, The Constant Wife. Reimagined for the modern era by Laura Wade, the fast-paced and witty Royal Shakespeare Company production is returning to the Midlands next month. Kara spoke to What’s On about stepping into the lead role of Constance, a woman who, when faced with her husband’s audacious infidelity, chooses to reinvent her life on her own terms…
A sparkling new production of W Somerset Maugham’s play The Constant Wife has embarked on a national tour, featuring lavish sets, witty dialogue, and an original soundtrack by jazz artist Jamie Cullum.
Strictly winner and star of Mr Selfridge and EastEnders, Kara Tointon, will take the lead role when the production visits the region in April.
“Constance [Middleton] has been married for 15 years,” says Kara, in talking about her character. “She loves her life, she loves her husband, she has a daughter who’s 14 years old. She’s just dropped her daughter to boarding school for the first time - so it’s a big day in her life - and she comes back to find her husband on the chaise lounge with her best friend. The play follows the aftermath of this massive, life-changing event, and how Constance deals with itwhich is in a very unusual way.
“I’m not going to spoil anything, but you’ll leave with food for thought and lots of fruitful conversation, I’m sure!
“Constance is witty, fast, and chooses to look at life from a birds-eye view and make decisions in a fantastic way. There’s a lot of love in this household, a lot of love between her and her husband - so that makes it not ‘black and white’ - and you hope at the end that they find a way through.”
The production began its life last year, at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. It was helmed by the RSC’s co-artistic director, Tamara Harvey, and adapted by Laura Wade. While the show is freshly spruced-up for its national tour, the play itself is celebrating a centenary.
“It’s set exactly 100 years ago this year,” Kara explains. “It was written by Somerset Maugham in 1926 and performed in 1927. Laura Wade has dissected it and changed it slightly and brought it up for a modern audience. Although we’ve set it in 1926, it does feel like it could be today - it’s very fresh and fast-paced. With Tamara - her and Laura go way back and are the best of friends,
actually - to be directed by her has been an amazing experience. I’m feeling really fortunate and lucky to be surrounded with amazing actors and a great team of peopleI’m relishing every minute.
“I’m playing someone [in Constance] who I’d love to be more like, and that’s always fun. And I’d love to have Laura’s brain to write things - but getting to say her words is good enough!”
With the play being set in the high-class elegance of the 1920s, the costumesparticularly those worn by Constance - are suitably sumptuous.
“With the RSC, everything’s bespoke-ly, beautifully made. The materials are like pieces of artwork in themselves. This shirt that I’ve got, the way it’s been designed - it’s pretty phenomenal. I’ve had one new dress made for this as well, and that’s quite an exciting thing - seeing how they do it is really cool.”
The set design matches the elegance of the costumes - unsurprisingly, as Constance begins to make a name for herself as an interior designer. The set also changes as the story jumps through time, at one point flashing back to Constance discovering her husband’s infidelity, and at another hopping forwards to the time when she’s in her element, undertaking her new job.
“This is the late 20s going to the 30s. Going from the Victorian interior design into this is such a massive shift. It blows my mind, that departure from the old cozy to this very new design. It’s fascinating, really. But it’s cool to see how the set changes. It’s very cleverly done.”
Kara has joined the production for its 2026 tour, and life on the road brings its own benefits and challenges.
“I kind of love it. I’ve got children now, so there’s a degree of juggling, like there always is in this mad job that we do, where you never know what you’ll be doing next, or where you’ll be. It’s making that work properly for my children, which I manage to
do, but I do love visiting different towns. I mean, you never really get to do that in life. I’m going back to a few places now that I’ve been to before, and that’s quite nice.
“Going to each theatre brings about a new challenge. By the end of a week, you’ve got used to the set-up and the way the sound reverberates, and what you need to do to ‘feel’ the space. Then you go to a completely different theatre, and you have to get used to the new one. That brings about an interesting challenge each week, but that’s what touring is, and it’s great. I love it.”
The tour rounds off in an unusual settingaboard a transatlantic cruise liner, which will be a new experience for Kara.
“It’s kind of a mad way to finish! We finish on May the 16th, and then, a couple of weeks later, we fly to New York and come back on the Queen Mary 2. It’s going to be quite a thing to do! And once we get on, we don’t get off - it’s not like a cruise where you dip into the Caribbean. You get on and then you get off in Southampton. So that will be really different!”
In the meantime, the production will remain landlocked, visiting Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn in April.
“The Constant Wife is a lovely, short, sweet, to-the-point comedy. The dynamics in that family - the funniness between the mother and the sisters, and the husband - I think people will find really amusing and warm. Constance herself is intelligent, witty, quick, comical, and everyone around her too, in equal measure. It’s just a lovely night at the theatre - you can’t go wrong!”
The Constant Wife shows at Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, from Tuesday 7 to Saturday 11 April
Live music from across the region...
Ferocious Dog
Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury, Sun 22 March
Ferocious Dog have been entertaining celtic folk and punk fans since 1988 but are now calling it a day. In a statement last autumn, the six-piece said: “After all these years of noisy folk-punk, sweaty stages, and late-night drives... 2026 will be our final year. We have lived and breathed this band, and none of it would have meant a damn thing without the Hell Hounds who’ve carried us from backroom pubs to stages across the UK and Europe. You made Ferocious Dog what it is - a grass-roots, working-class punk band that never forgot where it came from.”
The Brand New Heavies
The Wulfrun at The Halls Wolverhampton, Fri 27 March
Pioneers of the London acid jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies have been responsible for some of the UK’s biggest R&B and soul tracks (think Dream On Dreamer, Never Stop, Dream Come True and Midnight At The Oasis).
The band visit Wolverhampton this month as part of a short UK tour and are looking forward to their Midlands stop-off: “We can’t wait to hit the road again! There’s nothing quite like the connection we feel when we play these songs together. This tour is all about sharing that joy, funk and love with everyone - old friends and new faces alike!”
From meditative raag-inspired improvisations to high-energy celtic dance tunes underpinned by unstoppable percussive grooves, genre-defying five-piece favourites Mishra draw on their training in Indian classical, UK folk and contemporary
The Subways
The Robin, Bilston, Thurs 5 March
Discovered by Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, The Subways performed on the festival’s Other Stage in 2004 and were catapulted into the limelight. Playing powerful indie-rock that’s accessible to all, they’re known for their generosity towards their fans, who they love to meet & greet after shows... Their early-month Bilston date sees them loud, unplugged, and playing the best of their outstanding back-catalogue.
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys
Lichfield Guildhall, Sat 21 March
The KPs are past masters at creating an evening of frenzied fun, boasting a trademark mix of nutty on-stage antics and accessible musicianship. What they lack in innovation they make up for with their authenticity, while their impressive feel for the music ensures they do justice to the standards. But the vast majority of their audience couldn’t care less about how authentic or otherwise they sound - they just enjoy the band’s messing about and their furious dance rhythms.
classical. They also boast a distinctive instrumental palette, including santoor, banjo, clarinet, low whistle, double bass, and a vast array of percussion. They’re bringing their continent-spanning musical textures to Shropshire as part of a UK tour.
Miles Hunt
Wolverhampton Arts Centre, Sat 28 March
Local lad Miles Hunt is best known, of course, as the frontman, lead vocalist and primary songwriter of The Wonder Stuff, the Stourbridge band with whom he burst onto the rock scene way back in 1987. This month’s solo visit to Wolverhampton sees him playing songs and telling tales from his 40 years in the music industry... Due to popular demand, Miles will be performing at the Arts Centre twice on Saturday the 28th, at 2pm and 7.30pm.
Mishra The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Tues 31 March
Classical music from across the region...
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a concert which no self-respecting classical music enthusiast would want to miss.
The London Philharmonic are here performing to the baton of Tan Dun (pictured), whose CV includes the Academy Award-winning soundtrack to Ang Lee’s year-2000 martial-arts film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...
And the concert programme makes this late-afternoon event an even more mouthwatering prospect. Alongside Beethoven’s visionary Ninth Symphony, the orchestra will also perform Tan Dun’s
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 27 March
Residing at the Corporation’s Manchester home of Media City, the BBC Philharmonic visits the Potteries late this month in the company of soloist Senja Rummukainen, who will be performing Dvorak’s everpopular Cello Concerto. The programme also features Debussy’s L’après-midi d’un faune and Mozart’s Prague symphony. Lucie LeGuay (pictured) is the conductor.
brand-new choral concerto, Nine. A tribute to Beethoven, the work combines ancient poetry from China and Europe, creating an ‘ode to peace’ which has been described as ‘worthy of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy’ (the fourth and final movement of the Ninth Symphony).
The London Philharmonic Choir and London Chinese Philharmonic Choir also make telling contributions to the concert, as do four talented soloists: Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Hongni Wu (mezzo-soprano), John Findon (tenor) and Dingle Yandell (bass).
Carducci String Quartet
Maidment Building, Shrewsbury School, Fri 6 March
Performing more than 90 international concerts each year, Carducci are one of the most successful string quartets in the business, garnering lavish praise wherever they play... This latest Shropshire Music Trust concert sees them performing the following programme: Mozart’s String Quartet No19 in C major, K.465 ‘Dissonant’; Phillip Glass’ String Quartet No3 ‘Mishima’; and Shostakovich’s String Quartet No2 in A major, Op 68 no2.
Thomas Trotter and Gloucester Cathedral Choir
Birmingham Town Hall, Mon 23 March
Organist Thomas Trotter has performed with a host of revered conductors and appeared alongside many of the world’s leading orchestras. Thomas was appointed Birmingham City Organist in 1983, and remains one of the country’s most acclaimed musicians. He is here joined by Gloucester Cathedral Choir to perform Fauré’s Requiem, in a concert to mark Easter Week.
London Chamber Ensemble Trio
Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire, Thurs 12 March
The well-established London Chamber Ensemble are here presenting the second of two concerts during the 2025/26 season. This month’s performance brings together concert-hall favourites with neglected compositions by British composers. The programme opens with John Ireland’s Piano Trio No2 in E minor and finishes with Johannes Brahms’ Piano Trio in B major, Op8. Between the two is Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor, Op17, a work often cited as one of her most mature compositions.
The Phoenix Singers
The Abbey, Shrewsbury, Sat 21 March
Performing a repertoire that encompasses a wide variety of music, Shrewsbury-based chamber choir The Phoenix Singers are this month marking their 60th anniversary with a performance of Bach’s St John Passion. Although more modest in its conception than the composer’s epic St Matthew Passion, the work is highly regarded for containing some of the most beautiful and lyrical moments of Bach’s entire output. Mark Dobell of The Sixteen takes on the role of the Evangelist. Noxwode Baroque, on period instruments, also contribute.
Tan Dun & the London Philharmonic Orchestra Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sun 29 March
MAKING MINCEMEAT
Hit musical Operation Mincemeat is set to cause a splash in the Midlands...
By Jessica Clixby
One of the strangest military operations of the Second World War saw MI5 disguise the British invasion of Sicily by employing deception, forged documents, love letters... and a mystery corpse!
Now, Operation Mincemeat, a madcap, musical retelling of the tale, is heading to the Midlands as part of a national tour, having garnered rave reviews in the West End.
During the show’s rehearsal period, What’s On spoke to lead actors Christian Andrews and Jamie-Rose Monk - who each appear as multiple characters in the fast-paced production - to find out more...
Hit musical Operation Mincemeat tells the strange-but-true story of a brilliant deception co-ordinated by British intelligence in the Second World War. Now on a national tour, the show features 50 characters but only five lead actors, who swap roles, genders and costumes - notably hats - before the audience’s very eyes.
The cast includes Christian Andrews - who plays MI5 employee Hester Leggatt, among other characters - and Jamie-Rose Monk, whose lead role is Colonel Johnny Bevan.
“Operation Mincemeat was a British World War Two deception plan to fool the Nazis into thinking that British forces were going to invade Sardinia instead of Sicily,” explains Christian. “They came up with a plan to dress up a corpse as a British pilot, plant fake documents on his person, dump him into the sea, and hope that his body and these documents ended up in the hands of German intelligence. And it worked! It’s a madcap story of how a crazy plan helped to, well, eventually, win the war, but also diminish the chance of conflict on the British and German sides. The death toll was so much lower because of this plan.”
Both Christian and Jamie-Rose saw the production in its previous incarnations, and were immediately keen to join the company.
“I saw the show initially at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith,” says Christian. “That was after a number of runs that the show had had at Southwark Playhouse. I loved it. I thought the show was so brilliant, and then got an audition to join the company as an understudy when they were transferring to the West End.”
“I saw the production in the West End,” says Jamie-Rose. “I wasn’t quick enough to get tickets when it was at Southwark Playhouse… I just thought it was really refreshing and entertaining and funny - all the good words that you want something to be!”
Rehearsals for the show are akin to a military operation themselves, with the cast having to get to grips with the challenges of hatswapping - literally...
“I’m new to it, it’s very exciting and very, very satisfying when you get it right,” says JamieRose. “It can be overwhelming - there’s a lot to do, but I’m really excited about it. For me, the hat-swapping sometimes happens midnumber, which is really fun - lots of tie swapping, lots of hats…”
“It’s a bit like learning a language,” says Christian. “You practise, you practise, you
practise, and then, once that all makes sense, it just falls out of you. The way that you know your left hand has to go into your left pocket because that’s where that tie is, and your right hand has to go behind your back because you’re hiding something else. It’s completely mechanical when you’re learning it. Then, when you’re able to live it and play upwards of 30 characters, it’s a totally new skill.”
The show’s cast features a number of historical characters, some of whom might be familiar even to those who don’t know the story.
“We’re only halfway through rehearsals,” says Jamie-Rose, “so there’s some I haven’t touched yet that I think will be a new favourite. At the moment, I like playing James Bond author Ian Fleming. It’s just a bit mad, isn’t it, that I get to do that!”
“I love playing Spillsbury - the coroner that provides the corpse…” adds Christian. Christian began his time with the production understudying two roles - covering lead characters Hester Leggatt and Charles Cholmondeley - which meant he had to get to grips with twice as many characters.
“I’ve played two of the ‘tracks’, but I feel like I’ve played 40 of them - even though there’s only five! I’ve seen the show every which way, and I was dance captain in the West End as well, so I know the show inside out. It feels very nice to be back with some returning cast members from the West End and with some amazing new cast members as well.”
As a musical, Operation Mincemeat features toe-tapping tunes - and a few surprises…
“The music feels very modern in certain moments, and very ‘poppy’ and super fun,” says Jamie-Rose, “but it also has an oldschool cabaret feel to it. It’s a really nice blend of all those things. It feels like an oldschool musical with an injection of pop.”
“We play cross-gender and we play sort of cross-class, but also cross-age as well,” adds Christian. “The younger characters have that ‘poppy’ feel in the music, and the older characters have this Big Band, brass, 1940s Glenn Miller vibe - it’s really varied.”
The production has accumulated a host of awards since hitting the stage, including Best New Musical at the Olivier Awards in 2024. The show’s success comes not only from its music, writing and performances, but also the unique live atmosphere that it conjures up.
“It’s five people on stage, creating hundreds of different characters and loads of different places,” Jamie-Rose says. “There’s a real sense of fun and creativity. It feels like ‘a night at the theatre’ that you couldn’t do anywhere else. You couldn’t watch that on screen; it wouldn’t really work. It’s about being there with everybody. It also appeals to a lot of different people. It has great music, lots of comedy, high stakes, and is really moving in parts. It just ticks all your boxes.”
“There’s so much heart in this show,” adds Christian. “I think even though it’s madcap and we all play upwards of 30 characters, there’s a story that the audience follows which is really heartfelt and really emotional. The writers have done such a great job to blend all of that. The two go hand in handthe more you can make them laugh, the more you can make them cry as well, because you fall in love with who these people are.”
The musical has no connection to the 2021 film of the same name - although the play’s website proudly proclaims that Colin Firth, who starred in the cinematic version, ‘has seen our show, and he’s a fan!’. But the true events which inspired both productions have certainly caught the imaginations of people around the world.
In Christian’s opinion, this zany recreation of an unconventional wartime tale is the latest in a long tradition of storytelling which keeps British history alive - whether in the classroom, through family anecdotes, or on stage and screen: “People of our generation, we remember stories told by our family members about World War Two, though they may not be with us any longer. I think that those stories are still within us. World War Two wasn’t that long ago, really. It’s fairly recent history. Especially in this country, everybody knows about it, and I think everybody has some sort of story they could tell.”
Operation Mincemeat shows at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 March. The production returns to the region next month, showing at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Monday 27 April to Saturday 2 May. It then visits The Alexandra, Birmingham, from Monday 11 until Saturday 16 May
Comedy previews from across the region...
Jeff Dunham
Utilita Arena Birmingham, Sun 29 March
Walter the grumpy retiree, Bubba J the beerfuelled redneck, and José Jalapeño, the spicy pepper from south of the border, are just some of the characters brought to life by American ventriloquist and stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham.
Then there’s the skeletal fantasist Achmed the dead terrorist, the creation which propelled him to stardom 20 years ago. Sixtysomething Jeff is certainly a talented guy - and he’s very much at ease making fun of the British, too. “When they say drink responsibly,” he gets his sidekick, Walter, to opine, “all they mean is, don’t spill it on the ****ing steering wheel.”
Andy Parsons
Lichfield Garrick, Sat 21 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 26 March; The Brewhouse, Burton-upon-Trent, Thurs 30 April
With complimentary reviews including such observations as 'what he lacks in hair, he more than makes up for in originality,' Andy Parsons is a sharp and topical comedian who's well known from TV shows such as Mock The Week and Live At The Apollo. Jokes include: “If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in tonight’s episode of EastEnders, they must have been acting better than they usually do.”
Joel Dommett
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Fri 13 March; Theatre Severn,
“I absolutely love performing in small, intimate spaces,” says The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett, a man who was once the face of MTV - until he was sacked at the age of 27 for being ‘too old’. “I’d far rather do a small gig in front of 50 people, but be doing new stuff, than do old stuff in front of 5,000 people.”
Henning Wehn
Lichfield Garrick, Sun 15 March; Bedworth Civic Hall, Sat 28 March; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sun 29 March; Walsall Arena, Fri 9 October
Presenting a style of humour that’s been described as ‘Teutonic jolliness at its best’, selfappointed German comedy ambassador Henning Wehn tours to the Midlands this month with his new climate-change-focused show, Acid Wehn.
Samples of his comedy include: “With standup in Britain, what you have to do is bloody swearing. In Germany, we don’t have to swear. Reason being, things work.” There’s also “World War Two was a painful time for my family. My grandfather died in a concentration camp. He got drunk one night and fell out of his guard tower...”
Wed 15 April
Joel is extremely committed to the business of keeping his act fresh. “I’m working on material pretty much all the time,” explains the one-time Justin Bieber warm-up act. “In fact, I try to put in something new every time I go on stage. If there’s something new in there, it brightens up the whole set and gives it more energy and excitement.”
Geoff Norcott
Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sun 1 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sun 8 March; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 19 March; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 26 March
One of the sharpest tools in the comedy shed, Geoff Norcott is visiting the Midlands this month with Basic Bloke 2: There’s No Bloke Without Fire, the follow-up offering to, er, Basic Bloke 1, a show described by its official publicity as ‘a kindly and funny stock-take of both Geoff and his fellow man’. And, as with that previous, critically acclaimed Basic Bloke offering, the London-born comedian will be taking a deep-dive into the business of being a fella, to try and find out what makes them tick. Along the way, he’s also promising to tell you what he really thinks, including how much he judges people: bad parents, people who eat too much, anyone who’s still wearing a dressing gown beyond 9am...
Shrewsbury,
LAUGHING & LEARNING
Comedy and science combine in Lieven Scheire’s deep dive into Artificial Intelligence...
Lieven Scheire has sold out venues across Belgium and the Netherlands with his sharp mix of science and comedy. International audiences may know him from BBC’s QI, the hit podcast No Such Thing As A Fish, or from his viral science explainers online. Now, he’s bringing his acclaimed show, Artificial Intelligence, to the UK. What’s On caught up with him to talk about what’s really going on under the bonnet of AI, why humour is the perfect tool to explain tough ideas, and how he sees the future of this rapidly evolving technology...
So, what actually is AI, Lieven?
Well, turns out there is no real definition of that. You could say that the term ‘artificial intelligence’ is mostly clever marketing. It sounds like we’re talking about consciousness. In reality, it’s simply a new kind of software that’s exceptionally good at recognising patterns.
What will your show be about?
I’ll be talking about the possibilities of AI, both now and in the future. But I also want to give the audience a better understanding of what’s going on ‘under the bonnet’ of AI. Research into AI actually began back in 1956, making this field almost 70 years old now. For a long time, artificial intelligence was built on rule-based programming: the typical ‘if this, then that’ rules that you see in programming languages. But today’s wave of AI simulates a neural network in software: it is roughly based on the way a network of brain cells send signals to one another. About 10 years ago, that suddenly started working remarkably well. Tasks that old software and robotics couldn’t automate - like picking fruit or recognising faces - are now being automated by AI.
This technology moves so fast. Has your show changed since you first wrote it?
Absolutely. I follow the newest developments and adapt the show when needed. Every few months, there’s a new breakthrough in AI that changes the conversation.
Your career also seems to stretch far beyond just this show on AI. Can you tell us a bit more?
In Belgium, I develop and host TV shows on science and comedy for national television, and I’ve toured theatres with shows about special relativity, human genetics, and now AI. The concept for all of them is the same: making intriguing but complex topics accessible to a general audience. I also host Nerdland, Belgium’s biggest science podcast, as well as the Nerdland Festival, our yearly science festival that attracts 25,000 visitors. I’ve also worked abroad a bit, doing TV in the Netherlands, and some research as a QI Elf for BBC’s QI. We’ve had international guests on the podcast, such as Dara Ó Briain, Neil deGrasse Tyson, XKCD cartoonist Randall
Munroe, and Walter Isaacson. I’ve also taken my shows from the Edinburgh Fringe to San Francisco, and even to CERN in Geneva. Another highlight for me was when former US president Barack Obama visited Belgium two years ago - my AI talk was the opening act before him. Quite an honour.
How important is comedy in your shows?
I started out as a stand-up comedian, which I often describe as the altitude training of public speaking. On a stand-up stage, there are no excuses. You’ve got nowhere to hide: either the crowd laughs or it doesn’t, and the buck stops with you. That kind of training makes you very aware of an audience’s attention, and makes you aim for the joke when you can. When you’re explaining complicated stuff, it certainly helps to add some lightness.
Chat GPT is also an example of this new kind of automation, this time in the field of creative and intellectual professions... AI is the ‘loom’ of knowledge work. When weaving machines took over manual labour, they brought efficiency gains and sparked massive protests. And yet manual labour clearly hasn’t disappeared. So now the big question is: what happens when we automate brainwork? If AI really creates huge efficiency gains, we could, for example, evolve toward a four-day work week.
Will everyone soon have a robot at home?
At the moment, language models are still the main revolution within AI. Image recognition and other forms of AI are developing as well. But the ultimate goal is the creation of artificial general intelligence (AGI): an AI system that doesn’t just perform one specific task, but can do everything. Many researchers believe we’re getting closer, while others still dismiss it as a pipedream. Still, one thing seems certain: if more computing power becomes available through more efficient methods, it will almost certainly be funnelled into the race toward AGI.
In your show, you quote Yuval Harari:“I’m not afraid of artificial intelligence, but of human stupidity.” I just asked an AI system whether we should fear AI - it quickly turned very dark!
We sometimes forget that these language
models are trained on everything that’s out there on the internet. Their answers echo what the average internet user writes. These language models have no consciousness. We are not even sure if that will ever be possible with this technology. We don’t even know what causes human consciousness. People today also completely misjudge the real risks of AI.
In what way?
We’re fixated on the Terminator idea. As long as we don’t see glowing red eyes, we feel reassured. Meanwhile, AI systems are already being trained to play the stock market, and military drones with facial recognition are already being sold. The real danger probably lies in corners we can’t see yet. The milliondollar question is: where’s the black swan we don’t see coming? The seemingly trivial glitch that ends up having massive consequences? In short: AI is software. It’s not a conscious, evil mastermind secretly plotting its next move. The drive to dominate, to be in control, that’s human. It’s part of our evolution. Software doesn’t have that instinctive aggression. Your PC is not angry when you turn it off.
What does the future look like?
Nobody knows! The newest large language models, like GPT-5, aren’t much better than the previous ones. Is the period of rapid progress over? Or is AGI around the corner, like some tech entrepreneurs believe? We’ll see. But AI is not a fad. Even in its current state, this is a valuable new kind of software with completely new capabilities that will not disappear from our lives and work places anytime soon.
Lieven Scheire brings his new show to the Swan Theatre, Worcester, on Thursday 12 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, on Saturday 14 March; Stafford Gatehouse on Wednesday 18 March; Lichfield Garrick Theatre on Saturday 21 March; and The Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent, on Tuesday 24 March
Comedy previews from across the region...
John Kearns
Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Thurs 5 March; Birmingham Town Hall, Fri 6 March; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Sat 7 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Thurs 14 May
“When I visit your town, dogs will start barking, as will clergy,” warns Taskmaster alumni and double Edinburgh Comedy Award winner John Kearns. “Your microwave will go haywire. The lights in your vestibule will flicker, and the Bank of England will nervously look at interest rates!...” John is visiting numerous Midlands venues this month with his brandnew show, Tilting At Windmills.
