What's on in the Midlands

Published: 3 November 2019
Reporter: Steve Orme

An Inspector Calls at Malvern Theatres Credit: Mark Douet
Jason Manford and the company in Curtains at The Alexandra, Birmingham Credit: The Other Richard
Nicky Spence (Manolios) and the chorus in The Greek Passion, presented by Opera North at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham Credit: Tristram Kenton

An opera by Gerald Barry with text by Vincent Deane, The Intelligence Park is presented by Music Theatre Wales and The Royal Opera in association with London Sinfonietta at Birmingham REP on Monday, My Beautiful Laundrette, Hanif Kureishi’s play based on his screenplay, takes over in the main house from Tuesday until Saturday and a “whirlwind showcase of short work-in-progress performances from the next generation of queer Midlands theatre-makers”, Queer and Now, can be seen in The Door at the REP on Saturday.

The 30th anniversary tour of Fame the Musical featuring Keith Jack and Jorgie Porter checks into Buxton Opera House from Monday until Saturday.

Tall Stories’ adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Gruffalo: Live on Stage goes on an adventure in the Royal, Northampton on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Welsh National Opera is at Birmingham Hippodrome with a new production of Bizet’s Carmen, set in 1970s South America, on Tuesday, a revival of Verdi’s Rigoletto on Wednesday and a “charming, funny and profound” version of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen on Thursday.

Stephen Daldry’s production of J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls pays a visit to Malvern Theatres from Tuesday until Saturday.

Angela Browne and Tabs Productions’ presentation of N J Crisp’s Dangerous Obsession which “sizzles with tension” tours to the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield from Tuesday until Saturday.

Jason Manford and Carley Stenson appear in the musical whodunnit Curtains, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, at The Alexandra, Birmingham from Tuesday until Saturday.

A “laugh-out-loud comedy about trying to find a moment of calm in these challenging times,” John Godber’s Gym and Tonic aims to pamper the audience at the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme from Tuesday until Saturday.

Jodie Prenger plays the mother, Helen, in Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey at Wolverhampton Grand from Tuesday until Saturday.

Opera North is at the Theatre Royal Nottingham with Puccini’s La bohème on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Giulio Cesare by Handel on Wednesday and Martinů’s The Greek Passion on Saturday.

Utopia, written and performed by Amahra Spence, the first piece of new theatre to be commissioned as part of Theatre Absolute’s three-year project Humanistan, premières at the Shop Front Theatre, Coventry on Wednesday and Thursday.

Coventry’s Youth Operetta Group tackles Lionel Bart’s Blitz!, “following the poignant stories of two families across an epic canvas that personifies the spirit of London during the war”, at the Albany theatre, Coventry from Wednesday until Saturday.

Room at the Top of the House, presented by Stand By Theatre Company, delivers “an honest and uplifting show about fear and the impact our decisions have on those we care about” at the Old Library, Mansfield on Thursday.

“The world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll musical” Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story, another show celebrating its 30th anniversary, tours to Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre from Thursday until Saturday while on the B2 stage some of the region’s “most exciting emerging talent” will perform in front of a panel of industry professionals in MonologueSlam on Saturday.

Deafinitely Theatre presents 4.48 Psychosis, Sarah Kane’s final play before she took her own life, in the Studio at Derby Theatre from Friday until Sunday.

Spoken word artist Maria Ferguson performs her monologue Essex Girl, a “hard-hitting story of a 16-year-old growing up in 2000s Brentwood”, in The Lab at The Core at Corby Cube, Northamptonshire on Saturday.

Scrooge goes on a journey of enlightenment in Quantum Theatre’s new production of the Dickens story A Christmas Carol, adapted by Michael Whitmore, at Mansfield Palace Theatre on Sunday.

Stephen Sondheim’s “satirical and stylish look at why individuals reach for a gun when they feel their voice can’t be heard”, Assassins, continues at Nottingham Playhouse until Saturday 16 November.

Shakespeare's rarely-performed history play King John featuring Rosie Sheehy in the title role continues in the Swan Theatre, Stratford until Saturday 21 March 2020 while Hannah Khalil’s A Museum in Baghdad continues in the Swan Theatre until Saturday 25 January.

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