Daniel O’Reilly
Walsall Arena, Sat 21 March; Huntingdon Hall, Worcester, Sat 2 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 26 September
Daniel O’Reilly reckons his life has resembled a rollercoaster ride - and he’s stopping off in the Midlands this month to tell his legion of fans all about it.
The London-born comic originally made his name over a decade ago as the character Dapper Laughs, but an ill-advised joke about rape put the brakes on what had seemed to be a promising career.
The years which followed saw him battling a drug and alcohol addiction - and fighting hard to reestablish himself on the UK comedy scene.
Now he’s out on the road again, performing his latest stand-up show, Let’s Have It, under his own name - and joking that he hopes he gets cancelled, as he could do with a bit of a break.
Tom Davis
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 21 March; Birmingham Hippodrome, Sun 10 May
“I've always thought of myself as an underdog,” reveals funnyman Tom Davis to beyondthejoke.com, “though not necessarily in a negative way. I think that's what’s made me. The bulk of my humour comes from constantly feeling like someone who's had a little bit of a kicking.”
Having left school with no qualifications, Tom’s road to comedy success proved to be a long and winding one: “I'd been working on building sites for 20-odd years. I just wanted to do something for myself. I tried stand-up, and straight away I just thought 'Wow! I feel like I'm actually quite good at something: making other people laugh!'”
Tom visits the Midlands with his current touring show, Spudgun.
Jonny Cole
Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge, Tues 3 - Thurs 5 March; Halesowen Town Hall, Sat 14 & Sun 15 March; Rugeley Rose Theatre, Fri 20 - Sun 22 March; Burton-upon-Trent Town Hall, Fri 27 March; Walsall Arena, Fri 10 & Sat 11 April; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Tues 14 - Wed 15 April; The Civic, Stourport, Thurs 23 - Fri 24 April
“It’s difficult for me to put my brand of comedy into an industry-standard soundbite,” says local comedian Jonny Cole.
“There are a lot of people who love Black Country humour and who’d love to go into a rough & ready Black Country pub just to listen to the banter - and that’s exactly what I do. I’ve absorbed Black Country humour the whole of my life. I take it out of that pubwhere people wouldn’t dare go, in case they got their teeth knocked out - and I put it into a safe, controlled environment where they can enjoy it.”
Alfie Moore
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Thurs 19 March; Artrix, Bromsgrove, Thurs 26 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 12 June; Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-uponTrent, Fri 3 July; Royal Spa Centre, Sat 26 September; Lichfield Garrick, Fri 23 October
Staunch Sheffield socialist Alfie Moore is a master raconteur and a very funny man. He also used to be a police officer... Indeed, back in the days when he was both a comedian and a cop, his website advised that if you wanted to see Alfie ‘live’, you had two options: either catch him at one of his
comedy gigs, or drive to Scunthorpe and park on a double yellow line! With his gag-bag including “I'm in a same-sex marriage... the sex is always the same”, he stops off in Newcastle-under-Lyme this month with latest show Acopalypse Now.
Angela Barnes
The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-uponTrent, Thurs 5 March; Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, North Shropshire, Fri 6 March
When Angela Barnes’ inspirational father died, it proved to be the catalyst for her to follow his advice - finally - and hurl herself into the rough, tough world of stand-up comedy...
And her success since then has proved that she definitely made the right decision.
A BBC New Comedy Awards winner, Angela is this month visiting the region with Angst, a show that ‘mostly features stories of unmitigated failure, a distinct lack of wisdom, a little bit of German and loads of jokes’.
BACK OF THE NET
The Beautiful Game comes under the spotlight at Birmingham Hippodrome this month...
By Jessica Clixby
The National Theatre’s Olivier Award-winning Dear England transfers the high drama of football management from the touchline to the stage - telling the story of Sir Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England boss. Capturing the palpable excitement of the sport - and with more than a few recognisable caricatures thrown into the mix - it also highlights the pressures faced by players when the eyes of the nation are fixed upon them... What’s On sat down with David Sturzaker - who plays Sir Gareth in the show - and fellow cast members Samantha Womack and Jayden Hanley to find out more…
James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, Dear England, explores ex-Aston Villa captain Sir Gareth Southgate’s time as manager of the England football team, an eight-year period during which he broke the mould set by previous managers and brought his focus to the squad’s mental wellbeingreplacing conflict with camaraderie.
The show references the weight of responsibility and disappointment Southgate felt as a player following his infamous penalty miss against Germany in the 1996 Euros semi-final. When he steps into the breach as England’s manager some 20 years later, he strives to remove that pressure from his squad and bring back the joy of the game.
Sir Gareth is played by David Sturzaker in the currently touring National Theatre production. So how has David approached the challenge of portraying such a wellknown contemporary figure?
“I was having a preliminary chat with the director,” he says, “and she gave me a bit of advice - to think of it as if I’m playing the character as written by James Graham in the play, not the real Gareth Southgate. That sounds like it’s splitting hairs, but for me it’s been so important… And of course, with that, there’s all the very helpful resources that you can draw on - endless interviews, press conferences, images of Gareth at the touchline, during matches or training...”
In contrast to David’s carefully choreographed character study, former EastEnders favourite Samantha Womack brings life to a figure who is central to the story but, unlike many of the people on stage, not a household name.
“I play Pippa Grange,” she says, “who was brought on board by Gareth Southgate to be a performance psychologist for the players. She says she’s more of a ‘culture coach’, and she helps the players overcome issues to do with fear and shame, finding joy in the game.”
With a well-known cast of characters and a subject that has a broad appeal (Eng-erland!) it’s no surprise that the play has scored a hit with audiences.
“It’s already had these very successful runs at the National Theatre and in the West End,” says David. “Yes, it uses football as a framework, but it’s actually about far more universal things than that. It’s about overcoming adversity, it’s about mental health, it’s about racism, it’s about national identity. I think it’s about people surprising themselves and surprising others - how,
working as a team, you can achieve so much.”
The production has also found an appreciative audience with a younger demographic.
“I’m very moved by the fact that the young adults who are watching it are fiercely attentive,” says Samantha. “It’s what theatre is designed for, I suppose - to provoke thought, to challenge what’s going on, but to do it in a way that unites rather than divides. I look at these youngsters, with James Graham’s writing, and they are the future of theatre goers. They are so involved in what we’re doing and saying. To bring new theatre, particularly straight drama, to visiting theatres around the country - I’m more passionate about that than anything else.”
“We’ve heard from quite a few places that there are people [coming to see the show] who have never stepped into the theatre before,” adds David. “And if those people can leave thinking that they might come back to see something else, for us that would be magic.”
The powerful message of the play - that the young men in the England team benefit from being supported emotionally, as well as from a disciplined approach and being pushed to their physical limits - has also extended to camaraderie among the cast.
“Most of them are my son’s age,” says Samantha. “I have a real pride in their performances, but also the way that they carry themselves as young men. They’re an incredibly supportive cast towards each other. We’ve done workshops about trust and vulnerability, and it’s been really interesting to see them explore those themes. I think that’s part of the success of the play - we’ve united ourselves as a team.”
One of that ‘team’ will be making a triumphant return to Birmingham when the production visits the Hippodrome this month. Brummie born-and-bred Jayden Hanley appears as Manchester United player Marcus Rashford. For Jayden and his castmates, Dear England is no walk in the parkthey fill the stage with finely tuned training exercises and pre-match warm-ups worthy of Wembley.
“It’s such a physically demanding play,” says Jayden. “It’s a lot, but everyone’s supporting each other and helping… The movement director has been brilliant and really got it out of us. I didn’t think I could do it - I didn’t think I could remember all the counts, but he
was so patient with us all, getting us all on the same wavelength. Everyone’s so patient with each other.”
Rashford has made a name for himself not only on the pitch but through charity workusing his platform to combat food poverty, in the face of prejudice.
“A lot of the time with Black footballers, you get negative publicity, negative press,” says Jayden. “But despite all that, he’s managed to be an icon to a lot of people. He’s been able to make a difference in the world, which is something that’s hard to do, not only as a young Black man but just as a person of interest - being a good role model.”
Jayden grew up in Birmingham’s Yardley Wood, and while he’s familiar with the Hippodrome, he’s never appeared on its stage before.
“This will be my first time, which I’m really excited for. I’m a big musical theatre fan, so whenever the musicals go on tour, I see them there. The fondest memory I’ve got of the Hippodrome is my sister being in Les Miserables when it toured there. She played Little Cosette, and she had a little solo on stage. I went and sat with my mum and watched it - it was the proudest day of my life. But I’m so excited to get to perform in Birmingham, at the Hippodrome and on that stage - it makes it so much more special.
“Also, I’m a huge Birmingham City fan,” adds Jayden. “I’ve got a season ticket. Every time I’m home, I make sure I can go to the games. I’ve supported Birmingham for as long as I can remember. Football is my escape; it’s where I go to forget about everything.”
While it might be a strain for a Blues fan to play the part of a footballer who spent a few months at Villa Park - Rashford was on loan there last season - Jayden’s passion for the sport, combined with his passion for the theatre, is what Dear England is all about.
“It’s weird! Obviously Rashford had a little stint at the club down the road… I won’t mention names! But it’s so good to be able to perform in Birmingham. I know who I am, and I know what the team in Birmingham isBlues is the club!”
Dear England shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March
Theatre previews from around the region
Legally Blonde The Musical
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 31 March - Sat 4 April; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 13 - Sat 17 October; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Tues 17 - Sat 21 November
Based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon, this critically acclaimed musical follows the story of college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods, a girl who just doesn’t take no for an answer. So when her boyfriend, Warner, announces that he’s dumping her for someone more serious, Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books and heads for Harvard Law School. Amber Davies (Pretty Woman, 9 to 5 The Musical) takes the lead role
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert
Birmingham Hippodrome, Mon 23 - Sat 28 March
Based on the movie of the same name, Priscilla the stage show has wowed both West End and Broadway audiences, picking up a coveted Olivier Award and an equally prestigious Tony Award along its accolade-strewn way. At its heartland is an uplifting story of the friendship shared between three pals, who hop aboard a battered old bus and head off in search of love and romance.
The show originally opened in Australia in 2006 - running there for two years before arriving on the West End stage - and comes complete with a dazzling array of costumes and a glorious selection of dancefloor favourites, including It’s Raining Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff and Always On My Mind... Fascinating Aïda’s Adèle Anderson and Kevin Clifton of Strictly Come Dancing fame take top billing.
in a production directed by Nikolai Foster, the artistic director at Curve, Leicester. Commenting on the show, Nikolai and Curve’s chief executive, Chris Stafford, said: “Legally Blonde is firmly established in the musical theatre repertoire as a contemporary classic. Laurence O’Keefe, Nell Benjamin & Heather Hach’s electrifying musical about empowerment, equality and the folly of judging a book by its cover remains pitch-perfect and as relevant as ever.”
Here & Now: The Steps Musical
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 10 - Sun 15 March
Iconic songs from pop group Steps’ repertoire provide the backdrop for this critically acclaimed musical. A celebration of love and friendship, Here & Now is helmed by former Birmingham Rep Artistic Director Rachel Kavanaugh. The show focuses on four friends - Caz, Vel, Neeta and Robbie - as they steer their way through a summer filled with happiness, heartache, hurt and humour.
“Here & Now is a completely original story with new characters,” says Rachel. “It’s not about Steps, but we use their songs to tell the story. It’s brilliant for people who love Steps, but I think that even if you don’t know the songs, you’ll still enjoy it.”
Theatre previews from around the region
Midsomer Murders: The Killings At Badger’s Drift
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 10 - Sat 14 March
ITV1’s Midsomer Murders has been running for so long now that it’s a wonder there’s anybody left in the county to kill!
With the hugely popular television series not too far away from celebrating its 30th anniversary, the lead character of DCI Barnaby is here being brought to life by Daniel Casey, the actor who played Barnaby’s original assistant, Sargeant Gavin Troy, from 1997 to 2003.
The new theatrical production is based on the original same-named 1987 novel by Caroline Graham and the first-ever episode of the television series.
Noughts & Crosses
The Rep, Birmingham, Tues 24 - Sat 28 March
skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought - a ‘colourless’ member of the underclass, who were once slaves to the Crosses. Friends since childhood they may have been, but when romance blossoms, they suddenly find themselves exposed to a terrible danger...
Sisters 360
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Sat 28 March; The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 22 - Thurs 23 April; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 23 May
Top Hat The Musical
Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 3 - Sat 7 March
Based on the 1935 film of the same name starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, this Olivier Award-winning stage musical enjoyed a Chichester Festival Theatre revival last year and visits Birmingham this month as part of a UK tour.
When famous American headliner Jerry Travers arrives in London to appear in his first West End show, it isn’t long before he meets the irresistible Dale Tremont. Quickly realising that she’s the girl of his dreams, Jerry determines to follow her across Europe in a desperate attempt to win her heart with his breathtaking song & dance routines... Irving Berlin’s celebrated score features such classics numbers as Cheek To Cheek, Let’s Face The Music And Dance, Isn’t This A Lovely Day? and Top Hat, White Tie And Tails.
listening Americans being duped by the play into believing that Martians had actually invaded the planet.
Exactly how many people in reality fell for the stunt remains a matter of conjecture. What certainly cannot be denied, however, is the impact which media such as radio and, latterly, social media, can have on the way in which people process the stories that they hear.
Stepsisters Fatima and Salima are cool, close, and share a burning ambitionto win the Tiny Is Mighty skateboarding contest. But when they start hearing whispers about their parents planning to live apart - meaning that they too, as stepsisters, will be separated - they realise that their chances of winning competition gold are set to take a turn for the worse...
Talented theatre ensemble Imitating The Dog here make use of miniature environments, model worlds, camera tricks, and projection to create what they’re promising will be an audacious, thrilling and timely retelling of Wells’ 1898 novel.
The Father
Oldbury Rep, Sat 7 - Sat 14 March
This Pilot Theatre adaptation (in association with Northern Stage) of Malorie Blackman’s novel explores what happens when two people living in a world of terrorist violenceand separated by prejudice and distrust - find themselves falling in love.
Sephy is a Cross - a member of the dark-
Bradford writer Asif Khan is the creative talent behind this inspirational story about ‘family, friendship and the importance of following your dreams’.
The War Of The Worlds
The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wed 18 - Sat 21 March
According to legend, Orson Welles’ 1938 radio adaptation of HG Wells’ classic sci-fi novel, The War Of The Worlds, caused mass hysteria when it was broadcast, with
Oldbury Repertory Players turn to Christopher Hampton’s translation of Florian Zeller’s emotionally challenging and thought-provoking play for their next amateur production.
Telling the story of a once-proud old man’s mental degeneration - and his daughter’s attempts to keep him safe as he loses his mind - The Father won the Molière Award for ‘best new play’ in 2015. It was adapted for the cinema five years later, with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman taking the lead roles and Hopkins picking up an Academy Award for his mesmerising performance.
Image credit: Ed Waring
Theatre previews from around the region
Six The Musical
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wed 25 - Sat 28 March; Birmingham Hippodrome, Tues 31 March - Sat 11 April
From Tudor queens to battling bosswomen, the 2022 Tony Awardwinning Six The Musical sees the wives of Henry VIII take to the stage ‘to remix 500 years of historical heartbreak’ and tell their own versions of their lives...
A colourful show that sits somewhere between a Girls Aloud gig and a traditional musical, the one-act production - premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, where it was performed by a group of Cambridge University students - is a loud and proud 80minute celebration of 21st-century girl power. The show sees the cast being ably supported by all-female band The Ladies In Waiting.
Andrew Doherty: Sad Gay Aids Play
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Fri 6 March
Andrew Doherty returns to the region with another Edinburgh Fringe winner, having previously made a significant impact when
debuting with folk/horror pastiche Gay Witch
Sex Cult.
His latest offering finds him both chronicling the HIV pandemic and railing against Arts Council England for being tricky customers when it comes to the business of accessing funding...
Doherty is an undoubted talent, but Sad Gay Aids Play has faired less well with the critics than his previous effort. That said, there’s nevertheless plenty to appreciate here - so if you caught and enjoyed him last time around, this latest show will undoubtedly be well worth an hour of your time.
The Invisible Man
Malvern Theatres, Mon 30 March - Wed 1 April; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Thurs 9 April; The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Fri 10 April; The Regal Theatre, Tenbury Wells, Thurs 16 April; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wed 27 May; Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Sat 30 May; The Henrician, Evesham, Thurs 4 June
An evening of tongue-in-cheek fun is being promised by the producers of this stage adaptation of HG Wells’ famous story... But will the title character put in an appearance, we wonder?!...
Expect quick and silly costume changes, prop manipulations and whacky imaginings, as
Ellen Kent: The Farewell Tour - Madama Butterfly
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Sun 1 March; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 7 March
The story of a young geisha girl who marries an American naval officer, only to find that he soon returns home and marries another, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is among the most popular operas of all time.
This particular version, presented by Ukraine’s Opera International Kyiv, is one of three productions visiting venues across the country as part of Ellen Kent’s farewell tour. Ellen has been presenting extravagant opera and ballet productions to appreciative audiences around the UK for more than 30 years, in the process showcasing the talents of some of Europe’s major opera companies. “It’s the most popular opera in the whole world,” says Ellen, in talking about Madama Butterfly. “We’ve got a very good cast. We’ve got a Korean girl, Elena Dee, who’s a class act, playing Cio-Cio-San. A good cast and a slick, beautiful production… For some reason, it seems to be the British favourite.”
three energetic actors from Our Star Theatre Company take on the challenge of playing 15 characters... The show enjoyed a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe a couple of years back.
The Hound Of The Baskervilles
New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until Sat 14 March
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is one of literature’s most enduring characters, The Hound Of The Baskervilles his most famous adventure. Yet no matter how many actors don the deerstalker and solve the mystery of the monstrous moorland beast, the story remains a popular choice for both stage and screen adaptation.
This New Vic Theatre version brings a welcome dose of humour to the lonely wasteland of the desolate moors...
IN THE PINK
Legally Blonde: The Musical visits the Midlands
Originally a book, then a film starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde tells the story of plucky, positive and pink-obsessed Elle Woods as she turns from sorority sister to Harvard Law School starand busts plenty of stereotypes along the way. The stage adaptation of the story, Legally Blonde: The Musical, is now touring the nation, with ex-Love Islander Amber Davies in the lead role. Amber - and cast-mates George Crawford and Karen Mavundukure - here explain to What’s On what it takes to bring Elle’s uplifting story to the stage...
Legally Blonde: The Musical has taken audiences by storm since first hitting the stage in 2007. This month sees a brand-new touring production making its way to Birmingham’s The Alexandra, with Amber Davies, George Crawford and Karen Mavundukure taking on the roles of Elle, Emmett and Paulette respectively.
Amber, who was born and raised in Denbigh, North Wales, and moved to London at the age of 16, would sing along to the Legally Blonde: The Musical cast album any chance she got. Now, she’s stepping into the fashionable shoes of Elle Woods...
“I feel like the role has come into my life at a good time,” she says. “You need stamina and life knowledge for a part like this, so now is the perfect time for me to play her. If it had come any earlier, I would have been too young.”
Now 29, the former Love Island star-turnedactress and Strictly Come Dancing contestant is thrilled to be taking on what she calls ‘one of the biggest female roles in musical theatre’. She's adding Elle to an acting roster that includes Judy Bernly in 9 To 5: The Musical, Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman: The Musical and Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby.
“[Elle is] a force to be reckoned with,” says Amber. “She's beautiful, but she's also intelligent - and women can be both things at the same time. She's a firecracker.”
Like Amanda Brown's novel of the same name, and the iconic 2001 film adaptation starring Reese Witherspoon, the show follows Elle's transformation from 'It Girl' fashionista to legal ace at Harvard Law School.
Asked if it's daunting following in the footsteps of Witherspoon in the movie, and the likes of Sheridan Smith in the musical, Amber sees it as more of an honour and a challenge: “It's inspiring to follow in their footsteps, but while I’ve seen so many different versions of Elle and loved every single one, I'm thinking, 'What can I do differently to put my own stamp on it?’”
Legally Blonde is the ultimate feelgood show, but Amber says there's a strong, powerful message amidst all the fun: “It's as simple as 'Don't judge a book by its cover.’ It's such a
funny story, but it's got heart too, and I really want audiences to feel for Elle when they come to see it.”
At Harvard, Elle meets third-year student & teaching assistant Emmett, who is as helpful towards her as most of her classmates are dismissive. George Crawford plays Emmett in the show
“He sees that there's so much more to her than meets the eye,” says George. “He sees the strength in her honesty and bubbliness, and eventually a relationship blossoms… He's a lot more laid-back and introverted than the pink energy that surrounds him. “Emmett has always been played as writtenwhich is quirky and a nice guy - but he sings about having grown up in the Roxbury slums, which is one of the most crime-heavy and rundown parts of America. He's worked so hard - from having nothing, to being at the most prestigious law school in the country. He's put in the graft, and it's interesting to explore that side of him. For Emmett, it's about pushing through class barriers. For Elle, it's about pushing through prejudice. They really help one another.”
The production puts a new spin on Legally Blonde, by setting it in the present day rather than in the early 2000s when the film came out.
“It's still the Legally Blonde that everyone knows and expects,” George says, “but it has a more contemporary feel to it. That's done through the fantastic sets and costumes, as well as little touches like Elle using Apple Pay instead of cash.”
George played Mr McKee and covered for Nick in The Great Gatsby - so Legally Blonde marks a reunion for him and Amber.
“We've already got good chemistry from working together in that show,” he says, “so working opposite each other again just feels natural. That really helps with the story arc that both of these characters go through together. It feels organic.”
On the other hand, for Karen Mavundukure, Legally Blonde is a sharp pivot from her recent stint in the Stranger Things: The First Shadow stage play. She plays Paulette, the hair-salon owner who supports Elle when she contemplates switching from being a
blonde to a brunette. Sassy and straighttalking, Paulette encourages Elle to be her authentic self.
"I've gone from darkness to a world of pink," Karen says, in talking about taking on the part famously played in the film by Jennifer Coolidge. “It's an honour, because it really is one of the best and most captivating of musicals… Paulette’s the comedy relief whenever things get a bit serious - but she also mirrors Elle's journey towards selfconfidence. There's a commonality to their struggles. Paulette has just come out of a toxic relationship, but she's still pushing ahead with her dreams. She encourages Elle to keep going because she believes Elle can achieve her dreams, too.
“This is nothing like I've ever done before. With Paulette, the challenge is that she's such a well-known character from the movie and previous stage versions, so I want to bring out the elements of her that you don't really see at first glance. In this production, as in a few before, she's an African American, and she has a history that's informed the way she now attacks life head on.”
Karen’s time in the role would be incomplete without the addition of the legendary and flirtatious move that Elle teaches Paulette: Bend... and Snap! Given that this is a musical, the move not surprisingly gets its very own number...
“It's so much fun!” Karen beams. “When we first rehearsed it, we spent the whole day in fits of laughter. I'm a bend-and-snap professional now!”
Legally Blonde: The Musical visits Birmingham’s The Alexandra from Tuesday 31 March to Saturday 4 April. The production then returns to the Midlands in the autumn, showing at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 13 to Saturday 17 October, and the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 November
Theatre previews from around the region
The Signalman
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thurs 26 - Sat 28 March
Middle Ground Theatre Company is the hugely talented ensemble behind this stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ atmospheric ghost story. Written in 1866, it focuses on the character of a Victorian-age signalman who’s haunted by visions of impending disaster on his isolated stretch of line.
and
The Battle
The Rep, Birmingham, until Sat 7 March
Theatre
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
Lichfield Garrick, Mon 2 - Sat 7 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 23 & Tues 24 March
Thirty-seven years old and seen by over 23 million people across the globe, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is an enormously enduring and touchingly affectionate portrayal of one of rock & roll’s earliest and brightest stars. Charting the Texas-born singer’s meteoric rise to fame and fortune, and following his career through to his very last performance - given in the hours before the plane crash that claimed his life at the age of just 22 - the show features timeless classics such as That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Rave On and Everyday.
and thou-ing in your general direction, then this is the show for you!
All of Shakespeare’s 37 plays are here covered in the blink of an eye, allowing you not only to become very learned very quickly, but also to get down the pub well before last orders!
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Malvern Theatres, Wed 18 - Sat 21 March; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tues 30 JuneSat 4 July
The recently screened secondseries television adaptation of The Night Manager has once again brought to the fore the name of the original novel’s author: John le Carré. Thirty years before he wrote The Night Manager, le Carré penned The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. His third book, it became an international bestseller and established the former MI5 and MI6 employee as a major name in the spy-novel genre.
Not only written but also set during the Cold War era, its story focuses on the character of British intelligence officer Alec Leamas, who is persuaded to undertake one final, dangerous, deceptive and deeply personal mission...
This acclaimed stage production visits the Midlands this month direct from the West End
Brand-new play The Battle has its roots in the gloriously hot summer of 1995, when one of the main items on the British media’s agenda was the red-hot race between Britpop bands Blur and Oasis to reach the top of the charts.
“I was there in February 1995,” recalls the play’s writer, John Niven, “and I remember Damon Albarn holding up the Brit Award for Best British Group and saying it should be shared with Oasis, with much love and respect to them. I also found an interview with Noel Gallagher from the same night where he said: ‘It’s us and Blur against the world now.’ But then, in August, you have Noel saying he wanted them to get AIDS and die!... That’s quite a dramatic arc in the course of five months! How do you get from one to the other? It was quite fun unpicking how it happened.”
Gavin & Stacey’s Mathew Horne stars.
The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (abridged)
Swan Theatre, Worcester, Tues 10 March; The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Fri 13 & Sat 14 March; Lichfield Garrick, Wed 8 - Sat 11 April
Now, if you feel that you really should pay attention to the works of the world’s greatestever playwright, but don’t fancy hour upon hour of serious-sounding thespians thee-ing
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind
The Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Sat 28 March
As extraordinary true-life stories go, the tale of William Kamkwamba takes some beating. Born to a family of farmers in the village of Wimbe in Malawi, he single-handedly saved his community from starvation by building a windmill to power the village’s broken water pump. The budding inventor used scrap materials from the local junkyard and parts from the family bicycle - the only one in the village, and their only real asset - which he convinced his relatives he needed to dismantle. And all at the age of just 13! Based on Kamkwamba’s bestselling memoir and a movie adaptation written & directed by well-known actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s first musical since Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey took over as co-artistic directors.
following a sold-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre. Ralf Little (pictured) takes the title role.
Theatre for younger audiences
Brainiac Live!
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tues 31 March; The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Sat 20 June
First visiting theatres in 2008, Brainiac Live! provides plenty of family fun - with a few bangs, wallops and flashes thrown in for good measure!
“When we’re developing the show,” explains the production’s creative director, Andy Joyce, “what we’re looking for is a ‘Wow!’ moment; something that either makes a noise, has a huge effect, or creates a bang. It needs to have that pay-off, but it also has to be interesting.
“We learn about something from the scientists and then put our little spin on it. So my role has been about being in laboratories, watching things go whizz bang bok, and then asking the scientists: how big can we go on stage with this in a way that’s safe?”
Tales From Acorn Wood
Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thurs 26 - Sun 29 March
Stage adaptations of children’s books by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler invariably offer oodles of theatrical magic, so this is definitely a show that’s well worth catching.
Bringing together clever puppetry and toetapping songs, the production provides youngsters with an hour of lively entertainment, including the chance to join Pig and Hen for a game of hide & seek. The show is suitable for children aged oneplus.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Swan Theatre, Worcester, Tues 17 & Wed 18 March; Midands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Sat 4 - Sun 5 April
In a career stretching back to the mid-1960s, the late Eric Carle illustrated more than 70 books - writing most of them, too. None have been more famous or successful than his 1969 story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The popular picture book has been translated into more than 60 languages, selling in excess of 52 million copies.
This interactive stage version of Carle’s much-loved tale - presented alongside three more of his stories - features no fewer than 75 handcrafted puppets, has a running time of one hour, and shows twice on each day, once in the morning and then again in the afternoon.
Exciting Science
Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tues 31 March; Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Wed 8 April
Designed to enlighten, educate and entertain children aged four and older, Exciting Science promises plenty of ‘wiz, bang, pop and splurt’, as the show’s scientists carry out all manner of fun and
Theatre
The Wiggles: Tree Of Wisdom Spectacular!
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Mon 30 March
This year celebrating their 35th anniversary, Australian children’s music group The Wiggles are eagerly anticipating their Birmingham stop-off at the end of the month. “We love touring the UK,” says founding Wiggle Anthony Field. “We’re all looking forward to seeing our old friends, as well as meeting some new ones.”
Expect to get wiggling to classic hits such as Rock-A-Bye Your Bear, Fruit Salad Yummy Yummy and Hot Potato.
fact-filled live experiments.
So if you think your kids would enjoy seeing some boffins create a volcanic eruption, turn a vacuum cleaner into a missile launcher, and take careful aim with a smoke blaster, then this is definitely the show to check out.
The Gruffalo’s Child
Lichfield Garrick, Mon 9 & Tues 10 March; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sat 28 November - Sun 27 December
Tall Stories’ delightful adaptation of the same-named and much-loved Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler book finds the Gruffalo and his youngster caught up in an exciting adventure... Despite her dad's warning to stay away from the deep, dark wood, the Gruffalo's Child decides it's time to go and explore, unworried by the legend of The Big Bad Mouse...
Rude Science
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Mon 30 March
BBC Gastronaut Stefan Gates is pretty darned certain that his Rude Science production is the most revolting show of its kind in the whole wide world. And he could well be right, given that it involves enormous bottoms, pee-powered fireworks, fabulous fart machines and vast whoopee cushions! Science stunts and spectacular experiments abound in a show that promises to be both entertaining and educational. Suitable for children aged five and older.
Light entertainment from around the region
Game Of Crones
The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sat 7 March; Rother Street Arts, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thurs 26 March
and win actual prizes! Oh, and there are murderous goings-on too, as ‘Mr Razzle Dazzle’ himself, Bertie Bingo, ‘hosts an evening of dabbers, Droopy Drawers… and death...’ Great fun seems a guarantee...
Lieven Scheire
Theatre
Swan Theatre, Worcester, Thurs 12 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Sat 14 March; Stafford Gatehouse, Wed 18 March; Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Sat 21 March; The Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent, Tues 24 March
“Brits, I’m coming your way!”
So exclaims talented science communicator & comedian Lieven Scheire - ‘the secret Belgian love child of Stephen Fry and Dara Ó Briain’, according to his website. “This month I’ll be touring my science comedy show on artificial intelligence in the UK. This is the show I’ve been touring in Belgium and the Netherlands for the past two years. Over 175,000 people have already seen it, so it’s time to take it abroad!
“Everybody talks about artifical intelligence, but few people really understand what’s going on under the bonnet. Come join me on one of these nights for an entertaining and accessible introduction to the world of AI!”
Dead Ringers
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Mon 23 March
Abigail Dooley and Emma Joy Edwardsotherwise known as A&E Comedy - are the talented creatives behind this ‘riotous celebration of women in their prime’. The show is a follow-up to their 2018 offering, Enter The Dragons, in which the Brightonbased pair ‘slayed the beast of midlife with fearless buffoonery’. Now, eight years later, they’re marching into the perilous lands of the ‘third age’, determined to prove that they remain ‘warriors who will not go gentle into the bingo night’... The production is suitable for audience members aged 18-plus and has a running time of 70 minutes.
Eyes Down
SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, Thurs 12 March; Dawley Town Hall, Telford, Fri 13 March; Wem Town Hall, North Shropshire, Sat 14 March; Thimblemill Library, Sandwell, Sun 15 March; Wednesbury Library, Thurs 19 March; Tibberton Village Hall, Droitwich, Sat 21 March; Feckenham Village Hall, Redditch, Sun 22 March
Eyes down for a full house... Manchesterbased Just Some Theatre’s brand-new interactive comedy thriller comes complete with an additional attraction: a chance for the audience to play actual games of bingo
Queenz:
Drag Me To The Disco
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 6 March; Lichfield Garrick, Sun 8 March; Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Sat 28 March
Loved and adored by celebrities including Gary Barlow and Dawn French, Queenz is described as ‘a trailblazing, life-affirming drag extravaganza that’s currently taking the UK by storm’.
This latest show sees a selection of dazzling divas performing the biggest disco hits of all time. And if their previous production is anything to go by, there won’t be a lip-sync in sight!
Shoot From The Hip
Birmingham Town Hall, Sun 22 March & Saturday 30 May
An evening of ‘chaotic games, epic scenes, and ever-so-slightly unhinged performances’. That’s the promise being made to Midlands theatre-goers by Shoot From The Hip, an award-winning, TikTok-viral, all-male improv quartet whose shows have been described as unscripted, unpredictable and unforgettable. If improvised comedy is your thing, check these fellas out - they picked up plenty of plaudits and five-star reviews in Edinburgh last summer.
Topical satire show Dead Ringers has been delighting BBC Radio Four audiences for the last quarter century with its veritable smorgasbord of uncannily accurate and routinely amusing comedy impressions. To celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary, longstanding cast members Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod and Duncan Wisbey have hit the road with a first-ever UK tour.
Foil Arms & Hog: Skittish
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sat 28 March
Irish funsters Foil Arms & Hog (Sean ‘Foil’ Finegan, Conor ‘Arms’ McKenna and Sean ‘Hog’ Flanagan) arrive in the Midlands
boasting numerous celebrity fans - Woody Harrelson and Emma Thompson includedand upwards of one billion views online. Cleverly combining sketch comedy and humorous songs with improvisation and audience participation, the trio have been peddling their laughter-worthy wares since 2008, having bonded over a shared love of Channel Four sitcom Father Ted while studying at University College Dublin.
Dance showing in the region
Sampad: Asian Spring
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Sun 22 March
Sampad South Asian Arts & Heritage make a welcome return with the 2026 edition of Asian Spring, an annual showcase for talented performers from across the region. Running for two hours, the event is being publicised as having something for everyone, from the intricate footwork and expressive storytelling of Kathak, to the lively, high-energy moves of Bhangra.
Ascension Dance: Early Weaves
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sun 29 March
Ascension Dance’s latest show, Early Weaves - a non-verbal introduction to dance theatre for early-years children - is a ‘heartwarming tale of friendship, curiosity and play’. Running for 35 minutes, it tells the story of two friends as they embark on a journey of connection and companionship. The show is followed by a 15-minute stay & play session.
2Faced Dance: Tomorrow
Malvern Theatres, Tues 10 March
As part of the journey towards its stated aim of becoming ‘a worldwide leader in the production of breathtaking, physical and inspirational dance’, the Herefordshirebased and all-male 2Faced Dance Company here presents Tomorrow, a production exploring the subject of ‘the future’.
Choreographed by Tamsin Fitzgerald, the show features a newly commissioned score by Ivor Novello-nominated composer Thomas Haines.
English Youth Ballet
Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Fri 20 & Sat 21 March
Founded in 1998, the award-winning English Youth Ballet offers young people who’re interested in dance the opportunity to perform classical ballet alongside professional dancers and tutors. This month sees the company returning to the region to present Coppelia, a show that brings together Leo Delibes’ dazzling score with some impressive choreography... When Dr Coppelius’s mannequin, Coppelia, is left on the workshop balcony, she causes quite a stir - not only in the heart of the redblooded Franz but also in the mind of his jealous fiancee, Swanilda, who foolishly mistakes her for a flesh-and-blood rival...
James Wilton Dance
Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tues 17 March
The award-winning James Wilton’s choreography is always distinctive, his productions powered by an energy the audience can almost reach out and touch. James’ in-demand ensemble here make a welcome return with Bach Reimagined, a work which explores everything from JS
Motionhouse: Hidden
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Fri 20 March
“Our show Hidden is an emotional response to the current state of the world,” explains Kevin Finnan, co-founder & artistic director of Leamington-located Motionhouse, who are once again touring their critically acclaimed show. “There’s the impact of the internet and social media, which everybody hoped would bring us all closer together. Sometimes it can, but it also seems to do equally well at tearing us apart… We seem to be facing a lot of conflict. We face conflict between ourselves - with people arguing endlessly - while on a wider scale, global conflicts have emerged around us.”
Bach’s means of composition as a form of divine worship, to the scientific advancements achieved by the composer’s contemporary, Sir Isaac Newton.
The production sees the company teaming up with acclaimed Canadian cellist Raphael Weinroth Browne.
Tribhangi Dance Theatre: Ubuntu
The Core Theatre, Solihull, Tues 24 March; The Rep, Birmingham, Sat 28 March
The strong physicality of African dance is combined with the grace of classical Indian Bharatanatyam whenever Tribhangi Dance Theatre take to the stage.
Incorporating colourful Afro-fusion and contemporary styles, the Johannesburgbased award winners are visiting the region with Ubuntu (Humanity Towards Others), a high-energy celebration of global cultures.
IF THE SHOE FITS…
Sir Matthew Bourne’s sumptuous adaptation of The Red Shoes visits Birmingham this month...
By Jessica Clixby
A Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, The Red Shoes revolves around a pair of alluring shoes which, once worn, force their wearer to keep dancing forever… Sir Matthew Bourne’s hit ballet version of the story - which is also based on the same-named 1948 film - is a love letter to golden-age entertainment and comes complete with a visually stunning theatrical setting. In preparation for The Red Shoes’ mid-month visit to Birmingham - its only Midlands stop-off - What’s On sat down with two of the show’s performers, Isabella Chandler and Andy Monaghan, to find out more…
The Red Shoes - a story of love and ambitionhas been recreated on stage and screen many times since the original fairytale was penned by Hans Christian Andersen in 1845. Sir Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed ballet adaptation - also based on the 1948 film, and produced by his company, New Adventuresexplores stories hidden within stories and features a stage within a stage… Set around 1950, it concerns a production created by ballet impresario Boris Lermontov and his young stars - ballerina Vicky Page and composer Julian Craster. Lermontov commissions a new ballet version of The Red Shoes tale, in which a magical pair of shoes force the wearer to dance until they die. But then life starts to imitate art, as love and obsession cause a rift between the trio... Andy Monaghan has danced with the production since its premiere a decade ago. On this occasion he’s taking the role of Lermontov. The production also features New Adventures’ emerging artist Isabella (Bella) Chandler, making her professional debut.
“We first did the show in 2016, and I was lucky to be part of the original cast,” says Andy. “It’s really nice coming back to it for a third time. I think there’s something about this one that is so cinematic, that really hooks people in. Even if it’s not between dance and love, everyone can relate to being torn between two different things.”
The production alludes to the golden age of Hollywood and classical ballet, with an opulent visual style to match. One of the most striking elements of the set is a huge theatrical curtain, which physically moves around the stage - changing the perspective of the audience, making hidden moments visible, and hinting at the tension between the characters, both on- and off-stage.
“The curtain is kind of like another character,” Andy explains. “That really helps to make you feel swept up in it. All of the scene changes are so quick. It’s so pacey, but it’s also so well focused.”
“We actually had the curtain in rehearsal with us, for our last week of rehearsals,” adds Bella. “We would all sit in the auditorium and just watch the curtain move around. Like Andy said, it’s kind of like another character in the show. It’s quite exciting! This is my first job, and I’ve never been in anything that involves something
that’s so big - it adds something else for us, as well as for the audience.”
“Logistically, we rehearse a lot,” Andy continues. “When we had the curtain for that final week, we did those big scenes - where it moves a lot - over and over again, just to make sure everyone felt confident. Especially when you add in the light - sometimes you can’t see, but you know it’s moving. You’ve just got to get into that muscle memory, but also keep your wits about you.”
As many of the New Adventures ensemble also play ballet dancers on stage - and as the production revolves around a pair of irresistible red ballet shoes - this is a show which has a particular resonance for its cast, considering what dancers might need to sacrifice for their art.
“As a dancer, you definitely have to give up a lot of things,” says Bella. “It’s an art form that you have to fully commit to. You can’t really half-commit if you want to go down that path. So I think it’s quite relatable in that sense. [For instance] I was away from home from a young age, so I didn’t really see my family that much. You definitely have to make some sacrifices.”
“It’s not as intense for us as it is for Vicky in the show,” adds Andy, “but if you’re trying to navigate finding a partner, all of that - trying to get someone who understands this schedule, or is willing to understand this schedule - it’s really hard. You see it over the years, when it works and when it doesn’t. It’s a real thing. In this show, that’s something which is brought into focus, I suppose. But Matt [Matthew Bourne] isn’t as intense as Lermontov is, so that helps!”
Boris Lermontov, played by Andy, is the ballet-company owner of the story, who becomes jealous and obsessive as Vicky and Julian become closer. But Vicky herself is drawn back to the success and glamour of Lermontov and his company.
“This is quite a different part for me,” says Andy. “I’ve been lucky to do a lot of romantic roles in Matt’s shows before - a lot of the duets - but this is very different. I have to find those connections with people, but I couldn’t lean on stuff that I knew. So trying to navigate that was interesting - and being cross for a really long time feels really intense!”
The show’s visit to Birmingham will see both
dancers making a fond return to the regionand to the Hippodrome...
“I grew up in Coventry,” says Andy, “and then we moved to South Yardley when I was 16. I’ve had many, many trips to the Hippodrome. It’s so nice to go back there, and I love that the venue is always on our tour schedule. The audiences are always fantastic, because they’re so used to danceBirmingham Royal Ballet [BRB] obviously cultivates that. When we go to the Hippodrome, it’s so nice, and the crew there are fantastic. I’ve been with New Adventures for 13 years now, and it’s so nice to be able to keep touring around and doing these incredible shows. It feels really nice to come back to something that’s so established. The team is so good, and everyone’s at the top of their game.”
“I trained at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham for six years, from when I was 11 until I was 17,” explains Bella. “We always used to go, as a school, to watch the productions at the Hippodrome. So I actually watched New Adventures’ Swan Lake at the Hippodrome. We went as a school, because [Elmhurst graduate] James Lovell was in it, so we all went to watch him when he first joined. I’ve kind of grown up in Birmingham and seen a lot of BRB. And I worked with BRB, too, and briefly performed at the Hippodrome: I was in the company’s Cinderella when I was 11. I don’t really know the theatre, but I’m excited to go back and see it as an adult now.”
Bella has been spotlighted as New Adventures’ Emerging Artist of the 2025/26 season.
“The Emerging Artists programme has really helped my journey from being a student to the professional world,” she says. “I had so much support from the New Adventures team and learned a bit of the material before we started. It definitely felt a lot smoother than it would have if I hadn’t had that - it was really nice. It feels like a big family, this companyit’s definitely been very exciting.”
New Adventures’ The Red Shoes shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 March
Hoppers
CERT U (105 mins)
With the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Dave Franco, Meryl Streep, Nichole Sakura
Directed by Daniel Chong
“We have assembled a legendary cast for Hoppers,” say the movie’s director, Daniel Chong, and producer, Nicole Paradis Grindle, “and the voice talent really gave the film all they had. Be it uproarious humour, heartfelt emotion or crazy animal noises, they delivered beyond our expectations!”
With no less a luminary than the legendary Meryl Streep providing her services in the role of Insect Queen, Hoppers follows the fortunes of lead character Mabel, a young student who uses new technology to transfer her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and thwart a construction company’s plot to destroy the local animal habitat.
Released Fri 6 March
The Bride!
CERT 15 (126 mins)
Starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Penélope Cruz, Julianne Hough, Annette Bening
Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhaal here takes the helm - for the first time since making her directorial debut with 2021’s Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter - to present what The Bride!’s publicity describes as ‘a bold, iconoclastic take on one of the world’s most compelling stories.’
Frankenstein’s undead creature (Christian Bale) travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr Euphronious (Annette Bening) to save him from his loneliness by creating a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman, The Bride (Jessie Buckley), and in so doing set the scene for what proves to be a wild and combustible romance.
“It’s like Bonnie and Clyde,” says Buckley, in talking about her character’s relationship with Frankenstein’s creature, “but ours has petrol in its skin and we’re holding a match to it!”
Released Fri 6 March
How To Make A Killing
CERT 12a (105 mins)
Starring Glen Powell, Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, Topher Grace, Jessica Henwick, Zach Woods Directed by John Patton Ford
A ‘raucously entertaining revenge thriller’, the inspiration for which comes from Ealing Studio’s 1949 British crime classic, Kind Hearts And Coronets, How To Make A Killing is centred around the character of the bluecollar Becket Redfellow.
Disowned at birth by his obscenely wealthy family, Becket will stop at nothing to reclaim his inheritance, no matter how many relatives stand in his way. Matters are complicated for him by the need to navigate his relationship with girlfriend Ruth - a woman who has no interest in money - and the increasing attentions of Julia - a flirtatious old flame who most definitely does...
Released Fri 13 March
The Land Of Sometimes
CERT U (93 mins)
With the voices of Helena Bonham Carter, Mel Brooks, Ewan McGregor, Asa Butterfield, Jessica Henwick, Alisha Weir
Directed by Leon Joosen
On Christmas Eve, twins Alfie and Elise wish for things beyond their reach. Their father is missing at war, and the twins seek their own ways to avoid the harshness of life: Elise wants to escape from the world; Alfie wants to hide away from it. Just before bedtime, their mother presents them with a watch. Left by their father as a Christmas gift, the watch is a very special watch: a Wish Watch. The twins are then visited by The Wish Collector, an enigmatic character who transports them to a strange and magical world called The Land Of Sometimes. It’s there, in a place populated by unusual and charismatic characters, that Alfie and Elise’s adventure really begins...
Released Fri 20 March
The Magic Faraway Tree
CERT U (110 mins)
Starring Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson, Nonso Anozie Directed by Ben Gregor
Based on Enid Blyton’s bestselling children’s classic, The Magic Faraway Tree follows the story of Polly and Tim and their children, Beth, Joe and Fran - a modern family who find themselves forced to relocate to the remote English countryside.
Soon after their arrival in their new home, the children come across a magical tree. The discovery leads to them meeting a host of extraordinary and eccentric characters - including Moonface, Silky, Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man - and experiencing exciting adventures in strange and magical lands...
Featuring Andrew Garfield (Spider-Man) and Claire Foy (The Crown) as Polly and Tim, this long-anticipated film adaptation of Blyton’s novel also features star turns from, among others, Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale and Jennifer Saunders.
Released Fri 27 March
Midwinter Break
CERT 12a (90 mins)
Starring Lesley Manville, Ciarán Hinds, Julie Lamberton, Ed Sayer, Niamh Cusack, Leila Laaraj Directed by Polly Findlay
Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Northern Irish writer Bernard MacLavertyand described by its publicity as a stirring meditation on faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love - Midwinter Break finds retired couple Stella (Lesley Manville) and Gerry (Ciarán Hinds) flying to Amsterdam for what they hope will be a refreshing and relaxing holiday. Instead, they find their relationship unravelling, as painful memories from their past re-emerge...
Commenting on the film, Dave Bishop, CEO of Protagonist Pictures, the company handling Midwinter Break, told The Hollywood Reporter: “Lesley and Ciarán are [among] the top talents of their generation and the perfect pair to bring this emotionally intricate exploration of universal relationship dynamics to life.”
Released Fri 20 March
Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come
CERT tbc (108 mins)
Starring Shawn Hatosy, Nestor Carbonell, Elijah Wood, Samara Weaving, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kevin Durand
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
With 2019’s Ready Or Not having earned $57 million on just a $6million budget, a sequel movie was always on the cards - and seven years later, here it is...
The original comedy/horror saw young bride Grace MacCaullay finding herself involved in a Devil-worshipping wedding-night ritual in which she was hunted by her eccentric new in-laws. Now, the sole survivor, Grace discovers that she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish ‘game’ - and that this time she must battle to keep her estranged sister Faith alive...
Released Fri 20 March
Project Hail Mary
CERT 12a (156 mins)
Starring Ryan Gosling, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Sandra Hüller, Liz Kingsman, Lionel Boyce Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Andy Weir’s novel Project Hail Mary became an instant bestseller when it was released in 2021, so it’s little wonder that his story has now been given the cinematic treatment. When science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home, he initially has no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: to solve the riddle of a mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. To do so, he must call on both his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction. But an unexpected friendship means that he may not have to face the seemingly impossible challenge alone...
Released Fri 20 March
HEADING DOWN UNDER...
Kevin Clifton stars as Tick and Mitzi in a new touring production of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert
Best known for his years as a professional dancer on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Kevin Clifton grew up as a competitive ballroom and Latin dancer. Post-Strictly, he’s been crossing off his dream roles in musicals, like Cosmo Brown in Singin’ In The Rain, and delighting his goth-era younger self by performing in Rock Of Ages. Most recently, he’s been touring with 2:22 A Ghost Story with his partner and Strictly co-champion, Stacey Dooley. Now, he’s taking on the role of Tick, and drag alter-ego Mitzi, for the 30th anniversary tour of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. What’s On recently caught up with him to chat about his time in musical theatre and his latest role...
Were musicals a big part of your life growing up, Kevin?
Yeah, massively. I remember early on, when me and my sister were kids, we went on a trip from Grimsby to London when Mum and Dad took us to see Cats. It felt like this massive thing. Apart from pantos, I think that was the first big musical theatre show I’d seen. My mind was blown. I couldn’t believe what was happening. The flamboyance of it all, with the cats coming through the audience. I wanted the book of all the lyrics to the songs and the soundtrack. I just wanted more of it. The next one was Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It felt like the whole country was talking about it, and I remember falling in love with it.
What did you love about musicals?
For me, everything was about ballroom and Latin competitions. My mum and dad were dancers, so they were training us when we were kids. My dad would talk a lot about the technique and stuff you have to practise, but he would always drill into us that the most important thing is that you have to affect people emotionally. That’s the whole point of what we do. It’s not just a display of technique. You’ve got to go out and make people excited, or make them want to cry, inspire them or entertain them. His way of demonstrating that to us was to take us to musicals. He’d say ‘How do you feel when you’re watching this, when you’re carried away with a character and a story or a dance?’ So that’s always been how I approached my dancing.
How did that translate to Strictly?
I used to say to my celebrity partners, I’ll take any technical mistakes, it’s not going to be perfect. But we’ve got to tell a story. We’ve got to create a piece that’s going to affect people in some way. So we’d always dive into every number like it was a musical, thinking about our characters and the story we were telling. And then ‘musicals’ week, honestly, that was
always my favourite week.
You’ve been stacking up musicals over the last few years, with Singin’ In The Rain, Cabaret and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. What’s the best thing about performing in them?
I love being part of a team. In a competition, you’re against each other; you have to be as good as you can be, and you have to be better than the person next to you. What I love about musicals and theatre is that you go out as a team to do something together, and you’re helping each other out, playing off each other.
What’s the trick to keeping up momentum and stamina when you’re on tour?
I’ve sort of been on tour my whole life. Once Minnie was born, it got harder. I really miss her and Stacey. But you hear stories about people living rock & roll lifestyles on tour. That’s not me! I’m very nerdy about looking after my voice and my energy, so I’m a bit of a hermit. Tea and honey, all that stuff.
What drew you to Priscilla?
When my agent first asked if I was interested in auditioning, I didn’t know whether I was the right person for it. But then they sent me the scene where my character, Tick, is talking to his son and he doesn’t know how he’s going to be received. He’s worried about how he’s gonna be judged by his own son. I think that scene they have together is really beautiful, because kids are not jaded by divisiveness or politics. They just see what’s in front of them. And I thought, I’d love to play this part.
Then we did the photo shoot, in the whole drag get-up as Mitzi, and I showed a picture to my daughter, who’s two. The picture was the three of us, me, Nick [Hayes] and Adèle [Anderson], and Minnie pointed straight to me and went, ‘That’s you, Dad!’ I thought I looked completely different in this costume and makeup. But I said ‘That’s right, yeah,
what do you think?’ and she went, ‘You look brilliant, Dad.’ No judgement, just, ‘I like your hair.’
Priscilla is a story of resilience against transphobia and homophobia. Why are you proud to be a part of the show?
I think we need it more than ever. There’s so much divisiveness now. I can’t open Instagram without some politician having a go at some minority, whether it’s trans people or immigrants. It does my head in. On a more personal level, my uncle, who’s no longer with us, was gay, and I think it’s something he always struggled with and had demons about. I can’t relate to what it’s like to be judged for your sexuality, but we can all relate to being an outsider. I grew up in Grimsby and my thing was ballroom dancing. I had to wear bottled fake tan for competitions, and I’d come into school with an orange neck. Everyone knew that while they were all hanging out and playing footie on the weekend, I was doing ballroom dancing with my sister. She was a bit taller than me, so I had to have a perm to make myself look taller. I was that kid! It was that feeling of being different and being laughed at.
I’ve never been the most confident person. Being on stage is the safe bit. So I relate to Tick when he, as his drag character Mitzi, can be anything he wants to be, whereas he’s got all this conflict when he’s just himself. I’ve always felt for people who feel they’re on the outside. I hate the attack on the trans community. Priscilla is not my story, but if I can play any part in this story, then yeah, I’m proud of that.
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert shows at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 23 to Saturday 28 March
Visual Arts previews from around the region
Troublemakers And Prophets
Compton Verney, Warwickshire, Sat 28 March - Mon 31 August
Described as an exploration of ‘art, isolation and extraordinary vision’, Troublemakers And Prophets is primarily a celebration of the output of Elizabeth Allen, a seamstress who lived in a small corrugated-iron shack in a wood in Kent for many a year (until her death in 1967).
Known by her childhood nickname of ‘Queen’, Elizabeth created colourful, symbolic and made-from-fabric artworks which focused on a wide variety of subject matter, from biblical prophecies concerning the end of the world, to quirky comments on aspects of modern life.
Alongside Elizabeth’s absurd, darkly funny and strikingly prophetic creations, the exhibition also features artworks produced by numerous other ‘visionary artists’.
Visual Arts
Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora:
Fractured Landscapes And How We Heal
New Art Gallery, Walsall, Sat 28 March - Sun 21 June
New photographic work by Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora lies at the heart of this thought-provoking exhibition.
A senior lecturer and researcher at Birmingham City University, Jaskirt is a visual artist with a socially engaged practice, working with local communities on a variety of global issues.
The exhibition focuses on the role that
David Birtwhistle: A Retrospective
Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, until Sun 31 May
One of Worcester’s most respected artists, David Birtwhistle produces paintings which explore historic buildings and the landscapes around them. In the process, he captures the character, beauty and gradual change of familiar places... David will be at the venue on Saturday 14 March to give a special talk, during which he will provide an insight into his artistic practice.
nature and creativity can play in healing from trauma, particularly in the context of domestic violence and abuse against women and girls.
Featured alongside Jaskirt’s photographs are works created by women from four refuges across the country, each of whom collaborated with a lead artist during the creative process.
Joy Labinjo: A Place Of Our Own
Wolverhampton Arts Gallery, until Mon 4 May
British Nigerian artist Joy Labinjo is clear about her purpose with new exhibition A Place Of Our Own; she is reclaiming the nude, and celebrating identity, belonging, and Black womanhood through the presentation of bold, intimate portraits. Marked by muted tones and simplified backgrounds, the paintings are explorations of the complexities of sexuality, reflecting on how Black women’s bodies are often hypersexualised in mainstream media.
I Photograph Comedians!
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, until Sun 31 May
If you love a laugh, you should get along to Andy Hollingworth’s new exhibition.
As its title makes clear in a refreshingly straightforward manner, Andy photographs comedians - and it’s a selection of his images of some of the UK’s best-loved comics that forms the basis of this Gas Hall-located display.
Photographs of Ken Dodd, Sarah Millican, Victoria Wood, Rik Mayall and Rhod Gilbert all feature, as do pics of such Midlands masters and mistresses of mirth as Jasper Carrott, Stewart Lee, Lenny Henry, Joe Lycett, Jo Enright and Shazia Mirza. The images of the latter four in that list are brand new and have never before been exhibited.
The display also features numerous items connected to particular comedians, including a jacket worn by Lenny Henry during his 1984 tour, a signed pair of Rik Mayall’s underpants, and Joe Lycett’s teddy suit, as worn in the advertisement for series two of Late Night Lycett.
Craftspace: 40 Objects for 40 Years
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, until Sun 12 April
Graphic storyteller
Stewart Francis Easton’s new textile mural invites viewers to explore Craftspace’s 40year story through 40 objects.
The exhibit links in to MAC’s Made In The Middle presentation, which showcases contemporary crafts created across the Midlands region.
The current exhibition draws together ceramics, textiles, jewellery, metalwork and sculptural works by 37 artists, ranging in age from 22 to 82.
Events previews from around the region
AGBO Rally
Weston Park, Shropshire, Sun 22 March
Owen Motoring Club’s flagship event, the AGBO Rally zooms back into Weston Park late this month. Eighty rally cars from all vintages and eras will be taking on the stages around Weston, one of which is the iconic and muchloved watersplash.
National Homebuilding & Renovating Show
NEC, Birmingham, Thurs 19 - Sun 22 March
Renovation experts, leading brands, and self-build & property specialists are this month coming together at the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show.
From small plots to big builds, visitors can discover the latest products, understand
how to maximise budgets, go through planning successfully, or seek an architect’s opinion.
Impartial one-to-one advice, courtesy of a free 15-minute consultation, is also available.
Creative Craft Show
Explore hundreds of stalls, packed with everything from knitting and stitching supplies to card making and felting, at this month’s Creative Craft Show.
Alongside an ‘unbeatable’ shopping experience, visitors can also take part in fun hands-on workshops designed to spark inspiration and help them master new skills.
The show also features live demonstrations and exclusive discounts.
To make the experience even more appealing, a ticket to the event also provides access to sister shows Sewing For Pleasure and Fashion & Embroidery, both of which will be taking place at the NEC across the same weekend.
YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships
Utilita Arena Birmingham, Tues 3 - Sun 8 March The long-established YONEX Championships return with six days of high-octane, worldclass badminton for fans of the sport to enjoy. Across the week, there will be action on four courts, from early in the morning to late into the evening. The tournament reaches its climax on Sunday the 8th, when finals across all five disciplines will be contested on one show court.
Bluey Character Visit
Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire, Sat 28 & Sun 29 March
Wackadoo! Take a heritage train ride out into the countryside to see children’s favourite Bluey at The Engine House Visitor Centre in Highley. Once there, you can enjoy listening to tales of her adventures during special storytime sessions. Additional family-focused activities take place throughout the day, all of which are included in the ticket price. There’s also the chance for youngsters to get hands-on with interactive exhibits and take advantage of an outdoor play area.
Events previews from around the region
Spitfire Weekend
Celebrate Birmingham’s iconic aviation history with a weekend of interactive activities suitable for all ages. Visitors can step back in time with World War Two reenactors Up An’ At ‘Em! History, who will be bringing stories of the Spitfire to life through uniform, equipment and
demonstrations. There are hands-on creative junk-modelling workshops to enjoy too, during which families can design and build their very own aircraft-inspired creations. The weekend also features special guided tours exploring the city’s unique role in Spitfire production and aviation innovation.
Photography & Video Show
If visual storytelling is your thing, then this month’s Photography & Video Show at the NEC is a must-attend event.
The four-day get-together showcases the latest camera kit and accessories - with more than 250 top brands featured - and offers
Get 20% off tickets See page 44
NEC, Birmingham, Sat 14 - Tues 17 March
bags of inspiration.
An immersive creator playground, inspiring galleries, a line-up of top speakers, the Photo Live stage, and sessions for beginners and professionals alike further add to the show’s appeal.
Events
Peaky Blinders Night
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Sat 14 March
Journey into the gritty industrial landscape of the 1920s, where shadowy gangs once ruled the cobblestone streets, as the ever-popular Peaky Blinders Night makes a welcome return at the Black Country Living Museum. Dress to impress in your finest threads and frocks, walk in the footsteps of the show’s much-loved stars, and explore Charlie’s Yard and other historic streets that made up one of the series’ most important sets.
The Gruffalo Visits!
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, Sat 28 & Sun 29 March
Departing from Llanfair Caereinion Station, take a five-mile steam-train journey through the scenic Mid Wales countryside, then head back to where The Gruffalo and Gruffalo’s Child will be waiting to meet families and pose for photos.
Plus, every child will receive a complimentary storybook, activity sheet, crayon, biscuit and juice to enjoy during the journey.
Lichfield Literature Festival
Various venues across Lichfield, Thurs 19 - Sun 22 March
Celebrating its 20th year in 2026, Lichfield Literature Festival features a star-studded line-up of award-winning writers from the worlds of history, politics, science, the arts, current affairs and fiction.
Festival favourites Tracy Borman and Alison Weir return, while broadcaster John Suchet and comedians Rob Newman and Pierre Novellie all make their debut at the event.
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, Sat 7 & Sun 8 March
MIDSOMER PROMOTION
Actor Daniel Casey returns to Midsomer Murders, and he’s been promoted to the role of DCI Barnaby!
Set in the fictional English county of Midsomer (which surely must have the highest death toll per village green in the country), Midsomer Murders is one of ITV’s biggest crime-drama hits. Fans will recall its very first episode - The Killings At Badger's Drift, broadcast in 1997 - which starred John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby and Daniel Casey as his trusty sidekick, DS Gavin Troy... With a stage adaptation of the same case now travelling to theatres around the countr y, Daniel has taken on the role of his one-time boss. Here, he explains to What’s On what it’s like to step into Barnaby’s shoes...
Daniel Casey has been promoted.
After playing DS Gavin Troy in ITV’s Midsomer Murders, he's now back in the UK's most dangerous county (fictionally speaking, at least), appearing as DCI Tom Barnaby in a stage adaptation of The Killings At Badger's Drift.
“It's a massive promotion, going from a detective sergeant to a chief inspector,” says Daniel. “I've certainly earned my spurs!”
The dedicated and methodical Barnaby was played on TV for 13 series by John Nettles, accompanied for the first seven by Daniel as his trusty DS.
“Barnaby and Troy had an almost father/son, mentor/pupil relationship,” says Daniel, “and that’s very much like my relationship with John. When he learned I was taking on the role in this stage version, he said, ‘Well, he's learned at the feet of the master!’ That’s certainly true… John’s advice to me has always been ‘Be true to yourself,’ so that’s how I’ve approached playing Barnaby.”
The pair starred together in the hugely successful murder-mystery show from the pilot episode, which aired in March 1997, through to Daniel's departure in 2003.
“I spent all those years standing next to John, watching and listening, so hopefully I‘ve absorbed a bit of his magic. It's a bit daunting, because his are big shoes to fill, but I'm really excited about doing it. I think it’s important not to do an impression, so I will be bringing my own ideas to the role.”
Published in 1987, The Killings At Badger's Drift was the first of Caroline Graham's Chief Inspector Barnaby books and formed the basis of the very first TV episode of Midsomer Murders. Adapted for the stage and directed by Guy Unsworth, the play revolves around the death of well-loved spinster Emily Simpson. Her friend Lucy Bellringer refuses to accept that Emily's death was an accident, so DCI Barnaby and DS Troy are called in to investigate. In so doing, they uncover a world of hidden passions, long-buried secrets and
deadly rivalries.
The play, Daniel promises, offers “a night of murder and mystery, full of theatricality and intrigue, with the central partnership of Barnaby and Troy, a whole host of English eccentrics, and this really dark undercurrent of secrets and lies going on.”
“I had such a happy time playing Troy from when I was 24 to when I was 31,” Daniel adds. “It was a fantastic time in my career, but when I made the decision to leave to pursue other things, I thought that was that.”
A guest appearance in the 11th series in 2008 aside, that was indeed that - but when Unsworth called Daniel to say that he was adapting The Killings At Badger's Drift, everything fell into place.
“Sitting down and reading Barnaby out loud, it just felt right. I'm about the same age as John was when we made that original episode, and it brought back so many memories from a really lovely part of my career.”
Like millions of TV viewers, Daniel is also a fan of the Barnaby character: “He's a very straight-up-and-down family man with a good moral compass. He's a good cop, he's watchful and he's thoughtful… Family is so important to me too, and I think I've got a pretty good moral compass. I'm the fourth of five children. As a kid I couldn't get a word in, so I've always been watchful.”
One of ITV's most popular shows, Midsomer Murders is syndicated in over 200 territories worldwide. Daniel has a theory about the show’s enduring success: “It's set in the modern day yet it has a kind of 1940s or 1950s feel to it. It's a wonderful form of escapism. Apparently a lot of clerics like it because it’s like a modern-day morality tale - it's good versus evil, right versus wrong. And it has such cross-generational appeal, where kids watch it with their grandparents. The beautiful countryside is another part of its appeal, and it's full of eccentrics, which British actors play so well.”
Daniel was born in Stockton-on-Tees. At the age of 14, he went along to the local youth theatre, walked into the room and knew immediately that acting was the path he wanted to take. He soon landed the lead in Bugsy Malone.
“It was amazing! The week after we finished, I was walking through town with my mate when a girl walking towards us screamed and went, ‘Oh my God, it's him!’ I knew there and then that this was the job for me!”
Daniel has plenty of TV credits under his belt, but he’s also no stranger to the stage, having toured in Abigail’s Party in 2019 and Cluedo in 2022.
“I love being part of a company of actors. When touring, the challenge is to keep something fresh, real and immediate every night, and I like that challenge. There are different entrances and exits, different sizes of venue, so you've got to be nimble and you've got to be on your toes.”
When the Badger's Drift tour calls at Birmingham theatre The Alexandra, Daniel will no doubt be recalling a particularly memorable previous job in the city.
“I was at Birmingham Rep when my son Rafferty was born. He started to arrive on press night. I did the show, then went straight home. He was a long time cominghe was supposed to come during rehearsals!and was born in the middle of the night. I was there to greet him, then dashed back for the next day's show.”
Hopefully, during this month’s Birmingham visit, the dramatic scenes will be confined to the stage…
Midsomer Murders: The Killings At Badger’s Drift shows at The Alexandra, Birmingham, from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March
Places to visit across the region
The Black Country Living Museum
Tipton Rd, Dudley, DY1 4SQ. Adults £27.95, Children (aged three - 15) £15.50 (pre-booked online)
Get stuck into some good old-fashioned fun at this award-winning venue, as you experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Black Country through rebuilt, replica or recreated shops, houses and industrial workshops.
The museum features the world’s greatest collection of classic, vintage and veteran British cars, with over 400 vehicles on display. Free tours and hands-on family activities provide an opportunity to learn about the stories behind the collection.
This award-winning, family-run destination is the UK’s leading metal sculpture park and home to the nation’s largest collection of decorative metalwork. Visitors can enjoy shopping, national projects, dining, inspiring sculptures and art from around the world.
The Commandery
Sidbury, Worcester, WR1 2HU. Adults £10, Children (aged five - 16) £5, Under-fives free. The past comes to life in The Commandery, a beautiful building boasting an 800-year-long history. Located in the heart of historic Worcester, The Commandery is most famous for being the Royalist headquarters during the deciding battle of the English Civil War: the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
This popular museum not only houses the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles on the planet, it also tells the story of a city which changed the world through transport. There are 14 fully accessible galleries to enjoy at the venue, featuringamong other attractions - pioneering bicycles, transport champions, innovative, memorable and luxurious vehicles from the last 200 years, and the world’s fastest cars.
Exotic Zoo Telford
Hinkshay Rd, Dawley, Telford, TF4 3GZ. Adults £12, Children (aged two - 15) £9.96 (pre-booked online)
Nestled in the heart of Telford Town Park, Exotic Zoo Telford is a small zoo that provides visitors with the chance to enjoy close-up animal interactions. Explore the rainforest, desert, nocturnal and farmyard zones, then step back in time in the Natural History Museum, home to real dinosaur skeletons, a T-rex skull, a sabre-tooth tiger skull, an ichthyosaur, and even an elephant bird egg.
National Forest Adventure Farm
Tatenhill, Burton Upon Trent, DE13 9SJ. £12.50 per person, Under-twos go free
This family-run attraction provides 40 acres of outdoor space and comes complete with a nine-acre maze. Year-round attractions include tractor rides, a giant jumping pillow, and indoor play areas. An animal barn filled with goats, chickens, pigs, horses, cows, rabbits and guinea pigs also features.
Severn Valley Railway
Station Dr, Kidderminster, DY10 1QX; Hollybush Rd, Bridgnorth, WV16 4AX. Freedom of the Line ticket - Adults £26 - £33, Children (aged four - 17) £17.50 - £22
Operating mainly steam-hauled passenger trains between Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Kidderminster, this much-loved heritage railway transports visitors on a route of about 16 miles along the beautiful Severn Valley.
Days Out
Sudeley Castle
Winchcombe, Cheltenham, GL54 5JD. Adults £24, Children (aged three - 15) £10.50
Walk in the footsteps of notable characters from the mists of time at Sudeley Castle. Boasting a fascinating history stretching back over 1,000 years, the castle is surrounded by 10 award-winning gardens. There’s also an adventure playground and a fun fort for younger visitors to enjoy.
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham, B4 7XG. Adults £15.50 - £21.50, Children (aged three - 15) £7.50 - £13.50
From steam engines and talking robots to gurgling guts and a chocolate-wrapping machine, Thinktank features more than 200 hands-on science & technology displays.
West Midlands Police Museum
Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6BJ. Adults £10, Children (aged three - 15) £6 Located in a Victorian lock-up, the West Midlands Police Museum showcases an unrivalled collection of police artefacts, explores more than 200 years of policing history, and offers visitors the chance to enjoy a selection of hands-on activities.
Weston Park
Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, TF11 8LE. Adults £11.70, Children £6.30 (pre-booked online)
Weston Park house is set in 1,000 acres of beautiful Capability Brown-landscaped parkland. The venue is home to a nationally important art collection, with other attractions including a restaurant, a woodland adventure playground, a miniature railway, a deer park and holiday cottages.
The Battle -
Rep, Birmingham
Pierre NovellieWarwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Out Of The BoxLichfield Garrick
Mean GirlsRegent
thelist
VISUAL ARTS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
CHRISTOPHER SAMUEL: WATCH US LEAD Through 9 newly recorded interviews, Watch Us Lead highlights the experiences of disabled people of colour in Birmingham, combining these stories with stained glass and drawings by the artist.
OZZY OSBOURNE: WORKING CLASS
HERO A celebration of the solo achievements and global awards of rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, and the album art of the original Black Sabbath line-up to coincide with their historic homecoming concert, until Sun 27 September
Compton Verney, Warwickshire
COMMODITIES: SCULPTURE AND CERAMICS BY RENEE SO Hong Kongborn artist Renee So creates darkly playful ceramic sculptures, exploring how perceptions of history can be distorted, re-fashioned and changed, until Sun 8 March
MODERN MASTERPIECES: PAINTINGS FROM THE BARBER INSTITUTE OF FINE
ARTS An intimate display of six exceptional paintings by major modern artists, including Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Édouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard, until Sun 6 September
BRUEGEL TO REMBRANDT: DRAWING LIFE, SKETCHING WONDER Explore the wonders of Dutch and Flemish drawing in an exhibition featuring 60 works from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, many never before seen in the UK, Sat 14 MarchSun 28 June
Coventry Music Museum
WE'LL LIVE AND DIE IN THESE TOWNS A temporary exhibition, partially based on the anthemic song recorded by Coventry trio The Enemy, but also exploring how football, music and Coventry all combine.
OUR TOWN A tribute to This Town through the eyes of a supporting artist, including memorabilia and costumes. The museum also features a tributes to The Specials’ Terry Hall and Roddy ‘Radiation’ Byers.
BEING HAZEL Showcasing rare memorabilia from Hazel O’Connor’s Breaking Glass era alongside dispays and clips celebrating the Coventry-born artist.
The Exchange, Centenary Square, Birmingham
HELIOS BY LUKE JERRAM Stunning illuminated sculpture by acclaimed British artist Luke Jerram. An immersive and rare opportunity to gaze at our closest star, Sat 21 March - Sun 1 November
Herbert Museum & Art Gallery, Coventry
CASE: COVENTRY ART SOCIETIES
EXHIBITION A ‘diverse and inspiring’ collection of artworks created by members of art societies and art groups across Coventry & Warwickshire, until Sun 19 April
STORIES THAT MADE US: ROOTS, RESILIENCE, REPRESENTATION Dynamic new exhibition showcasing the lived experiences of a South Asian family in Coventry from 1968 to 2010, drawing on Coventry Archives’ Virk Collection and curator & artist
Hardish Virk’s Stories That Made Us collection, until Mon 25 May
SATURDAY TOWN Award-winning photographic project featuring a popup portrait studio and celebrating youth style, fashion and selfexpression, Sat 7 March - Mon 4 May
Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
ANGELA DE LA CRUZ: UPRIGHT Major exhibition of rarely seen works, including key sculptures, installations and paintings that explore de la Cruz’s deep concern with the human body, vulnerability and the physical realities of everyday survival, Wed 25 March - Sun 6 September
BREAK THE MOULD Final exhibition in a trilogy exploring craft, art school pedagogies and contemporary art practice, Wed 25 March - Sun 6 September
Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum
LEAMINGTON OPEN 2026 Exhibition of shortlisted works by West Midlands artists, until Sun 3 May
Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
TAKURO KUWATA: TEA BOWL PUNK The first UK solo exhibition of the internationally celebrated Japanese ceramic artist, fusing traditional Japanese pottery techniques with bold and experimental sculptural processes, until Sun 15 March
Midlands Arts Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham
MADE IN THE MIDDLE: A CRAFTSPACE
TOURING EXHIBITION A showcase of exceptional contemporary craftsincluding ceramics, textiles, jewellery, metalwork and sculptural worksbeing made currently across the Midlands, until Sun 12 April
HOSPITAL ROOMS: BALANCING ACTS A special project by arts and mental health charity Hospital Rooms, exploring how artists, young people and NHS staff have worked together to re-imagine what a mental health hospital can look and feel like, until Sun 26 April
MADE AT MAC: CREATIVE FAMILY SHOWCASE Mixed-media exhibition showcasing the work created by children, young people and families on MAC's creative courses, until Sun 28 June
New Art Gallery, Walsall BETWEEN HERE AND THERE: ART & DESIGN STAFF FROM WALSALL COLLEGE Featuring a variety of work in a broad range of media, until Sun 8 March
IMPRESSIONS A selection of contemporary prints from the gallery’s collections which testify to the breadth and richness of printmaking across a range of subject matter and techniques, until Sun 12 April
STUDIO PRINTS: CELEBRATING THE BALAKJIAN COLLECTION Major exhibition featuring artworks acquired for the Gallery’s permanent collection from the archive of London-based Studio Prints. The show includes prints by, among others, Frank Auerbach, Marc Balakjian, Lucian Freud and Dorothea Wight, until Sun 12 April
HANNAH MAYBANK: UN-STILL With her practice having been heavily influenced by access to the Garman Ryan Collection, Hannah has created a brand-new painting featuring chrysanthemum flowers, as a gift for the Gallery’s 25th birthday, until Sun 17 May
RBSA Gallery, Birmingham
RBSA PRINT PRIZE 2026 Show celebrating the diversity of printmaking whilst also introducing the public to a myriad of modern-day printing techniques, until Sat 28 March
COLOUR: SHADES, TINTS, AND HUES, ARTWORKS FROM THE RBSA PERMANENT COLLECTION An exploration of the works held in the RBSA Permanent Collection, each chosen because they feature one dominant colour, until Sat 28 March
SOLO EXHIBITION: ED ISAACS, PRBSA A survey of highly representational recent sketch works, Tues 31 MarchSat 11 April
Rugby Art Gallery
TRIPONTIUM: FINDS FROM THE STORES Exhibition of archaeological finds from a small Roman settlement about four miles north-east of present-day Rugby, permanently donated to the museum, until Sat 11 April
UNVEILED: THE RUGBY ART COLLECTION IN FULL Every artwork from the extensive Rugby Collection is brought together, presenting over 250 works spanning eight decades of modern and contemporary British art, until Sat 6 June
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
GRAYSON PERRY: THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE VIRGIN DEAL A four-metre-long tapestry - part of The Vanity Of Small Differences series - telling the story of Tim Rakewell, a fictional 21st-century software developer who climbs the social and economic ladder from his working-class roots, until Sun 12 April
Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum
JOHN SINGER SARGENT: AN AMERICAN IN WORCESTERSHIRE Showcase of works by one of the most celebrated portrait painters of his time. Sargent’s summers spent in the county saw the American artist break free from the conventions of Salon-style studio painting, to experiment with Impressionism and work ‘en plein air’, until Sun 14 June
Elsewhere:
IAN MOOD: FROM STAGE TO CANVAS Collection of work by award-winning local artist Ian Mood, who joined last year’s The Little Mermaid company as the New Vic’s artist-in-residence, until Sat 14 March, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme THE LIGHT BETWEEN Exhibition featuring landscape paintings by Stephanie Eufemia, created over the past year and exploring moments of transition, stillness and presence, until Thurs 26 March, The Rose Paterson Art Gallery, Weston Park THE ART OF JOHN BLUNDALL Exhibition highlighting the creative legacy of Birmingham-born puppeteer John Blundall, whose innovative blend of international influences transformed British puppet theatre, until Sun 19 April, Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? IKON CREATIVE HEALTH Exhibition exploring the role of art in supporting health and care systems, bringing together into an immersive display three years of Ikon Gallery’s collaborative research, until Sat 27 June, Library of Birmingham BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH FUTURE WRITERS TRAIL Eighteen beautiful poems from the winners of Birmingham City University’s 2025 Benjamin Zephaniah Future Writers competition will be nestled within the Gardens, Tues 3 March - Sun 17 May, Birmingham Botanical Gardens THE CITY THAT SHAPED US Photography exhibition showcasing the best of Birmingham, combined on Saturday 21 March with a concert of newly composed music, Wed 11 Mar - Sat 28 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Gigs
NAPALM DEATH + WHIPLASH + VARUKER + DOPELORD Sun 1 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham
ASH SHEEHAN Sun 1 Mar, Jo Jo Jims, Birmingham
THE GARRY ALLCOCK TRIO Sun 1 Mar, Tower of Song, B’ham
PETE HYDE & THE VIEILLARDS Sun 1 Mar, The Brasshouse, Birmingham
DECREPIT YOUTHS Sun 1 Mar, Subside Bar, Birmingham
SKA TRAIN Sun 1 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
THE BLUETONES ACOUSTIC Sun 1 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
CABLEFEST 4 Sun 1 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent
TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF RAY CHARLES & STEVIE WONDER
Sun 1 Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
RICH PARSONS Sun 1 Mar, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield
LINDISFARNE Sun 1 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
JORDAN DAVIS + AVERY ANNA + SOLON HOLT Sun 1 - Mon 2 Mar, O2 Academy, B’ham
RBC JAZZ ORCHESTRA Mon 2 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
EILEEN ALISTER + JOLINA
LOUISE Tues 3 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
FREYA SKYE Tues 3 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
THEO VANDENHOFF Tues 3 Mar, Dead Wax, Digbeth, Birmingham
SAMANTHA FISH Tues 3 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
LILY ALLEN Thurs 5 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
LUCY ROSE Thurs 5 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
PAUL DUNMALL INVITES TOM CHALLENGER, GEORGE CROWLEY, OLIE BRICE AND WILL GLASER Thurs 5 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
CHOP SUEY + SLIP-NOT Thurs 5 Mar, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent
ZACKARY LUCKY Thurs 5 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stoke-onTrent
MADELINE BELL & IAN SHAW
Thurs 5 Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK, JOHN MCCUSKER & JOHN DOYLE
Thurs 5 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
CAITLIN Tues 3 Mar, The Robin, Bilston
NEON FIELDS Wed 4 Mar, The Sunflower Lounge, B’ham
TVAM PLUS + THE SICK MAN OF EUROPE Wed 4 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
CONGRATULATIONS Wed 4 Mar, Hare & Hounds, B’ham
IAGO BANET Wed 4 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
HARRIET ROSE Wed 4 Mar, Dead Wax, Digbeth, B’ham
VO FLETCHER + LOZ KINGSLEY + ANDY BROWNLIE Wed 4 Mar, Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
RICH BENNETT’S HOT TAMALES Wed 4 Mar, Boldmere Sports and Social Club, Sutton Coldfield
VONA VELLA Wed 4 Mar, Just Dropped In, Coventry
FEAST OF FIDDLES Wed 4 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
HUEY MORGAN Wed 4 Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
BEXBLU + PAUL STEPHAN Thurs 5 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS + BLACK
MEKON Thurs 5 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
TAFF RAPIDS Thurs 5 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
BIG SHIP ALLIANCE Thurs 5
Mar, The Jam House, B’ham
KEO Thurs 5 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
THE ALARM Thurs 5 Mar, The Flapper, Birmingham
BUZZSAW RADIO + THE CAROLINE BOMB Thurs 5 Mar, The Victoria, Birmingham
Arena & Arts Centre
ROB LAMBERTI PRESENTS
PERFECTLY GEORGE Fri 6 Mar, Dudley Town Hall
HIGHWAY Fri 6 Mar, The River Rooms, Stourbridge
RAJ MAHAL & THE BEATROOTS + ANNE-MARIE ALLEN Fri 6
Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stokeon-Trent
JESSES DIVIDE + OLD GLORY & THE BLACK RIVIERA + ATHENAS
REVENGE + OUT OF THE ASHES Fri 6 Mar, The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent
ERASURED Fri 6 Mar, The Station, Cannock
THE BAR-STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONICAN Fri 6 Mar, Lichfield Guildhall
ROB LAMBERTI PRESENTS
PERFECTLY GEORGE MICHAEL Thurs 5 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
SABRINA FUNG + TONI + THEA REGAN Fri 6 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
ALI GILBERT Fri 6 Mar, The Sunflower Lounge, B’ham
FRANZ FERDINAND + HOME
COUNTIES Fri 6 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
INKIBUS SUKKUBUS Fri 6 Mar, Dead Wax, Digbeth, B’ham
FASTLOVE: THE TRIBUTE TO GEORGE MICHAEL Fri 6 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
BEATLEMANIA Fri 6 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
OPAL OCEAN Fri 6 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
FRONT ROW Fri 6 Mar, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield
VIRGINIAS WOLVES + LE HEV
HEV + INFERNO Fri 6 Mar, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
LIMEHOUSE LIZZY Fri 6 Mar, hmv Empire, Coventry
MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK, JOHN MCCUSKER & JOHN DOYLE Fri 6 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
THE SOUNDS OF SIMON Fri 6 Mar, The Benn Hall, Rugby
GIVE ME MOORE - GARY MOORE
TRIBUTE Fri 6 Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
THE BON JOVI EXPERIENCE Fri 6 Mar, Swan Theatre, Worcester
OASISH Fri 6 Mar, Walsall
Worcester
THE LEGEND OF MEAT LOAF Sat 7 Mar, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
CELINE EXPERIENCE Sat 7 Mar, Dudley Town Hall
THE DUBLIN LEGENDS Sat 7 Mar, Halesowen Town Hall
AIRTIGHT 80S Sat 7 Mar, The Robin, Bilston
NICK PARKER Sat 7 Mar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge
BAZ WARNE Sat 7 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
RAT HOLE + BROKEN 3 WAYS Sat 7 Mar, Dive, W’hampton
SOFIE ANNÉ Sat 7 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
QUO CONNECTION Fri 6 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
HIGH FADE Fri 6 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
LUKE JACKSON Fri 6 Mar, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire
CHRISTINA ALDEN AND ALEX PATTERSON Fri 6 Mar, Bill’s Kitchen, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire
CALUM BOWIE Sat 7 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
THE VACCINES Sat 7 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
EVIL BLIZZARD Sat 7 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
A’BEAR + SUNNK + CRIES
FROM THE LTN Sat 7 Mar, Centrala, Birmingham
THE GRUNGE ADDICTION Sat 7 Mar, The Flapper, B’ham
NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ
ORCHESTRA: MASADA Sat 7 Mar, Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
NEARLY DAN - THE SOUND OF STEELY DAN Sat 7 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
BOOTLEG ABBA Sat 7 Mar, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield
FLESHLICKER + DEAN LLOYD
ROBINSON Sat 7 Mar, The Tin
At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
TOPKY + PAWEŁ STASIAK Sat 7 Mar, hmv Empire, Coventry
CONSTANT SMILES Sat 7 Mar, Just Dropped In, Coventry
THE MUMFORD & SONS STORY Sat 7 Mar, Rother Street Arts, Stratford-upon-Avon
NOT RADIOHEAD Sat 7 Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
THE JULIE JULY BAND Sat 7 Mar, Huntingdon Hall,
THE NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE Sat 7 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
KINGS OF HONG KONG + TITS UP + THE TWO STEP GOODBYES Sat 7 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent
SEA FEVER Sat 7 Mar, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs SOUNDS OF SEATTLE Sat 7 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
THE ALEX VOYSEY BLUES BAND Sat 7 Mar, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire
MAMAS GUN Sun 8 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
TRAPPIST AFTERLAND + THE GENTLE GOOD + HENRY PARKER Sun 8 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
POPPY + OCEAN GROVE + FOX LAKE Sun 8 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
KYLE HUME Sun 8 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
REGGAE FEST BIRMINGHAM Sun 8 Mar, Tower of Song, Birmingham
KAMIL BEDNAREK Sun 8 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
FISHERMAN’S FRIENDS Sun 8 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
KAVIRAJ SINGH Sun 8 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
SPECIAL FRIEND + HUM DRUM + MT MYSERY Sun 8 Mar, Just Dropped In, Coventry
AMY LOU Sun 8 Mar, Brierley Hill Civic
BOYZLIFE Sun 8 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
BLAZIN’ FIDDLES Sun 8 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
BAYLISS & SEAL Sun 8 Mar, The Hive, Shrewsbury
Sofie Anné - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
thelist
Classical Music
OLIVER MATTHEWS PIANO RECITAL Sun
1 Mar, Wylde Green United Reform Church, Sutton Coldfield
LEAMINGTON CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Featuring Anita D’Attellis (piano) & Richard Laing (conductor). Programme includes works by Dvořák, Carwithen & Beethoven, Sun 1 Mar, Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa
CLAVICHORD RECITAL FEAT. STEVEN DEVINE Programme includes works by Haydn, Sun 1 Mar, Pitchford Hall, Shropshire
RBC LUNCHTIME CONCERT Featuring Matthew Pandya (baritone) & Bianca Vancea (piano), Mon 2 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
CBSO CENTRE STAGE: AMERICAN COUNTERPOINT Featuring Helen Benson (piccolo), Oliver Janes (clarinet) & Adrian Spillett (percussion). Programme includes works by Reich, Muczynski & Harrison, Tues 3 Mar, CBSO Centre, Birmingham
ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: FOUR NOTES AND THE TRUTH Featuring Sterling Elliott (cello). Programme includes works by Holst, Elgar, PM Davies & Beethoven, Tues 3 Mar, Warwick Hall
CBSO BENEVOLENT FUND CONCERT Featuring Kazuki Yamada (conductor) & Steven Osborne (piano). Programme includes works by Berlioz, Mozart & Rimsky-Korsakov, Wed 4 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
JAMES MORLEY CELLO RECITAL Programme includes works by Sciarrino, Colombi, Ligeti & more..., Wed 4 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
TETZLAFF QUARTET Programme includes works by Dvořák & Schubert, Wed 4 Mar, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA: TCHAIKOVSKY & MUSSORGSKY Featuring Kazuki Yamada (conductor) & Bruce Liu (piano), Thurs 5 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
SPRING LUNCHTIME RECITAL Featuring Alexis Hutchinson (alto), Thurs 5 Mar, Worcester Cathedral
JILL CROSSLAND PIANO RECITAL Programme includes works by Bach, Beethoven & Chopin, Thurs 5 Mar, The Gateway, Shropshire
RBC SPRING OPERA: OFFENBACH’S ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD Featuring Paul Wingfield (conductor) & Rebecca Meltzer (director), Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Mar, Gas Street Central, Birmingham
BEN BLOOR ORGAN RECITAL Fri 6 Mar, St Mary’s Church, Warwick
CONCERTS IN THE ROUND Featuring Students from Chetham’s School of Music, Fri 6 Mar, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury
CARDUCCI STRING QUARTET Featuring Matthew Denton & Michelle Fleming (violins), Eoin Schmidt-Martin (viola) & Emma Denton (cello). Programme includes works by Mozart, Glass & Shostakovich, Fri 6 Mar, Shrewsbury School
OTIUM SAXOPHONE QUARTET Featuring Florence Ryan (soprano sax), Hannah Kermode (alto sax), Evie Cooper (tenor sax) & Tom Winter (baritone sax), Sat 7 Mar, Library of Birmingham
SOLIHULL SCHOOL CHAMBER CONCERT Programme includes works by Haydn, Moszkowski, Neruda & Schubert, Sat 7 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
PAUL CARR ORGAN CONCERT Programme includes works by Handel, JS Bach, Holst & more..., Sat 7 Mar, St Benedict Biscop Church, Wombourne
MIDLAND SINFONIA Programme includes works by Bach, Grieg, J Denver & Rutter, Sat 7 Mar, Feckenham Village Hall, Redditch
CHORAL SCHOLARS OF ALL SAINTS Sun 8 Mar, All Saints Church, Leamington Spa
ENSEMBLE 360: THE STORM WHALE
Featuring John Webb (narrator), Sun 8 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
ENSEMBLE 360 Featuring Robert Plane (clarinet), Naomi Atherton (horn), Benjamin Nabarro (violin), Rachel Roberts (viola), Gemma Rosefield (cello) & Tim Horton (piano). Programme includes works by Suk, Tate, Martinů & Dohnányi, Sun 8 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
CHANDOS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Featuring Sabrina Ko (conductor), Shulah Oliver-Smith (violin) & Tim Stidwill (horn). Programme includes works by R Gipps, E Smyth & Prokofiev, Sun 8 Mar, York Hall, Malvern
NIKITA LUKINOV PIANO RECITAL Programme includes works by Tchaikovsky, Liadov, Stanchinsky & more..., Sun 8 Mar, Festival Drayton Centre, North Shropshire
WILLIAM POON PIANO RECITAL Sun 8 Mar, St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury
Comedy
RUSSELL HICKS Sun 1 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
BARBARA NICE Sun 1 Mar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge
ROSIE JONES Sun 1 Mar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge
SHAPARAK KHORSANDI Sun 1 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
GEOFF NORCOTT Sun 1 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
CHLOE PETTS Sun 1 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
MARK SIMMONS Mon 2 Mar, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
BEN HARRINGTON, ANDREW BIRD, ED ACZEL, EMILY MCDERMOTT, MATT RICHARDSON & MYCHELLE COLLEARY
Mon 2 Mar, The Royal Pug, Leamington Spa
STEVIE MARTIN Tues 3 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
ALI WOODS & HAMISH SHEPHERD Wed 4 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
DANIEL FOXX Wed 4 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
BOB MILLS, BRENNAN REECE, TAL DAVIES & FREDDY QUINNE Wed 4 Mar, Herberts Yard, Birmingham
THOMAS GREEN Thurs 5 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, PAUL MCCAFFREY & ELEANOR TIERNAN Thurs 5 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
DAVID EAGLE & COMICS TBC Thurs 5 Mar, Cherry Reds, Birmingham
JACK GLEADOW, PHIL WALKER, DAWN BAILEY, CHRIS RICHMOND & DAVE
TWENTYMAN Thurs 5 Mar, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs
ANGELA BARNES Thurs 5 Mar, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent
CHRIS MCCAUSLAND Thurs 5 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
MATT PARKER Thurs 5 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
JOHN KEARNS Thurs 5 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
RAY O’LEARY Fri 6 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
JOHN KEARNS Fri 6 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
DAMIAN CLARK, TOM TOWELLING, PAUL MCCAFFREY, ELEANOR TIERNAN & SAM
SEE Fri 6 Mar, The Glee Club, B’ham
MO GILLIGAN Fri 6 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
TADIWA MAHLUNGE, DAVE TWENTYMAN & ALEX HYLTON Fri 6 Mar, Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent
ANGELA BARNES Fri 6 Mar, Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton, North Shropshire
JUSTIN MOORHOUSE Fri 6 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
CHRIS RAMSEY Sat 7 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
SEAN PERCIVAL, DOM MCGOVERN, RICKY
BALSHAW & BARRY DODDS Sat 7 Mar, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham
DAMIAN CLARK, TOM TOWELLING, PAUL MCCAFFREY & ELEANOR TIERNAN Sat 7 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
JOHN TOTHILL Sat 7 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
JIMEOIN Sat 7 Mar, The Halls Wolverhampton
SCOTT BENNETT Sat 7 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
JOHN KEARNS Sat 7 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
JAMES ACASTER Sat 7 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
RIONA O’CONNOR & OLGA THOMPSON Sun 8 Mar, The Glee Club, B’ham
TAL DAVIES, JO ENRIGHT & DESIREE
BURCH Sun 8 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
DAN TIERNAN Sun 8 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
GEOFF NORCOTT Sun 8 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
THE T*TS COMEDY Sun 8 Mar, Rother Street Arts House, Stratford-UponAvon
ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING Sun 8 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Theatre
THE BATTLE A ‘wickedly funny’ dive into one of the greatest rivalries in rock history: Blur vs Oasis. Mathew Horne stars, until Sat 7 Mar, The Rep, Birmingham
DOUBT: A PARABLE Amateur version of John Patrick Shanley’s provocative drama, set in a convent in New York’s Bronx, until Sat 7 Mar, The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Acclaimed reinvention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous Sherlock Holmes story - ‘a fast-paced comedy caper that promises to leave you howling’, until Sat 14 Mar, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND New musical telling the true story of William Kamkwamba - a boy who
hopes ‘to produce the gift of power and give hope for tomorrow’, until Sat 28 Mar, Swan Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon
ELLEN KENT: THE FAREWELL TOURMADAMA BUTTERFLY A new production of Puccini’s heart-breaking story of a young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenantwith dramatic consequences, Sun 1 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
ALICE Centrestage School of Speech & Drama’s new show follows Alice as she escapes her bedroom to find adventure in a topsy-turvy world, Sun 1 Mar, The Old Rep, Birmingham
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT A clubland coming-of-age story, Mon 2 - Tues 3 Mar, The Rep, Birmingham
MEET FRED Hijinx Theatre’s ‘darkly hilarious’ production follows a cloth puppet (Fred) as he tries to live an ordinary life by getting a job, finding love and becoming part of society, Mon 2 - Tues 3 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Award-winning West End show charting Buddy’s rise to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the age of just 22, Mon 2 - Sat 7 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
COUGAR Rose Lewenstein’s play about love, lust, hypocrisy, pride, ‘and what might happen if we fail to care of the people and things we love’, Tues 3 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE SIGN OF FOUR One-man show in which Jonathan Goodwin plays various larger-than-life characters, Tues 3 Mar, The Pavillion Club, Wolverhampton
THE ANIMALS Worcester Theatre Performance Hub present Sean Buckley’s new play, taking a look at education within the youth-custody system, Tues 3 Mar, Swan Theatre, Worcester
TOP HAT THE MUSICAL Romantic musical packed with iconic Irving Berlin songs, including Cheek to Cheek, Let’s Face The Music And Dance, Top Hat White Tie And Tails and Puttin’ On The Ritz, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome MURDER AT MIDNIGHT Torben Betts’ gripping murder-mystery, starring Jason Durr, Susie Blake, Max Bowden and Katie McGlynn, Tues 3Sat 7 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
SUNNY AFTERNOON Award-winning musical telling a story of friendship, fame and rock history, Tues 3 - Sat 7 Mar, Malvern Theatres
DORIAN GRAY Jonathan Goodwin plays Oscar Wilde in a one-man performance, Sat 7 Mar, Oscars, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire
SHAKESPEARE’S SCHOOL FESTIVAL 2026
Evening of live theatre featuring a series of abridged Shakespeare productions by local schools, Wed 4 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry THAT’S NOT MY NAME Stand-up, spoken word and schizophasia combine in a 75-minute show that calls out the insanity of psychiatry and the personality disorder diagnosis, Wed 4 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
MEET FRED Hijinx Theatre’s ‘darkly hilarious’ production follows a cloth puppet (Fred) as he tries to live an ordinary life by getting a job, finding love and becoming part of society, Wed 4 - Thurs 5 Mar, The Rep, Birmingham
NELL GWYNNE Stafford Players present an amateur version of Jessica Swale’s play concerning one of the ‘most celebrated female performers in Restoration England’, Wed 4 - Sat 7 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
BONNIE & CLYDE THE MUSICAL Aspire Theatre makes its debut with a reallife tale of crime, passion and rebellion, Wed 4 - Sat 7 Mar, The Crown Wharf Theatre, Stone WATSON: THE FINAL PROBLEM A journey through one man’s memories, regrets and revelations, Thurs 5 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham VOICES IN THE DARKNESS Shakespeare Young Company present an immersive experience that draws on Elizabethan and Jacobean texts, Thurs 5 Mar, The Crypt of St Mary’s Church, Warwick
WHEN WE SEE OURSELVES Altered Skin tell the story of Vanessa and Aravindan, who reflect on an unexpected romance beset by cultural differences, Thurs 5 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
THE FIRST MEN IN THE MOON Don’t Go Into The Cellar present an original adaptation of the HG Wells classic, Thurs 5 Mar, Script Haven, Worcester ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD Offenbach’s enduring opera concerning an ill-fitting couple who traverse heaven and hell in the company of gods. Sung in French with English surtitles, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Mar, Gas Street Central, Birmingham RUDDIGORE The Birmingham Savoyards present Gilbert & Sullivan’s satire of Victorian gothic melodrama, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Mar, The Old Rep, Birmingham INTO THE WOODS Musical Theatre
Warwick present an amateur version of Stephen Sondheim’s fairytale musical, Thurs 5 - Sat 7 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
ANDREW DOHERTY: SAD GAY AIDS PLAY
‘A wickedly funny satire that throws the book at Aids and asks the Arts Council to pick it up’, Fri 6 Mar,
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham
FOR THEIR SAFETY Abhishek Passi’s short play, blending social drama with dark humour, Sat 7 Mar, The Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham
I’LL BE BACK An ‘action-packed 60 minutes of apocalyptic devastation, robotic transformation, emotional reunion, and how a plan formed in the Brierley Hill Blockbusters came to save the world’, Sat 7 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE DEATH AND LIFE A ‘wryly humorous’ one-man tale of murder, mystery and the occult, Sat 7 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
ELLEN KENT: THE FAREWELL TOURMADAMA BUTTERFLY A new production of Puccini’s heart-breaking story about a young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant - with dramatic consequences, Sat 7 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
THE FATHER Amateur version of Florian Zeller’s award-winning psychological drama, Sat 7 - Sat 14 Mar, Oldbury Rep
THE STRANGER Amateur version of Agatha Christie’s psychological thriller, Sat 7 - Sat 14 Mar, Rugby Theatre
Kids Theatre
TALES FROM ACORN WOOD Theatre for younger audiences based on muchloved stories by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, Sat 28 Feb - Sun 1 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
TOM GATES: THE SHOW New stage show bringing Liz Pichon’s bestselling book to life via performance, illustrations and music, Sun 1 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
DEAR ZOO Rod Campbell’s children’s classic is brought to life using puppetry, music and audience participation, Sun 1 Mar, Malvern Theatres
RAPUNZEL Wrongensemble Theatre fuse ‘music, magic and madcap scenes’ in a new version of the classic fairytale, Sun 1 Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
BLUEY’S BIG PLAY Puppetry, music, laughter and family fun combine in a live stage show based on the awardwinning children’s television series, Wed 4 - Sun 8 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
MISS RACHEL - FUN FOR LITTLE ONESTRIBUTE TOUR Singing, dancing, giggles and non-stop fun are promised in a high-energy interactive performance for younger audiences, Thurs 5 Mar, The Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
ELEANOR THE ADVENTURER The story of a brave explorer and her plucky
sidekick, who attempt to prevent allout war in a strange and distant land. Presented by KRYPT Junior Company, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Mar, The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster
Dance
THE NUTCRACKER Varna International Ballet present ‘the most famous of fantasy ballets’, Mon 3 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
SWAN LAKE Presented by Varna International Ballet and featuring Tchaikovsky’s haunting score, Tues 4 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
ODYSSEY The graduate year at Elmhurst Ballet present a mixed programme of classical and contemporary dance, Fri 6 & Sat 7 Mar, Elmhurst Ballet School, B’ham
ALICE IN WONDERLAND A Midland Youth Ballet performance based on Lewis Carroll’s classic story, Sat 7 Mar, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent
NRITHYAM’S ARUVI Choreographed performance using a blend of Indian dance forms to showcase the transition through different phases of life and the diverse experiences of women, Sun 8 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
Light Entertainment
UNCANNY: FEAR OF THE DARK Danny Robins’ paranormal stage show, featuring ‘new and terrifying real-life stories and witness accounts that promise to have audiences utterly gripped’, Sun 1 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
TEENAGER IN LOVE SHOW Nostalgia, romance and laughter combine in a show featuring melodies from a bygone era, Sun 1 Mar, Halesowen Town Hall
OCEANS LIVE IN CONCERT Experience a live screening of the stunning nature documentary, featuring narration by David Attenborough, while a full
thelist
symphony orchestra gives a live performance of Oscar-winning composer Steven Price’s evocative score, Sun 1 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
IRELAND THE SHOW Featuring the Keltic Storm band and the world champion Gael Force Irish dancers, Tues 3 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
AN EVENING WITH THE TELE The Hospital Show present ‘an evening of fun and laughter that takes a sideways look at the television’, Wed 4 Mar, Stoke Repertory Theatre
SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS - THE STORY OF THE DUBLINERS ‘Ultimate feelgood Irish show’, Wed 4 Mar, Palace Theatre, Redditch
BIFF TO THE FUTURE Joseph Maudsley’s one-man parody, in which Biff, the iconic villain of hit 80s movie Back To The Future, takes centre stage, Wed 4 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
AN EVENING WITH THE TAP CHAPS A ‘high-octane celebration’ of rhythm, style and fast footwork, Wed 4 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
QUEEN BY CANDLELIGHT Thurs 5 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
IRELAND THE SHOW Featuring the Keltic Storm band and the world champion Gael Force Irish dancers, Thurs 5 Mar, Crewe Lyceum Theatre
MATT PARKER: GETTING TRIGGY WITH IT Unique show fusing comedy and maths, Thurs 5 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
THE MUSIC OF LUTHER VANDROS BY CANDLELIGHT Thurs 5 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL
Experience ‘thrilling adventure on the big screen’, Thurs 5 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
RAVE ON - THE ULTIMATE 50S & 60S EXPERIENCE Nostalgic show charting the meteoric rise of rock & roll, Fri 6 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
AN EVENING WITH GUY CHAMBERS An evening of stories and songs with one of the UK’s most successful living songwriters, Fri 6 Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
IRELAND THE SHOW Featuring the Keltic Storm band and the world champion Gael Force Irish dancers, Fri 6 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
100 YEARS OF LAUREL & HARDY Expert
Neil Brand provides a unique insight into Laurel & Hardy and the birth of
the cinema industry, Fri 6 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
COUNTRY BY CANDLELIGHT Direct from London’s West End, Fri 6 Mar, Worcester Cathedral
BAZ WARNE: CONVIVIAL TOUR Intimate evening of music and storytelling in celebration of Baz’s new memoir, No Grass Grows On A Busy Street, Sat 7 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
BEYOND THE BARRICADE Showcasing the best of Broadway and the West End, with hits from The Phantom Of The Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, The Lion King and more..., Sat 7 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
GAME OF CRONES A ‘riotous’ celebration of women in their prime. A show described as ‘funny, feral, and gloriously unapologetic’, Sat 7 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
IRELAND THE SHOW Featuring the Keltic Storm band and the world champion Gael Force Irish dancers, Sat 7 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
ATTENTION ALL SHIPPING: A CELEBRATION OF THE SHIPPING
FORECAST Charlie Connelly brings the shipping forecast vividly to life, Sat 7 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
IBIZA IN SYMPHONY ‘The ultimate Ibiza party live on stage’, Sat 7 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS - THE STORY OF THE DUBLINERS Ultimate feelgood Irish show, Sun 8 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
QUEENZ: DRAG ME TO THE DISCO A live vocal drag-extravaganza celebrating pop royalty through the decades, Sun 8 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
CELTIC ILLUSION Tradition meets contemporary in a fusion of Irish dance and ‘mind-blowing’ magic, Sun 8 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
Talks & Spoken Word
AN EVENING WITH PROFESSOR ALICE ROBERTS Join the author as she attempts to establish who spread christianity, how and why, Sun 1 Mar, Malvern Theatres
WEST BROM LEGENDS Jonas Olsson, Chris Brunt, Zoltan Gera and Jonathan Greening share stories and anecdotes from their football careers, Mon 2 Mar, The Alexandra, B’ham
LEO HOULDING - EXPOSED Join the legendary mountaineer for stories, visuals and film from the world’s wildest places, Tues 3 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
WHAT NOT TO WEAR Evening talk
Sunday 1 - Sunday 8
March
about personal adornment and grooming in the prehistory and Roman periods, Thurs 5 Mar, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
POETRY JAM LIVE! A showcase for poets who are starting out, seasoned veterans, and anyone else with a story to tell, Thurs 5 Mar, Justham Family Room & Jane How Room, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
STRATFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL WITH ROBERT MACFARLANE Join the celebrated nature writer, academic & performer as he asks a perspectiveshifting question: is a river alive?, Fri 6 Mar, Rother Streets Arts, Stratfordupon-Avon
AN EVENING WITH SIR DAVID JASON
David will be joined by BBC Breakfast presenter Mike Bushall for an evening of ‘fun, laughter, and never-beforeheard stories’, Sun 8 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
Events
THE NATIONAL WEDDING SHOW
Showcasing hundreds of top wedding suppliers, Sat 28 Feb - Sun 1 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
THE NATIONAL EQUINE SHOW Featuring hundreds of equestrian brands, Sat 28 Feb - Sun 1 Mar, NEC, Birmingha
BRANCHLINE WEEKEND Event
celebrating 35 years since the arrival of the first DMU on the Severn Valley Railway, Sat 28 Feb - Sun 1 Mar, Severn Valley Railway, nr Kidderminster
GO DIVING Featuring interactive displays and demonstrations, Sat 28 Feb - Sun 1 Mar, NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
MIDLANDS GARDEN RAIL SHOW Event offering visitors the chance to see layouts in the larger gauges and scales, including Gauge 1, O Gauge, G Scale and more, Sat 28 Feb - Sun 1 Mar, Warwickshire Event Centre, Leamington Spa
MUSEUM DETECTIVES FAMILY TRAIL
Help find the missing eight items in the museum, until Fri 27 Mar, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
CASTLE QUEST: IMAGINATION
PLAYGROUND ‘A magical hands-on experience for children, where creativity reigns supreme’, until Sat 11 Apr, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
DRAWING COMEDIANS WITH MILAN
TOPALOVIC Practise portraiture by drawing your favourite comedian, Sun 1 Mar, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
NATIONAL BRICK EVENTS Featuring Lego stalls, activities and displays, Sun 1 Mar, Telford International Centre, Shropshire WOMEN IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Discover the powerful stories of women who played vital roles during the Second World War, from the factory floor to the cockpit, Wed 4Sun 8 Mar, RAF Museum Midlands, Cosford
WORLD BOOK DAY: MINI MUSEUM ENGINEERS ON TOUR AT THE HERBERT Experiment with a variety of building materials and have a go at various construction challenges, Thurs 5 Mar, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
WORLD BOOK DAY: THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA Immersive sensory experience exploring colour, sound and song, Thurs 5 Mar, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
TUDOR WOMEN GUIDED TOUR Learn about Tudor Women to mark International Women’s Day, Thurs 5 Mar, Blakesley Hall, Birmingham CRUFTS The ultimate day out for dog lovers of all ages, Thurs 5 - Sun 8 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM’S VICTORIAN MURDER MILE Join crime & policing historian Adam Wood for a walking tour and hear gruesome tales of Birmingham’s Victorian past, Fri 6 Mar, West Midlands Police Museum, B’ham BOOGIE LIGHTS EXPRESS A ‘one of a kind’ experience, blending ‘dazzling lights, pulse-pounding music and nonstop energy’, Fri 6 - Sat 7 Mar, Severn Valley Railway, nr Kidderminster
CINEMA UNDER THE STARS Step into the planetarium for a cinema-style screening, Sat 7 Mar, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
LOMBARD RALLY Featuring full-throttle on-track action and ‘nostalgia in the air’, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Mar, Weston Park, Shropshire
SPITFIRE WEEKEND Celebrate Birmingham’s iconic aviation history with interactive activities for all ages, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Mar, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS Discover the untold stories of women who’ve shaped the world, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Mar, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove
SPECTACLE OF STEAM Featuring one of the largest collections of rare, unique and historic locomotives, Sat 7 - Sun 8 Mar, Statfold Country Park, Tamworth
thelist
Gigs
RUSTAGE + SHWABADI + CONNOR QUEST! + THE STUPENDIUM! Tues 10 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
HOLLY CLARKE Tues 10 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
CONSTANT SMILES + BRNSWCK + JESS SAADE Tues 10 Mar, The Victoria, Birmingham
MGK + JULIA WOLF Tues 10 Mar, Utilita Arena Birmingham
THE DUBLIN LEGENDS Tues 10 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull
ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW Tues 10 & Wed 11 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
BEANS ON TOAST Wed 11 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
THE EGYPTIAN LOVER Wed 11 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
THE BROTHERS GILLESPIE Wed 11 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
ALABAMA 3 Wed 11 Mar, The Jam House, B’ham
MOULD Wed 11 Mar, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
HOT MULLIGAN + DELTA
SLEEP + OVERSIZE Wed 11 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
LAUREN ASH Wed 11 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
49TH & MAIN Wed 11 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
VONA VELLA Wed 11 Mar, Dead Wax, B’ham
REMEMBER SPORTS Wed 11 Mar, Dead Wax, Digbeth, Birmingham
SPECIAL FRIEND Wed 11 Mar, The Victoria, Birmingham
PHIL BEER Wed 11 Mar, Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
THE SWAPS + C BONE + ED BLUNT Wed 11 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
EAST STREET SPANKERS Wed 11 Mar, Boldmere Sports and Social Club, Sutton Coldfield
STEVE KNIGHTLEY Wed 11 Mar, Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
ANTONY SZMIEREK Wed 11 Mar, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
NORTHERN SOUL
ORCHESTRATED Wed 11 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
SCUSTIN Thurs 12 Mar, Hare & Hounds, B’ham
KILLOWEN Thurs 12 Mar, Hare & Hounds, B’ham
BELLA HARDY Thurs 12 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
THE HEART OF NEW ORLEANS Thurs 12 Mar, The Jam House, B’ham
FROGLORD Thurs 12 Mar, Dead Wax, B’ham
ALEX JAMES’ BRITPOP
CLASSICAL Thurs 12 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
TUNDE Thurs 12 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
ROOTS AND REELS - RBC
MUSICIANS Thurs 12 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
MICE IN A MATCHBOX Thurs 12 Mar, Catshill Club, Bromsgrove
THE SONGS OF TOM WAITS Thurs 12 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
ROSA ANSCHÜTZ + MOONYA Thurs 12 Mar, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
SUNGRASS Thurs 12 Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
TRANSMISSION - THE SOUND OF JOY DIVISION Thurs 12 Mar, The Robin, Bilston
PRIMAL FEAR + RONNIE
ROMERO Thurs 12 Mar, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
THE GUILTY MEN Thurs 12 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent
HOPE & SOCIAL Thurs 12 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
ARTHUR COATES & KERRAN COTTERELL Thurs 12 Mar, The Anstice, Madeley, Telford, Shropshire
SAMBROSO ALLSTARS
PERFORM THE BUENA
VISTA Fri 13 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
PHOEBE KATIS Fri 13 Mar, The Sunflower
Lounge, Birmingham
THE TERRYS Fri 13 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham
SOMBR + CHARLOTTE
LAWRENCE Fri 13 Mar, O2 Academy, B’ham
THE MELVIN HANCOX
BAND Fri 13 Mar, Jo Jo Jims, Birmingham
TONY BRAZIER SEXTET Fri 13 Mar, 1000 Trades, Birmingham
SANCTUM SANCTORIUM Fri 13 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
SAVAGE GA$P + KAMAARA + GRIM SALVO Fri 13 Mar, Dead Wax, Digbeth, Birmingham
BODYSNATCHER + INGESTED + BIG ASS
TRUCK Fri 13 Mar, The Asylum, Birmingham
IGLU & HARTLY Fri 13
Mar, The Flapper, Birmingham
THE PAINTING Fri 13 Mar, The Victoria, B’ham
ALINA BZHEZHINSKA Fri 13 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
MAN IN THE MIRROR Fri 13 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
DAVE Fri 13 Mar, Utilita
Arena Birmingham
INTRUSIVE + THE N.S.O + LOST + THE ALTERNATIVES Fri 13 Mar, The Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham
DECLAN NERNEY Fri 13 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull
THE SPECIALS LTD Fri 13 Mar, The Assembly, Leamington Spa
LEAMINGTON BLUES
MAFIA Fri 13 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
JUST RADIOHEAD Fri 13 Mar, hmv Empire, Coventry
HAEMA + FERRUX + KHARMA + FACE OF A STRANGER Fri 13 Mar, Arches Venue, Coventry
THE TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE Fri 13 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
KEROZENE + THE FLANEURS + OLE
COUGHIN DODGERZ + GENERAL JACK Fri 13 Mar, Queens Hall, Nuneaton
KOZMIC PEARL Fri 13
Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIEW Fri 13 Mar, Palace Theatre, Redditch
ROB LAMBERTI PRESENTS PERFECTLY GEORGE Fri 13 Mar, Malvern Theatres
THE BARRY MANILOW SHOW Fri 13 Mar, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
THE PIANO MAN ONE NIGHT OF BILLY JOEL Fri 13 Mar, Dudley Town Hall
MOSHTALGIA Fri 13 Mar, The River Rooms, Stourbridge VOODOO ROOM Fri 13 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
TAYLOR MORE SWIFTLY + BOOM BOOM WOMB + FIGHTS AND FIRES Fri 13 Mar, Dive, W’hampton
SEX PISTOLS EXPOSE + STUNTFACE Fri 13 Mar, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent
THE SNUTS Fri 13 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
MARA LIDDLE + ANGEL B VALENTINE + EMIDORA Fri 13 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent
BATHED IN SIN + LIGHTS OUT + SMOTHER + PROZPEKT + INVASION Fri 13 Mar, The Underground, Stokeon-Trent
DAVE BOULTON & THE BARMY PENGUINS Fri 13 Mar, Fenton Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
UK BJORN Fri 13 Mar, Rugeley Rose Theatre
CHASING MUMFORD Fri 13 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
COLLIDER SKIES + CHASING AUGUST Fri 13 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
JOSIENNE CLARKE SINGS THE SONGS OF SANDY
DENNY Fri 13 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shrops
THOMAS ATLAS X BONNYLOU Sat 14 Mar, The Jam House, B’ham
BLEED FROM WITHIN + DISEMBODIED TYRANT + BAEST Sat 14 Mar, O2
Institute, Birmingham
AUDREY HOBERT Sat 14
Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS Sat 14 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
KILLERSTREAM Sat 14
Mar, Jo Jo Jims, B’ham
JIM BOB + INTERROBANG Sat 14 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
FALLING AND LAUGHING + SUNSET CINEMA CLUB + WIIINCE + HEY ALAMO Sat 14 Mar, Centrala, Birmingham
METAL TO THE MASSES
HEAT 4 Sat 14 Mar, The Flapper, Birmingham
NATHAN CARTER Sat 14
Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
NU-CASTLE Sat 14 Mar, The Rainbow, Digbeth, Birmingham
ELIZA CARTHY Sat 14
Mar, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham
JIMMY REGAL AND THE ROYALS Sat 14 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
GO YOUR OWN WAY - THE FLEETWOOD MAC LEGACY Sat 14 Mar, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
CHARLES DEXTER WARD & THE IMAGINEERS + TELLEMAHOOKAH + WHAT ABOUT ERIC? Sat 14 Mar, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
ASTORIA Sat 14 Mar, FarGo Village, Coventry
GRIMM GRIMM Sat 14 Mar, Just Dropped In, Coventry
FLINT FIRE + PRETENDULUM Sat 14 Mar, Queens Hall, Nuneaton
BRAIN OF J Sat 14 Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
TUBULAR BELLS LIVE Sat 14 Mar, Malvern Theatres
A TRIBUTE TO STING & THE POLICE Sat 14 Mar, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
WATERLOO A TRIBUTE TO ABBA Sat 14 Mar, Brierley Hill Civic NORTHERN SOUL ORCHESTRATED Sat 14 Mar, The Halls Wolverhampton
THE CLONE ROSES +
OAS-IS + THE SMITHS
LTD Sat 14 Mar, The Halls Wolverhampton
THE AMY EXPERIENCE Sat 14 Mar, The Sugarmill, Stoke-onTrent
THE JOHN STREET REVIVAL Sat 14 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stoke-onTrent
ALL THE YOUNG Sat 14 Mar, The Rigger, Newcastle-Under-Lyme
DISCHARGE + RETSU Sat 14 Mar, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs
MARK LOCKHEART
SHAPESHIFTER TRIO Sat 14 Mar, The Hive, Shrewsbury
DEVIL IN THE WHISKEY Sat 14 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
LOS PACAMINOS FT. PAUL YOUNG Sun 15 Mar, Hare & Hounds, B’ham
GEORGE BOOMSMA Sun 15 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
SAM SCHERDEL Sun 15 Mar, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
DEL WATER GAP Sun 15 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
TAXI FOR JESUS Sun 15 Mar, The Brasshouse, Birmingham
NORTHERN SOUL ORCHESTRATED Sun 15 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
BENSON BOONE Sun 15 Mar, Utilita Arena Birmingham
MERRY HELL Sun 15 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN Sun 15 Mar, Birchmeadow Centre, Broseley, Shropshire
STEVE CRADOCK Sun 15
Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
THE MUSIC OF FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS Sun 15 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
Classical Music
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT WITH THOMAS TROTTER Programme includes works by Price, Marsh, Leach & more..., Mon 9 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
SHOSTAKOVICH CHAMBER MUSIC
Featuring Oliver Heath, Jemima
Soper & Erin Lawson-Smith (violins), Erin Vinter (viola), Joachim Lim (piano), Emily Hill & Jiaowen Liu (cellos), Tues 10 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
MATTHIAS HAVINGA ORGAN RECITAL
Tues 10 Mar, Organ Studio, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
THE CHOIR OF ROYAL HOLLOWAY: THE KING, THE ARCHBISHOP, A SPY, AND THE ENGLISH EXILES Featuring Rupert Gough (director). Programme includes works by Byrd, Bull, Dering & Philips, Tues 10 Mar, St Mary’s Church, Warwick
LUNCHTIME CONCERT Featuring Enhao Zhang (violin) & Fei Pu (cello), Tues 10 Mar, St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury
RED BRICK BRASS QUINTET Featuring Samuel Jones & Alex Godridge (trumpets), Eleanor Dierckx (french horn), Nathan Tempest (trombone) & Jack Woodhouse (tuba), Wed 11 Mar, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-uponAvon
SPRING CHAMBER CHOIR CONCERT
Featuring Julian Wilkins (conductor) & George Moloney (organ). Programme includes works by Britten, Byrd, I Holst & More..., Thurs 12 Mar, St Alban the Martyr, Highgate, Birmingham
KNIBBS & HOWARD PRESENT: ETHEL SMYTH, THE STORMY PETREL Featuring Melissa Morris (piano), Margarida Vaz Neto (soprano), Mikolaj Piszczorowicz (cello), Teresa Howard (libretto & narration), Chloe Knibbs & Ethel Smyth (composers), Thurs 12 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
LONDON CHAMBER ENSEMBLE TRIO Featuring Madeleine Mitchell (violin), Kirsten Jenson (cello) & Julian Milford (piano). Programme includes works by Ireland, C Schumann & Brahms, Thurs 12 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire
ASHLEY WAGNER ORGAN RECITAL Fri 13 Mar, St Philip’s Cathedral, B’ham
EILIDH HARRIS ORGAN RECITAL Fri 13 Mar, St Hilda’s Parish Church, Smethwick
SIMONE DAMIANI PIANO RECITAL Fri 13 Mar, The Alexandra Theatre, B’ham
BAND OF THE WEST MIDLANDS FIRE SERVICE Featuring Hannah Hill (clarinet), Fri 13 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
CANTORAS UPPER VOICES CHAMBER
CHOIR: STABAT MATER Programme includes works by Kim Andre Arnesen & Sarah Quartel, Fri 13 Mar, St Paul's Church, Birmingham
BACH'S MAGNIFICAT Featuring University of Warwick Chamber Choir and Orchestra, Suzzie Vango & Nat Morley (conductors), Fri 13 Mar, All Saints Church, Leamington Spa
PHILIP RUSHFORTH ORGAN RECITAL Fri 13 Mar, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury
CHORUS AT THE CBSO CENTRE
Featuring Simon Halsey CBE (conductor), CBSO Chorus & CBSO Youth Chorus. Programme includes works by Britten, Brahms & Barber, Sat 14 Mar, CBSO Centre, B’ham
BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR: SACRED
MUSIC Programme includes works by Byrd, Gesualdo, Gibbons & more..., Sat 14 Mar, St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
MIDLAND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: VIVALDI’S GLORIA Programme also includes Haydn’s ‘Surprise’ symphony, Sat 14 Mar, St George's Church, Birmingham
WARWICKSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Richard Jenkinson (conductor) & Callum Smart (violin). Programme includes works by Copland, Rimsky-Korsakov, Brahms & Beethoven, Sat 14 Mar, All Saints' Church, Leamington Spa
WORCESTER PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA Featuring Suzie Purkis (mezzo-soprano), Dan Watson (conductor) & Graham Longfils (leader). Programme includes works by Grieg, Elgar & Dvořák, Sat 14 Mar, Pershore Abbey
WOMBOURNE & DISTRICT CHORAL
SOCIETY: COME & SING! Sing Fauré’s Requiem with WDCS singers, Sat 14 Mar, Springdale Methodist Church, Wolverhampton
WYRE FOREST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Gill & Jonathan Pendrous (soloists). Programme includes works by Mozart & Beethoven, Sat 14 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND STRING ORCHESTRA Featuring Daniele Rosina, Barnaby Eddy & Evie Ghauri (conductors). Programme includes works by Grieg, Sibelius, Mozart & Fauré, Sun 15 Mar, Elgar Concert Hall, University of Birmingham
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS: TITANS Programme includes works by Mahler & Katy Lavinia Cooper, Sun 15 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
DORIC STRING QUARTET Featuring Maia Cabeza & Ying Xue (violins), Emma Wernig (viola) & John Myerscough (cello). Programme includes works by Mendelssohn, Janáček, & Beethoven, Sun 15 Mar, Malvern Theatres
Comedy
ZOLTAN KASZAS Thurs 12 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, MICHAEL AKADIRI & COMIC TBC Thurs 12 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
DANNY CLIVES & PAUL HILLEARD Thurs 12 Mar, Cherry Reds, Birmingham
JO ENRIGHT, SCOTT CAPURRO, MICHAEL AKADIRI, LOU TAYLOR & ALEX EGAN Fri 13 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
JORDAN GRAY Fri 13 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
RUSSELL HOWARD Fri 13 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
JOEL DOMMETT Fri 13 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
MATT PRICE, BENNY SHAKES, EDDY BRIMSON & JON PEARSON Sat 14 Mar, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham
JO ENRIGHT, SCOTT CAPURRO, MICHAEL AKADIRI & COMIC TBC Sat 14 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
ANDY ZALTZMAN Sat 14 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
SUE PERKINS Sat 14 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
JONNY COLE Sat 14 - Sun 15 Mar, Halesowen Town Hall
CHRIS MCCAUSLAND Sun 15 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
HENNING WEHN Sun 15 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
PIERRE NOVELLIE Sun 15 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
ED PATRICK Sun 15 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Theatre
BLOOD AND DESIRE Warwick Chinese Society present a double-bill exploring the boundaries of sacrifice
and self-discovery, Tues 10 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
SCOTLAND YARD INVESTIGATIONS Don’t Go Into The Cellar present stage adaptations of infamous true-life 19th-century crimes - including the Thames Torso Murders and The Lambeth Poisoner, Tues 10 Mar, Middleport Pottery, Stoke-on-Trent
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) The Reduced Shakespeare Company take a rollercoaster ride through all 37 of the Bard’s plays, Tues 10 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
MONA LOSER New musical inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and set to a high-energy pop score, Tues 10Sat 14 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome DEAR ENGLAND National Theatre production of James Graham’s award-winning play, telling the uplifting story of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
MIDSOMER MURDERS: THE KILLINGS OF BADGER’S DRIFT Inspector Tom Barnaby investigates a murder in England’s deadliest county. Daniel Casey stars, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF MUSICAL North Staffs Operatic Society present an amateur version of the hit musical comedy based on the much-loved TV show, Tues 10 - Sat 14 Mar, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent HERE & NOW - THE STEPS MUSICAL New musical based on the songs of pop favourites Steps, Tues 10 - Sun 15 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
NOISES OFF Highbury Players present an amateur version of Michael Frayn’s classic farce, Tues 10 - Sat 21 Mar, Highbury Theatre, Sutton Coldfield
NIGHT AT THE OPERA RBC musicians celebrate opera in all its ‘drama,
Pierre Novellie - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
emotion and fun’, Wed 11 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
FRANKENSTEIN A new staging of Mary Shelley’s Gothic tale, performed by The Albany’s in-house theatre company, Wed 11, Thurs 12 & Sat 14 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
YEOMAN OF THE GUARD Atswood Bank
Operatic Society present an amateur version of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera, Wed 11 - Sat 14 Mar, The Norbury Theatre, Droitwich
WE WILL ROCK YOU Get Your Wigle On present an amateur version of Ben Elton’s smash-hit musical, Wed 11Sat 14 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
MY FAIR LADY Cabaret Theatre Company present an amateur version of a musical theatre favourite, Wed 11 - Sat 14 Mar, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent
BEHOLD YE RAMBLERS Neil Gore’s one-hander takes a lighthearted look at an important piece of social history, Thurs 12 Mar, Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek, Staffs
EYES DOWN Interactive comedy thriller where the audience play actual games of bingo - with real prizes!
Thurs 12 Mar, SpArC Theatre, Bishops Castle, South Shropshire
THE RAVEN RBC Actors present an original production inspired by the life and work of Edgar Allen Poe, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Mar, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham
THE WIZARD OF OZ ADULT PANTO
Starring Jimmy Burton-Iles in the lead role of Dorothy, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Mar, Tamworth Assembly Rooms
CONSENT Law, love and loyalty collide in Nina Raine’s ‘powerful, painful and funny’ play. Performed by RBC actors, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Mar, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF MUSICAL Comic Theatre Company present an amateur version of the musical comedy based on the much-loved TV show of the same name, Thurs 12Sat 14 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
THE RAVEN RBC actors present an original production inspired by the life and work of Edgar Allen Poe, Thurs 12 - Sat 14 Mar, The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham
TRULY, JACK THE RIPPER Awardwinning actor Jonathan Goodwin plays different characters in an exploration of the murders and
myths surrounding the infamous Victorian serial killer, Fri 13 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
EYES DOWN Interactive comedy thriller during which the audience play actual games of bingo - with real prizes! Fri 13 Mar, Dawley Town Hall
THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE
High-stakes survival thriller performed by the Gatehouse Youth Theatre, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) The Reduced Shakespeare Company take a rollercoaster ride through all 37 of the Bard’s plays, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
WHITE LIARS/BLACK COMEDY Two Peter Shaffer one-act plays exploring deception, Fri 13 - Sat 21 Mar, The Bear Pitt Theatre, Stratford-uponAvon
THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE SHOW
Watch as a brand-new Shakespeare play is developed live on stage, Sat 14 Mar, Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
EYES DOWN Interactive comedy thriller during which the audience play actual games of bingo - with real
prizes! Sat 14 Mar, Wem Town Hall, South Shropshire
THE PANDEMONIUM OF POE Jonathan Goodwin hosts a show in which the audience gets to choose which Edgar Allan Poe tales are performed, Sat 14 Mar, The Theatre of Small Convenience, Malvern
HENRY V Alfred Enoch takes the title role, Sat 14 Mar - Sat 25 Apr, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratfordupon-Avon
MYRA’S STORY Acclaimed one-hander telling the story of Myra, who, having fallen on hard times, ends up homeless and living on the streets of Dublin. Fionna Hewitt-Twamley plays 15 ‘larger than life’ characters, Sun 15 Mar, The Rep, Birmingham
EYES DOWN Interactive comedy thriller during which the audience play actual games of bingo - with real prizes! Sun 15 Mar, Thimblemill Library, Smethwick
Kids Theatre
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD Stage version of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s award-winning story, Mon 9 - Tues 10 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
THE GRUFALLO, THE WITCH AND THE WARTHOG WITH JULIA DONALDSON Julia Donaldson and four actors bring six of her stories to life, Fri 13 - Sun 15 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
HAY! Puppetry, music, clowning, song and dance combine in an ‘inclusive and uplifting’ tale for younger audiences, Sun 15 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
Dance
2FACED DANCE: TOMORROW New work from Tamsin Fitzgerald offering a physical response to ‘the things we struggle to say with words’, Tues 10 Mar, Malvern Theatres
Light Entertainment
BOX OF FROGS Birmingham’s premiere improv group present an evening of high-octane improvised comedy nonsense, based entirely on audience suggestions, Wed 11 Mar, 1000 Trades, Birmingham
INSIDE VOICES PLS! An International Women’s Month event showcasing female-identifying experiences around the theme of resilience, Wed 11 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
BEYOND THE BARRICADE Musical theatre concert featuring iconic scores from The Phantom Of The Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, Miss Saigon, Hamilton and more... Wed 11 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS - THE STORY OF THE DUBLINERS Ultimate feelgood Irish show, Wed 11 - Thurs 12 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
LIEVEN SCHEIRE SCIENCE AND SIDE SPLITTING COMEDY ‘Mind-expanding insights’ and comedy combine in ‘a unique show that makes the mysteries of science entertaining and
accessible’, Thurs 12 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
THE DAZZLING DIAMONDS - COMEDY DRAG VARIETY SHOW Thurs 12 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
THE MOZART GROUP An evening of classical compositions and comedy, Thurs 12 Mar, Malvern Theatres
JAWDANCE X UNISLAM Apples And Snakes present a showcase of ‘performance poetry, rhythm and truth’, Fri 13 Mar, The Rep, B’ham
PETE FIRMAN: TRICKS & GIGGLES
Brand-new show from ‘one of magic’s most exciting performers’, Fri 13 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
DOMINIC FRISBY: AN EVENING OF COMEDY, SONGS AND SATIRE Fri 13 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING Musical tribute to hit TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Fri 13 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
THE ALLURE SPEAKEASY ‘Steamy striptease and daring drag’ feature in a show combining ‘jaw-dropping entertainment, chaotic comedy and utter fabulousness’, Sat 14 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
LIEVEN SCHEIRE SCIENCE AND SIDE SPLITTING COMEDY ‘Mind-expanding insights’ and comedy combine in ‘a unique show that makes the mysteries of science entertaining and accessible’, Sat 14 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
SING-A-LONG THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential! Sat 14 Mar, Crewe Lyceum Theatre
THE PARODY OF THE RINGS Expect ‘comedy, chaos and utter nonsense’ as a team of hapless ushers attempt to create an epic tale of hobbits, elves and orcs, Sat 14 Mar, Rother Street Arts, Stratford-upon-Avon
Talks & Spoken
POETRY SLAM 2026 Hosted by former Birmingham Poet Laureate SPOZ, Wed 11 Mar, Palace Theatre, Redditch
SIR GEOFF HURST: LAST MAN STANDING FAREWELL TOUR Join the West Ham & England icon as he shares stories
Monday 9 - Sunday 15 March
from his illustrious career, Wed 11 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
HARRY BAKER: TENDER World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker ‘brings wit and wonder to new parenthood’, Fri 13 Mar, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
JOHN POWER - THE CAST, THE LA’S, AND ME ‘An intimate show that mixes John’s best-loved songs with wild, funny and tender stories’, Fri 13 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
GARTH MARENGHI - THIS BUSTED EARTH BOOK TOUR Sat 14 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY INTO MIDDLE EARTH Join Ash Bayliss as he explores the links between Birmingham and Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Sat 14 Mar, Rother Street Arts, Stratford-upon-Avon
Events
CREATIVE CRAFT SHOW Explore hundreds of stalls packed with everything from knitting and stitching supplies to card making and felting, Thurs 12 - Sun 15 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
SEWING FOR PLEASURE / FASHION & EMBROIDERY Browse inspiring stands, discover the latest tools and machines, and pick up expert tips from industry professionals, Thurs 12 - Sun 15 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
COMEDY IN FOCUS: BEAN Combined exhibition & film celebration of British comedy, Fri 13 Mar, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
CASTLE CEILIDH Evening of music and dance with a live Ceilidh band, Fri 13 Mar, Warwick Castle
BOOGIE LIGHTS EXPRESS A ‘one of a kind’ experience, blending ‘dazzling lights, pulse-pounding music and nonstop energy’, Fri 13 - Sat 14 Mar, Severn Valley Railway, nr Kidderminster
ARTISAN AND REENACTORS MARKET
Event combining a love of history and traditional skills & crafts, Fri 13 - Sun 15 Mar, Warwickshire Event Centre, Coventry
ASK ME ANYTHING: MEET THE EXPERTS AT THINKTANK Relaxed, family-friendly event ‘where no question is too big, too small, or too strange’, Sat 14 Mar, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
BONGO’S BINGO - ST PATRICK’S DAY
SPECIAL The original bingo rave sensation, Sat 14 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury DEMYSTIFYING AI: THINKTANK LATE Adults-only event showing how AI works, exploring its ethics and imagining its future, Sat 14 Mar, Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
THEATRE TOUR A unique insight into
one of the most historic theatres in the West Midlands, Sat 14 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham PEAKY BLINDERS NIGHT Journey into the gritty industrial landscape of the 1920s, Sat 14 Mar, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley THE SPRING COLLECTION VINTAGE FAIR
Vintage shopping experience, with genuine originals from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s, Sat 14 Mar, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley 00S SILENT DISCO Sat 14 Mar, Coventry Cathedral
MIDLANDS GRAND NATIONAL 2026
Action-packed day of top-tier racing and entertainment, Sat 14 Mar, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire
THE FAMILY HISTORY SHOW Put your research questions to an expert, enjoy a free talk, and make contact with a local society, archive or genealogical supplier, Sat 14 Mar, Three Counties Showground, Malvern
CORBET RE-ENACTMENT GROUP The medieval reenactment group ‘bring their energy and enthusiasm for history to the museum’, Sat 14 Mar, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
THE MURDER OF THE GROOM Immersive murder-mystery evening, Sat 14 Mar, West Midlands Police Museum, Birmingham
ALTON AFTER DARK Experience the twists and turns of the venue’s rollercoasters at night, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Mar, Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire
WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS Discover the untold stories of women who’ve shaped the world, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Mar, Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND Enjoy blossom filled garden walks and hear inspiring short talks about ‘ultimate mother figure’ Katherine Parr, Sat 14Sun 15 Mar, Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham
MARCH MADNESS Meet the friendly engines, ride the themed attractions, and experience the magical world of Thomas the Tank Engine, Sat 14Sun 15 Mar, Drayton Manor Resort, Staffordshire
DREAM EXTREME ALLSTAR CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Featuring ‘high-flying stunts, flipping tumbles, and incredible dances on three different competition floors’, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Mar, bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham
SPRING GIFT FAYRE Featuring a whole host of suppliers selling local and hand-made goods, Sat 14 - Sun 15 Mar, Severn Valley Railway, nr Kidderminster
ANTIQUES AND COLLECTORS FAIR
Featuring traders from across the UK selling a wide range of items from yesteryear, Sun 15 Mar, Himley Hall & Park, Dudley
thelist
Gigs
BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT
LIGHT + ARIANA & THE ROSE Mon 16 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
WINTER MOUNTAIN Mon 16 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
SIGRID + ETTA MARCUS Mon 16 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
VITAMIN STRING QUARTET
Mon 16 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
GREEN GARDENS Tues 17 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
WATERPARKS Tues 17 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
DIRT ROAD BAND Wed 18 Mar, The Jam House, Birmingham
THRICE + LYSISTRATA Wed 18 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
BOOM SLANG Wed 18 Mar, Dead Wax, B’ham
STONESTHROW + GEOFF
FROST & ANDY CLAPHAM Wed 18 Mar, Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
DAOIRI FARRELL Wed 18 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
CYGNET QUARTET Wed 18 Mar, Boldmere
Sports and Social Club, Sutton Coldfield
THE CHER COLLECTION Wed 18 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
DAME AREA Thurs 19 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
JONNY MORGAN & THE MORAL SUPPORT Thurs 19 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
RAY HEART Fri 20 Mar, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
SAMM HENSHAW Fri 20 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
CHESNEY HAWKES + LAURA ASTON Fri 20 Mar, O2 Academy, B’ham
STIFF LITTLE FINGERS Fri 20 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
THE SCHEMERS Fri 20 Mar, Jo Jo Jims, B’ham
MARK LOCKHEART Fri 20 Mar, 1000 Trades, Birmingham
WITCH FEVER Fri 20 Mar, Dead Wax, B’ham
ODYSSEY Thurs 19 Mar, The Jam House, Birmingham
HYPERREAL + MISERY KIDS + HOLLYWOOD
BROWN Thurs 19 Mar, The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
ARI ABDUL Thurs 19 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
POLITE BUREAUX Thurs 19 Mar, The Victoria, Birmingham
MELA GUITAR QUARTET Thurs 19 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
MOTHER HEROIC: A CELEBRATION OF BJÖRK’S MUSIC Thurs 19 Mar, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
THE TINA TURNER EXPERIENCE Thurs 19 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
ERIC BIBB Thurs 19 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
DAOIRÍ FARRELL Thurs 19 Mar, Regal, Tenbury Wells
ESSENTIALLY CHER Thurs 19 Mar, Brierley Hill Civic
ZIGGY POP & CULT FICTION Thurs 19 Mar, The Robin, Bilston
KESHA Thurs 19 Mar, The Halls Wolverhampton
THE OGRETONES Thurs 19 Mar, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
WILLE & THE BANDITS Thurs 19 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
THE ATLANTIC PLAYERS + SWAMPMEAT FAMILY
BAND Fri 20 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
20 Mar, The River Rooms, Stourbridge
THE MACC LADS Fri 20 Mar, The Robin, Bilston
DAN OWEN Fri 20 Mar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge
MASON HILL + DEFENCES Fri 20 Mar, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
THE BLACK CHARADE Fri 20 Mar, The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent
ZIPSTYLE + THE DIRT + UNCLE DAD Fri 20 Mar, The Artisan Tap, Stokeon-Trent
THE OGRETONES Fri 20 Mar, The Asylum, Birmingham
METAL TO THE MASSES
HEAT 5 Fri 20 Mar, The Flapper, Birmingham
10CC Fri 20 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
FLEETWOOD UNCHAINED Fri 20 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
OASISH Fri 20 Mar, The Assembly, Leamington Spa
SAINT SENARA + YOUNG MARTYRS Fri 20 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
PROMISES AND LIESTHE UB40 YEARS Fri 20 Mar, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall
THE QUAD ROX Fri 20 Mar, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield
BANOFFEE + PERMANENT DAYLIGHT + REISS PINDER + THE ILLUSION Fri 20 Mar, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
JILTED GENERATION Fri 20 Mar, hmv Empire, Coventry
RADIO GAGA Fri 20 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
ELLES BAILEY Fri 20 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
THE JAM UK Fri 20 Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
MOMENTS OF PLEASUREA TRIBUTE TO KATE BUSH Fri 20 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
THE MERSEY BEATLES Fri 20 Mar, Palace Theatre, Redditch
UNDER THE COVERS Fri
Leamington Spa
ERROL LINTON BAND Sat 21 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
AC30S Sat 21 Mar, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield
R&B ORCHESTRA Sat 21 Mar, hmv Empire, Coventry
SHANGHAI HOSTAGE + THE GENES + ALFRESCO
LOVE SOUNDS + THOSE
FINE STRANGERS Sat 21 Mar, FarGo Village, Coventry
THE MOUSE OUTFIT Fri 20 Mar, The Underground, Stokeon-Trent
THE ANT HILL MOB Fri 20 Mar, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield
MACBUSTED Fri 20 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
TV PINS + IF THE DRESS DON’T FIT Fri 20 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire
DAMIEN DEMPSEY Sat 21 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
LUNA MARBLE + BELTANE MOON Sat 21 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
THE FEELING Sat 21 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham
ASH XO + SUPA D + COLDSTEPS + TERMINAL 4 Sat 21 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
EKOH Sat 21 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
PAUL DRAPER Sat 21 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
THE ROLLIN’ STONED Sat 21 Mar, Jo Jo Jims, Birmingham
STEVE IGNORANT BAND PERFORMING CRASS + CLUB BRAT Sat 21 Mar, Castle & Falcon, B’ham
QUEENERGY Sat 21 Mar, The Dovehouse, Solihull
SMALL CHANGES Sat 21 Mar, Bromsgrove Arts @ Fairfield Village Hall, Fairfield
FEARLESSLY TAYLOR Sat 21 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
CHASING MUMFORD Sat 21 Mar, The Assembly,
KING PLEASURE & THE BISCUIT BOYS Sat 21 Mar, Lichfield Guildhall
AUDIO JUNKIES Sat 21 Mar, The Feathers Inn, Lichfield
ELKIE BROOKS Sat 21
Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
ASHLEY CAMPBELL Sat 21 Mar, St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury
MARK HARRISON BAND Sat 21 Mar, Eaton Constantine Village Hall, Shropshire
MIDDING + RY-GUY Sat 21 Mar, Just Dropped In, Coventry
THE SKALECTRICS Sat 21
Mar, Queens Hall, Nuneaton
THE BLUETONES Sat 21
Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
CODA - A TRIBUTE TO LED
ZEPPELIN Sat 21 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
LINKWELLS Sat 21 Mar, West Malvern Social Club
MADE IN TENNESSEE Sat 21 Mar, Brierley Hill Civic
NORTHERN LIVE Sat 21
Mar, Dudley Town Hall
ALEX HART Sat 21 Mar, Stourbridge Town Hall
MAET LIVE & THE NEVER NEVERLAND EXPRESS Sat 21 Mar, The River Rooms, Stourbridge
NICK HARPER Sat 21
Mar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge
DAN BYRNE + MUDDIBROOKE + KIT
TRIGG Sat 21 Mar, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
SKYE CONSORT & EMMA BJÖRLING Sat 21 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
SCOPYONS + TWIN LIZZY Sat 21 Mar, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent
THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Sat 21 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
ONE NIGHT IN NASHVILLE
FT MARIA JORDAN Sat 21
Mar, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
SLEEP BROKEN Sat 21
Mar, The Station, Cannock
DON’T STOPFLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE Sun 22 Mar, Kitchen Garden, B’ham
ANTHONY JOHN CLARKE Sun 22 Mar, Kitchen Garden, Birmingham
REMY BOND Sun 22 Mar, O2 Institute, B’ham
CRYSTAL TIDES + LUNA BAY + THE PUBLICS Sun 22 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
THE CRIBS + COURTING Sun 22 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
CRYSTAL LAKE + MISS MAY I + GREAT AMERICAN GHOST + DIESECT Sun 22 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
MAZ MITRENKO BAND Sun 22 Mar, The Brasshouse, B’ham
GORILLAZ + OMAR SOULEYMAN Sun 22 Mar, bp pulse LIVE, Birmingham TAYLORMANIA Sun 22 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
CAITLIN KRISKO AND THE BROADCAST Sun 22 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
MALIN LEWIS Sun 22 Mar, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
BOYZLIFE Sun 22 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
JOHN POWER Sun 22 Mar, The Robin, Bilston HONEY BOX Sun 22 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
EVE GOODMAN + SERA Sun 22 Mar, The Hive, Shrewsbury
FEROCIOUS DOG Sun 22 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
Ashley Campbell - St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury
Monday 16 - Sunday 22
Classical Music
RBC LUNCHTIME MUSIC Featuring Lucy Kerby (flute), Joanne Sealey (piano) & Phoebe Curcher (soprano). Programme includes works by KargElert, Mon 16 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
EX CATHEDRA: THE GARDEN OF LOVE
Featuring Jeffrey Skidmore (conductor) & Ex Cathedra Scholars Ensemble. Programme includes works by Daniel-Lesur, Le Jeune, Palestrina & Whitacre, Tues 17 Mar, CBSO Centre, Birmingham
LUNCHTIME CONCERT Featuring Dominic Downs (piano), Tues 17 Mar, St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury
KIDDERMINSTER MALE CHOIR Tues 17 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
PEI-YU CHU PIANO RECITAL Wed 18 Mar, Holy Trinity Church, Stratfordupon-Avon
MELA GUITAR QUARTET Featuring Matthew Robinson, George Tarlton, Michael Butten & Zahrah Hutton (guitars). Programme includes new works by RBC composers, Thurs 19 Mar, The Lab, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
PETER KING ORGAN RECITAL Thurs 19 Mar, Worcester Cathedral
RBC WIND ORCHESTRA Featuring Dougie Mitchell (conductor), Ella Michell (flute) & Matthew Osborne (trumpet). Programme includes works by Arrieu & Böhme, Fri 20 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
OLIVER HANCOCK ORGAN RECITAL Fri 20 Mar, St Mary’s Church, Warwick
DUDOK STRING QUARTET Featuring Judith Van Driel & Marleen Wester (violins), Marie-Louise de Jong (viola), David Faber & Pieter Wispelwey (cello). Programme includes works by Dowland, Mozart & Schubert, Fri 20 Mar, Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa
THE SHREWSBURY BAROQUE ORCHESTRA Featuring Conor Gricmanis. Programme comprises Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Fri 20 Mar, St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury
KELL WIND TRIO Fri 20 Mar, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury
BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL CHORAL
SOCIETY: VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, A SEA SYMPHONY Featuring David Wynne (conductor), Kevin Gill (piano & organ), Jamie Hall (baritone), CarrieAnne Williams (soprano) & Leamington Chamber Orchestra, Sat 21 Mar, All Saints Church, Leamington Spa
WORCESTER FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY: MENDELSSOHN’S ELIJAH Featuring Meridian Sinfonia, Sarah Fox (soprano), Jeanette Ager (mezzo soprano), Dominic Lee (tenor) & Edward Grint (bass baritone), Sat 21
Mar, Worcester Cathedral
WOLVERHAMPTON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA Featuring Peter Morris (conductor) & Ros Rayner (leader). Programme includes works by Arnold, Prokofiev & Elgar, Sat 21 Mar, Wolverhampton Grammar School
JS BACH: ST JOHN PASSION Featuring The Phoenix Singers of Shrewsbury, Noxwode Baroque, Conor Gricmanis (leader) & David Thomas (conductor), Sat 21 Mar, Shrewsbury Abbey
CANTORAS UPPER VOICES CHAMBER
CHOIR: STABAT MATER Programme includes works by Kim Andre Arnesen & Sarah Quartel, Sat 21 Mar, St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton
KARL JENKINS’ THE ARMED MAN: A MASS FOR PEACE Featuring Gig
Caritas Chorus & Orchestra, Keith Horsfall (conductor) & Alex Lindsay (baritone). Programme also includes Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Sat 21 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
GERMAN ROMANCE Featuring Juan Ortuno (conductor) & Sophia Rosa (soloist). Programme includes works by Weber, Mendelssohn & Bruckner, Sat 21 Mar, St John Fisher Catholic College, Newcastle-under-Lyme
STAFFORD SINFONIA Featuring Jack Lovell-Huckle (musical director) & Dr Richard Jenkinson (cello). Programme includes works by Fauré, Tchaikovsky & Beethoven, Sat 21 Mar, Rising Brook Community Church, Stafford
RICHARD STRAUSS SPECTACULAR
Featuring Keith Slade (conductor) & Kimichi Symphony Orchestra, Sun 22 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
UNIVERSITY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Featuring Daniele Rosina (conductor). Programme includes works by R Bennett, Ravel, R Latimer & Stravinsky, Sun 22 Mar, Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building, University of Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: CHERRY BLOSSOM 2026
Programme includes works by Reich, Lewis & Loevendie, Sun 22 Mar, Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA Featuring Dan Watson (conductor), Tim Bugg (leader) & Alexander Boukikov (horn). Programme includes works by Brahms, Dvořák, Mozart & Glazunov, Sun 22 Mar, Grieg Hall, Alcester
ANIMALTASTIC FAMILY CONCERT
Featuring Halesowen Orchestra, Lee Armstrong (conductor) & Claire Thompson (leader). Programme includes works by Rossini, SaintSaëns, Stravinsky & more..., Sun 22 Mar, The Salvation Army Church & Communtiy Hub, Cradley Heath
Comedy
RADU ISAC Tues 17 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
CHRIS KENT, ELEANOR TIERNAN, FREDDY QUINNE & COMIC TBC Wed 18 Mar, Herbert’s Yard, Birmingham
SHANE TODD Wed 18 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
LIEVEN SCHEIRE Wed 18 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
ROSS NOBLE Thurs 19 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
IAN STONE Thurs 19 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, JIN HAO LI & DANA
ALEXANDER Thurs 19 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
GREG WINFIELD Thurs 19 Mar, Cherry Reds, Birmingham
ALFIE MOORE Thurs 19 Mar, New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme
MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE Thurs 19 Mar, Bretforton Grange Theatre-barn, Worcester
GEOFF NORCOTT Thurs 19 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
WILL DUGGAN, ASHISH SURI, JIN HAO LI, DANA ALEXANDER & LUKE NIXON Fri 20 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
DARREN WALSH Fri 20 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
JONNY AWSUM, JACK CAMPBELL, ALEX
CAHILL & PAUL RICKETTS Fri 20 Mar, Bedworth Civic Hall
RAY BRADSHAW Fri 20 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
ANGELOS EPITHEMIOU, OLIVIA LEE, BEN TRELOAR & ANDY ROACH Sat 21 Mar, Rosies Nightclub, Birmingham
WILL DUGGAN, ASHISH SURI, JIN HAO LI & DANA ALEXANDER Sat 21 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
PAUL MCCAFFREY Sat 21 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
ED BYRNE Sat 21 Mar, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent
ANDY PARSONS Sat 21 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
DANIEL O’REILLY Sat 21 Mar, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
TOM ROSENTHAL Sat 21 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
SCOTT BENNETT Sat 21 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
TOM DAVIS Sat 21 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
JEN BRISTER Sun 22 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
AURIE STYLA Sun 22 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
Theatre
THE WITCHES Scarlet Theatre present
an amateur version of Roald Dahl’s much-loved story, Mon 16 - Wed 18 Mar, Stoke Repertory Theatre, Stokeon-Trent
FAWLTY TOWERS - THE PLAY Join Basil, the Major and Polly as they bring to life favourite moments from the hit 1970s sitcom. Danny Bayne, Paul Nicholas and Joanne Clifton star, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
OPERATION MINCEMEAT Olivier Awardwinning musical, described as ‘Singin’ In The Rain meets Strangers On A Train’, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
WE WILL ROCK YOU Rooftop Studios present an amateur version of the hit Ben Elton musical, featuring Queen’s greatest hits, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Mar, The Crown Wharf Theatre, Stone ME AND MY GIRL Knowle Musical Society present an amateur version of the rags-to-riches story of Bill Snibson, a cheeky cockney who suddenly discovers he’s the long-lost heir to an aristocratic fortune, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS New version of HG Wells’ apocalyptic tale, Wed 18 - Sat 21 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
THIRD CLASS One-man theatre show based on the life of Titanic survivor Edward Dorking, Thurs 19 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham EYES DOWN Interactive comedy thriller during which the audience play actual games of bingo - with real prizes! Thurs 19 Mar, Wednesbury Library
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Amateur version presented by Curtain Call Studios, Thurs 19 - Sat 21 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
BRIEF ENCOUNTER Amateur version of Emma Rice’s adaptation of Noel Coward’s classic drama, Thurs 19Sun 22 Mar, Dudley Little Theatre
PIXIEMATOSIS Sqwonky puppets, oddautomata and a slew of charity-shop rejects feature in this story of ‘greed and the existential madness of it all’, Fri 20 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
LITTLE WOMEN - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale of love, family and resistance, brought to life in a production set to music. Performed by RBC actors, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Mar, The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
1984 Box Tale Soup present a new version of George Orwell’s dystopian classic, Sat 21 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire
THE IMMORTAL SAGA OF THE WARRIORS OF SWARAJYA ‘An emotional experience where history speaks through words, and powerful thoughts are brought to life through
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voice’, Sat 21 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
WILDE ABOUT OSCAR Jonathan Goodwin plays Oscar Wilde in a ‘sparkling and sprightly’ one-man show, Sat 21 Mar, Earlsdon Carnegie Library, Coventry
THE UNFRIEND Amateur version of the Stephen Moffat farce exploring middle-class England’s perennial struggle to keep up appearances, Sat 21 - Sat 28 Mar, Criterion Theatre, Coventry
MADAMA BUTTERFLY Ukraine’s Dnipro Opera present Puccini’s tale of innocent love crushed between two cultures, Sun 22 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Kids Theatre
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW Puppetry, music and storytelling combine to bring four of Eric Carle’s magical stories to life, Tues 17 - Wed 18 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester OUT OF THE BOX A family-friendly circus comedy show featuring nonverbal clowning, Sat 21 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
Light Entertainment
LIEVEN SCHEIRE SCIENCE AND SIDE SPLITTING COMEDY ‘Mind-expanding insights’ and comedy combine in ‘a unique show that makes the mysteries of science entertaining and accessible’, Wed 18 Mar, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
MOTHER HEROIC: A CELEBRATION OF BJÖRK’S MUSIC A journey through Björk’s ever-changing and critically acclaimed discography, Thurs 19 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
WEST END CROONERS Step back in time to the golden age of swing in a show featuring hits from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr, Thurs 19 Mar, Halesowen Town Hall
BEN FOGLE: WILD Join the broadcaster & adventurer for an evening of stories about his encounters with the natural world, Thurs 19 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent LOOKING FOR ME FRIEND: THE MUSIC OF VICTORIA WOOD Paulus The Cabaret
Geek pays homage to the comedy icon. Accompanied by Michael Roulston (Fascinating Aida) on piano, Thurs 19 Mar, The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-upon-Trent
BIFF TO THE FUTURE Joseph Maudsley’s one-man parody in which Biff, the iconic villain from hit 80s movie Back To The Future, takes centre stage, Thurs 19 Mar, Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa
TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG - THE STORY OF 2TONE & BEYOND! Theatrical experience exploring the birth of ska in Jamaica and its British revival in the late 1970s and 80s, Thurs 19 Mar, Palace Theatre, Redditch & Fri 20 Mar, Walsall Arena
PROF. BRIAN COX: EMERGENCE Preview show ahead of a new world tour, Fri 20 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
DREAMCOAT STARS Musical theatre’s greatest hits, performed by stars of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Fri 20 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
BOTTOMS UP: BURLESQUE & CABARET
The ‘creme de la creme of the cabaret world’ take to the stage to surprise and delight with ‘sultry striptease, witty wisecracks and saucy songs’, Sat 21 Mar, The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham
THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK SHOW Sat 21 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
NORTHERN LIVE: DO I LOVE YOU
Featuring original sounds from the underground movement that started on dancefloors in the north and eventually swept the nation, Sat 21 Mar, Dudley Town Hall
TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE BY MYSTERY
ENSEMBLE Sat 21 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
THE 80S SHOW ‘Authentic, high-energy performance capturing the true essence of the era’, Sat 21 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
LIEVEN SCHEIRE SCIENCE AND SIDE
SPLITTING COMEDY ‘Mind-expanding insights’ and comedy combine in ‘a unique show that makes the mysteries of science entertaining and accessible’, Sat 21 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
TIM KEY: LOGANBERRY Brand-new show (with poems), Sun 22 Mar, The Rep, Birmingham
Monday 16 - Sunday 22 March
world, Sun 22 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Dance
BACH REIMAGINED A co-production between James Wilton Dance and Canadian cellist Raphael WeinrothBrowne that explores Bach’s means of composition as a form of divine worship, and the scientific advancements of his contemporary Sir Isaac Newton, Tues 17 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
THE RED SHOES Sir Matthew Bourne’s award-winning production, telling a powerful tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world, Tues 17 - Sat 21 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
ME DANCE COMPANY: FURNACE CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFORMANCE
Triple bill of new work created by Marcia Edwards, Emily Cox and former De Montfort University students, Wed 18 Mar, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
MOTIONHOUSE: HIDDEN Dance-circus production that explores how, in an increasingly divided world, light can come out of darkness in times of crisis, Fri 20 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
COPPELIA English Youth Ballet tell the story of inventor Dr Coppelius and his creation - a lifelike mechanical doll, Fri 20 - Sat 21 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent IV BY SERAFINE 1369 Four dancers engage in a detailed, meditative and expansive practice of ‘constant movement, energetic tuning and impossible stillness’, Sat 21 Mar, Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome
ASIAN SPRING Annual celebration of South Asian dance, showcasing talented performers from across the region, Sun 22 Mar, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Talks & Spoken
Word
MONTY DON: A JOURNEY THROUGH BRITISH GARDENS Britain’s best-loved gardener hosts a brand-new show celebrating his landmark book and BBC Two series, British Gardens, Sun 15 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-onTrent
AN EVENING WITH BIRMINGHAM CITY LEGENDS Join Clinton Morrison and Michael Johnson for first-hand accounts of all things Birmingham City, Wed 18 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
SIR GEOFF HURST: LAST MAN STANDING FAREWELL TOUR Join the West Ham &
England icon as he shares stories from his illustrious career, Fri 20 Mar, Stourbridge Town Hall
AN EVENING WITH DR JOHN COOPER CLARKE Fri 20 Mar, Kidderminster Town Hall
UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE: THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER A true-crime event.
Peter Bleksley reveals the harrowing reality behind solving murders and battling the criminal underworld, Sat 21 Mar, Stourbridge Town Hall
UNDERCOVER DETECTIVE: THE MAKINGS OF A MURDERER A true-crime event.
Peter Bleksley reveals the harrowing reality behind solving murders and battling the criminal underworld, Sun 22 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
Events
LICHFIELD LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Celebration of the written word, with a plethora of leading authors addressing a wide range of topics, Thurs 19 - Sun 22 Mar, venues across Lichfield
NATIONAL HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING SHOW Access expert advice, discover innovative products, and benefit from hands-on guidance, Thurs 19 - Sun 22 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM’S VICTORIAN MURDER
MILE Join crime & policing historian Adam Wood for a walking tour and hear gruesome tales of Birmingham’s Victorian past, Fri 20 Mar, West Midlands Police Museum, B’ham
PRACTICAL CLASSICS CLASSIC CAR & RESTORATION SHOW Featuring more than 1,300 classics, 160-plus car clubs and 250-plus exhibitors, Fri 20Sun 22 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
CRAFTSPACE’S 40TH BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION Craft a birthday gift to take away, Sat 21 - Sun 22 Mar, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham VINTAGE TRACTOR RUN Vintage tractors will be on show in and around the Bridgnorth area, Sun 22 Mar, Apley Farm Shop, Bridgnorth, South Shropshire
AGBO RALLY Eighty rally cars from all vintages and eras take on the stages around Weston, including the iconic watersplash, Sun 22 Mar, Weston Park, Shropshire
BEN FOGLE: WILD Join the broadcaster & adventurer for an evening of stories about his encounters with the natural
Monday 23 - Tuesday 31
Gigs
MADRA SALACH Mon 23 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL
STORY Mon 23 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
MARK HUMMEL AND BOB HALL Mon 23 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
MAN Tues 24 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
MAN AT SEA Tues 24 Mar, Kitchen Garden, B’ham
ODEAL Tues 24 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
HOLLY HUMBERSTONE Tues 24 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
HELL HOTEL + THE THROWAWAY SCENE Tues 24 Mar, Subside Bar, Birmingham
CHLOE JESSICA + ISSY & REEE + INSIDE PEOPLE + BETH BAYLISS Tues 24 Mar, The Rainbow, Birmingham
BEN HOLDER & JAMIE
BROWNFIELD PRESENT Tues 24 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
GONG Wed 25 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
JOAN SHELLEY Wed 25 Mar, Castle & Falcon, B’ham
KINGS HEATHENS + DEBORAH ROSE Wed 25
Mar, Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
TRANSGLOBAL UNDERGROUND Wed 25 Mar, Katie Fitzgerald’s, Stourbridge
A TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS Wed 25 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB Wed 25 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
JACK GOODALL + HANNAH
BROWN Thurs 26 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
THE SONGS OF JONI
MITCHELL Thurs 26 Mar, Kitchen Garden, B’ham
ASTON MERRYGOLD Thurs 26 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
LEON THOMAS Thurs 26 Mar, O2 Academy, B’ham
KOFI STONE Thurs 26 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
KENNY THOMAS Thurs 26 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
URBAN FOLK QUARTET
Thurs 26 Mar, Catshill Club, Bromsgrove
ROMARNA CAMPBELL TRIO
Thurs 26 Mar, Marrs Bar, Worcester
EMPLOYED TO SERVE + CAGE FIGHT Thurs 26 Mar, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
LEGEND: THE MUSIC OF BOB
MARLEY Thurs 26 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
DALE STORR Thurs 26 Mar, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, South Shropshire
DOM MARTIN Thurs 26 - Fri 27 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
POPSCENE - BLUR! TRIBUTE Fri 27 Mar, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham
CON JOVI Fri 27 Mar, Actress & Bishop, B’ham
MOBB DEEP Fri 27 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
OCTOBER LONDON Fri 27 Mar, O2 Academy, B’ham
RISKEE AND THE RIDICULE + DEAD WET THINGS Fri 27 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
THE 9075 Fri 27 Mar, The Asylum, Birmingham
CHOP SUEY + SLIP-NOT Fri 27 Mar, Queens Hall, Nuneaton
WESTLIFE EXPERIENCE Fri 27 Mar, Dudley Town Hall
THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES Fri 27 Mar, The Halls Wolverhampton
THE CHRIS STAPLETON
EXPERIENCE Fri 27 Mar, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent
HOLLIE MCNISH Fri 27 Mar, The Hub at St Mary’s, Lichfield
TASHA LEAPER AS MADONNA Fri 27 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
THE WATCH PLAYS GENESIS Fri 27 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
BAND ON THE EDGE & THE ORCHESTRA OF FOLK Fri 27 Mar, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire
ULTIMATE COLDPLAY Fri 27Sat 28 Mar, The Station, Cannock
THE MURDERBURGERS + DEAD BARS + OH THE HUMANITY + BACK TEETH Sat 28 Mar, The Dark Horse, Moseley, B’ham CALLUM BEATTIE + TOM
SPEIGHT Sat 28 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
FEROCIOUS DOG Sat 28 Mar, O2 Academy, B’ham
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN Sat 28 Mar, O2 Academy, Birmingham
ENJOY THE SILENCE UK Sat 28 Mar, Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
AYNUR DOĞAN Sat 28 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
AIRTIGHT 80S Sat 28 Mar, The Assembly, Leamington Spa
KEVIN DEMPSEY + TU-KAY AND RYAN Sat 28 Mar, Temperance, Leamington Spa
SISTER COOKIE Sat 28 Mar, The Embankment, Stratford-Upon-Avon
THE LEAF LIBRARY + SILVER
BIPLANES Sat 28 Mar, Just Dropped In, Coventry
CYDONIA KNIGHTS Sat 28 Mar, Queens Hall, Nuneaton
CHOP SUEY + SLIP-NOT + THE VIOLENT INZIDENT Sat 28 Mar, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
MILES HUNT Sat 28 Mar, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT Sat 28 Mar, The Halls Wolverhampton
THE BLOW MONKEYS Sat 28 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
AWEN ENSEMBLE + PEIRIANT Sat 28 Mar, St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury
THE HOUSE OF LOVE Sat 28 - Sun 29 Mar, The Tin At The Coal Vaults, Coventry
INFECTED RAIN + BUTCHER BABIES + BLACK SPIKES Sun 29 Mar, O2 Institute, Birmingham
UK PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE Sun 29 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
LUKE COMBS UK Sun 29 Mar, The Buttermarket, Shrewsbury
GUTTERSNIPE Sun 29 Mar, Albert’s Shed, Shrewsbury
5 SECONDS OF SUMMER Tues 31 Mar, Utilita Arena Birmingham
THE VAN MORRISON ALUMNI
BAND Tues 31 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
MISHRA Tues 31 Mar, The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shrops
Classical Music
THOMAS TROTTER: FAURÉ REQUIEM
Featuring Adrian Partington (conductor) & the Gloucester Cathedral Choir. Programme also includes Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Mon 23 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
PAINTED TIDES Featuring various chamber ensembles performing works with themes of the sea and waterscapes, Mon 23 Mar, Recital Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
ARMONICO CONSORT: JS BACH, ST MATTHEW’S PASSION Featuring Christopher Monks (director), Nathan Vale (Evangelist) & Alex Jones (Christus), Tues 24 Mar, Malvern Theatres
ZOE TAN PIANO CONCERT Wed 25 Mar, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon
SHREWSBURY SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA Featuring Galin Ganchev (soloist). Programme includes works by Bacewicz, Dvořák & Shostakovich, Wed 25 Mar, Shrewsbury School
ARMONICO CONSORT: JS BACH, ST MATTHEW’S PASSION Featuring Christopher Monks (director), Nathan Vale (Evangelist) & Alex Jones (Christus), Thurs 26 Mar, St Mary’s Church, Warwick
EIRA LYNN JONES HARP RECITAL Fri 27 Mar, St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury
BBC PHILHARMONIC Featuring Lucie LeGuay (conductor) & Senja Rummukainen (soloist). Programme includes works by Debussy, Dvořák & Mozart, Fri 27 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-onTrent
BIRMINGHAM CHORAL UNION: A SPRING CONCERT Featuring Colin Baines (conductor), Darren Hogg (organ), Ed Harrison (tenor), Hannah Devereux (soprano) & Sonare Wind Ensemble. Programme includes works by Dvořák & Chilcott, Sat 28 Mar, St George’s Church, Edgbaston, Birmingham
PHOENIX SINGERS: SPRING SERENADE Sat 28 Mar, St John's and St Peter's Church Ladywood ARC, Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM GAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: STONE TO SKY
Featuring Neavan Lobban (conductor) & Andrew Woolcock (soloist). Programme includes works by Beethoven, Ney Rosauro & Sibelius, Sat 28 Mar, St Paul’s Church, Birmingham TELFORD ORCHESTRA Programme includes works by Borodin,
Dvořák & Tchaikovsky, Sat 28 Mar, St Michael’s Church, Telford, Shropshire
KARL JENKINS’ THE ARMED MAN: A MASS FOR PEACE Featuring Barnt Green Choral, Sat 28 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
TAN DUN & THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Featuring Elizabeth Watts (soprano), Hongni Wu (mezzosoprano), John Findon (tenor), Dingle Yandell (bass), London Philharmonic Choir & London Chinese Philharmonic Choir, Sun 29 Mar, Symphony Hall, B’ham
LUMAS WIND QUINTET Programme includes works by Zemlinsky, JS Bach, Bernstein & more..., Sun 29 Mar, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Comedy
ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING Wed 25 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
ESHAAN AKBAR, RACHEL FAIRBURN, IGNACIO LOPEZ & DANNY
MCLOUGHLIN Wed 25 Mar, St Mary’s Church, Shrewsbury
GEOFF NORCOTT Wed 25 Mar, The Core Theatre, Solihull
RUSSELL KANE & COMICS TBC Wed 25 Mar, Palace Theatre, Redditch
COMEDY CAROUSEL WITH ANDY ROBINSON, DAVE LONGLEY & EVA
BINDEMAN Thurs 26 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
ANDY PARSONS Thurs 26 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
ALFIE MOORE Thurs 26 Mar, Artrix, Bromsgrove
GEOFF NORCOTT Thurs 26 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
ALISON SPITTLE Fri 27 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham MRS SMITH Fri 27 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
ASHWYN SINGH Sat 28 Mar, The Glee Club, Birmingham
MILTON JONES & COMICS TBC Sat 28 Mar, Malvern Theatres
JEFF DUNHAM Sun 29 Mar, Utilita Arena Birmingham
HENNING WEHN Sun 29 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Theatre
BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Award-winning West End show charting Buddy’s rise to international stardom and his legendary final performance at the age of just 22, Mon 23 - Tues 24 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
A GRAIN OF SAND One-woman show taking an intimate look at
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war through the eyes of a child, blending Palestinian folklore with real-life testimonies from children in contemporary Gaza, Mon 23 - Wed 25 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Thirtieth anniversary production of the iconic musical that follows three friends on a heartwarming road trip across the Australian outback, Mon 23 - Sat 28 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
REVISION ON TOUR DR JEKYLL & MR HYDE Dickens Theatre Company’s staging of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Gothic thriller, Tues 24 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SIGN OF FOUR Radio play performed live on stage and starring Colin Baker (Doctor Who/The Brothers) and Terry Molloy (The Archers/Doctor Who), Tues 24 Mar, The Swan Theatre, Worcester
AS YOU LIKE IT Amateur version presented by Shropshire Youth Theatre (SYT), Tues 24 - Thurs 26 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
NOUGHTS & CROSSES Malorie Blackman’s drama about ‘love, revolution, and what it means to grow up in a divided world’, Tues 24 - Sat 28 Mar, The Rep, Birmingham
FAME THE MUSICAL Presented by Lichfield Musical Youth Theatre, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
SIX THE MUSICAL The six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power, Wed 25 - Sat 28 Mar, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
PEPPER AND HONEY Timely play focusing on ‘the journey of change, cultural differences, and the conflict between upholding traditions and embracing the new’, Thurs 26 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
THE SIGNALMAN Middle Ground Theatre Company present Charles Dickens’ ghostly short story, Thurs 26 - Sat 28 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
ELLEN KENT: THE FAREWELL TOUR - LA TRAVIATA Verdi’s tragic tale, telling the story of the life and loves of consumptive courtesan Violetta, Fri 27 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
OLIVE BRANCH Vanhulle Dance Theatre fuse physical theatre and martial arts to tell a feelgood tale of friendship, Fri 27 Mar, Glasshouse Arts Centre, Stourbridge
JEKYLL AND HYDE One-man version of a Victorian classic, Fri 27 Mar, Anglican Chapel, Coventry
ELLEN KENT: THE FAREWELL TOURCARMEN Bizet’s tale of passion, sexual jealousy and death, Sat 28 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham
ROMEO & JULIET (RUBBISH SHAKESPEARE COMPANY) Sixty minutes of ‘ludicrous action featuring clowning, slapstick, and mischievous storytelling’, Sat 28 Mar, Rother Street Arts, Stratford-upon-Avon
SISTERS 360 Inspirational story about family, friendship, and the importance of following your dreams, Sat 28 Mar, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), B’ham
RAPUNZEL Immersion Theatre present a retelling of the famous fairytale, complete with music, humour and audience interaction, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
RIDE OR DIE Florence Espeut-Nickless’ fast-paced new play about family, loyalty and risk-taking, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Mar, The Ballroom, Fenton Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent
JUDE SIMPSON: A NOISE ANNOYS ‘A poetry show for the senses’, featuring rhymes, noises, songs, surprises and audience interaction, Sun 29 Mar, The Wakes, Oakengates, Shropshire
CATS: YOUNG ACTORS EDITION
Presented by Get Your Wigle On juniors, Mon 30 - Tues 31 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
MEAN GIRLS Faye Tozer stars alongside Emily Lane and Vivian Panka in a new version of the smashhit musical comedy, Mon 30 Mar - Sat 4 Apr, Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
LEGALLY BLONDE Strictly runner-up
Amber Davies stars as Elle Woods in a new version of the rom-com musical, Tues 31 Mar - Sat 4 Apr, The Alexandra, Birmingham
SIX THE MUSICAL The six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing 500 years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power, Tues 31 Mar - Sat 11 Apr, Birmingham Hippodrome
Kids Theatre
TALES FROM ACORN WOOD Theatre for younger audiences based on muchloved stories by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, Tues 26 - Sun 29 Mar, Birmingham Hippodrome
RUDE SCIENCE Stefan Gates’ explosive show, featuring enormous bottoms, fart machines, snot cocktails, vast whoopee cushions and pee-powered fireworks, Mon 30 Mar, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
THE WIGGLES: TREE OF WISDOM
SPECTACULAR! ‘High-energy family extravaganza featuring timeless hits and singalong moments’, Mon 30 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
BRAINIAC LIVE Award-winning family science show packed with explosive experiments that promise to ‘blow your mind’, Tues 31 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Monday 23 - Tuesday 31 March
Dance
THE STRICTLY EXPERIENCE Fundraising event in which 20 contestants and their professional dance partners each showcase two dazzling routines, Sat 28 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
ASCENSION DANCE: EARLY WEAVES
Non-verbal performance telling a heartwarming tale of friendship, curiosity and play. A ‘perfect introduction to dance theatre for younger audiences’, Sun 29 Mar, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Light Entertainment
DEAD RINGERS; THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY
TOUR Topical satire show featuring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod & Duncan Wisbey, Mon 23 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
THAT’LL BE THE DAY: 40TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW A ‘unique blend’ of rock & roll, pop and comedy, featuring timeless hits from the 1950s through to the 80s, Tues 24 Mar, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS - THE STORY OF THE DUBLINERS Ultimate feelgood Irish show, Wed 25 Mar, The Alexandra, Birmingham GAME OF CRONES A ‘riotous celebration’ of women in their prime. A show described as ‘funny, feral, and gloriously unapologetic’, Thurs 26 Mar, Rother Street Arts, Stratfordupon-Avon
ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN Brand-new production promising laughter, music and mischief. Danny Muldoon stars, Fri 27 Mar, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
FEMINEM Tracey Collins (Elvis Lesley, Shell Suit Cher) stars in a one-woman musical comedy ‘extravaganza’. Expect Eminem bangers, pop mashups, crisp-fuelled audience games, dance-offs, singalongs and the legendary Rap God Hokey Cokey, Fri 27 Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry
A JAMES BOND CONCERT SPECTACULAR
Caroline Bliss (Miss Moneypenny) comperes, sharing stories about her experiences making the Timothy Dalton James Bond films, Fri 27 Mar, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
BEV BEVAN & DES TONG: THE HISTORY OF BIRMINGHAM ROCK MUSIC Featuring stories and personal memories of ‘nightclubs, pubs and places’... Fri 27 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG - THE STORY OF 2TONE & BEYOND! Theatrical experience exploring the birth of ska in Jamaica and its British revival in the late 1970s and 80s, Fri 27 - Sat 28
Mar, The Albany Theatre, Coventry FOIL ARMS & HOG: SKITTISH An evening of comedy, audience participation and improvisation from the much-loved sketch group, Sat 28 Mar, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
QUEENZ: DRAG ME TO THE DISCO A live vocal drag ‘extravaganza’ celebrating pop royalty through the decades, Sat 28 Mar, Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent THE GLAM ROCK SHOW Celebrating the golden age of glitter, guitars and anthems, Sun 29 Mar, Lichfield Garrick
Talks & Spoken Word
AN EVENING WITH JASON FOX Join Jason to hear never-before-told stories from some of the most hostile outposts on Earth, Wed 25 Mar, Birmingham Town Hall
Events
EASTER EGGSPERIENCE Featuring an Easter egg hunt, the chance to meet Easter Rabbit, and an opportunity to learn more about the lifesaving Midlands Air Ambulance service, Sat 28 Mar, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity Airbase, Shifnal
SAUSAGE AND CIDER FESTIVAL RACEDAY Sample a wide range of gourmet sausages and seasonal ciders, available across the racecourse, Sat 28 Mar, Uttoxeter Racecourse, Staffordshire
MEGACON LIVE The ultimate popular culture show, Sat 28 - Sun 29 Mar, NEC, Birmingham
BLUEY CHARACTER VISIT Take a heritage train ride out into the countryside to see Bluey, Sat 28Sun 29 Mar, Severn Valley Railway, nr Kidderminster
EASTER SPRING TRAIL Hunt for hidden treasures, learn fascinating facts and complete fun challenges, Sat 28 Mar - Sat 11 Apr, Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
EASTER ADVENTURES Enjoy Easterthemed activities, Sat 28 Mar - Sun 12 Apr, Sudeley Castle, Cheltenham
EASTER QUEST Follow the Easter trail, hunt for eggs and answer questions along the way, Sat 28 Mar - Sun 19 Apr, Witley Court & Gardens, Worcestershire
EASTER QUEST Follow the Easter trail, hunt for eggs and answer questions along the way, Sat 28 Mar - Sun 19 Apr, Kenilworth Castle
NOISE MAKER MARKET The newest effects and guitar show for independent builders from across the UK, Sun 29 Mar, Centrala, Digbeth, Birmingham
