What’s On For Families In Warwickshire

Yesterday I published my Birmingham round up of music and music-based events that are suitable to attend with the family – though obviously, different shows are suitable for your very young children, than those suitable for, say, you and your 14 year old to attend together! For the past year I have been doing these What’s On posts for Birmingham and Warwickshire together, but as time has gone on I have been including more and more venues, and the post has become absolutely enormous – and December’s will probably be even bigger! So, I have decided to split my What’s On posts up, one for Birmingham and a separate one for Warwickshire. Read on for events in Warwickshire and if you are looking for events in Birmingham, then you might want to click on the post below:

November What’s On For Kids In Birmingham

Now, I include below a list of the venues and shows that I cover in this post, so feel free to click on the shows/venues you are interested in on this list and it will take you straight there, or have a browse of the whole list of events. For each venue I give you a link to their own What’s On/booking information page and the listings follow on from this.

Warwick Arts Centre

Warwick Arts Centre is a multi-purpose arts centre based at the University of Warwick, that is actually based in Coventry rather than Warwick. It hosts music, drama, comedy, dance performances and more along with a number of different workshops and arts classes for the local community.

What’s On page and booking information: Warwick Arts Centre

Mini Creatives on 7, 14, 21 & 28 November at 10.30am

This season you can drop in each Tuesday morning from 10.30am – 12.30pm for weekly artist-led sessions designed for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups to explore the creative arts through interaction and play.

This season, armed with her banjo, clarinet, flute and an array of noise makers, Beth Hopkins, will weave responsive musical play with song, movement and sensory surprises at Warwick Arts Centre every Tuesday morning. Beth loves sharing songs and exploring international and intercultural music!

Beth is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who has a natural affinity with little people. She is musical director of participatory children’s theatre company Cloud Cuckoo Land. As well as composing music for and performing in shows, she is involved with sensory workshops, training and community events.

Free event.

Lunchtime Concert: Michael Higgins on 9 November at 1pm

Make the most of lunchtime with a fabulous performance by the pianist Michael Higgins for only £5 (free for under 26s).

Pianist and composer Michael Higgins has performed at major venues throughout the UK, as well as across Europe and further afield in Australia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands. His choral works have been performed and broadcast internationally and are published by Oxford University Press.

Michael studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the Royal Academy of Music, London, and at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest supported by the Joseph Weingarten Memorial Trust. He has recently been honoured as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

Afterwards there will be an opportunity to meet and talk to the artists over a free hot drink. All ages welcome to attend. If you require a space for a wheelchair, please call the Music Centre on the day of the concert before 12pm on 024 7652 3799.

Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden on 9 November at 7.30pm

Before there was carolling, there was wassailing, where seasonal songs were exchanged for money, food and ale.

In the countryside trees were blessed, while in the towns wassaillers went house to house with their songs and calls for Christmas treats.

Coming from the Anglo Saxon waes hael, ‘wassail’ is a toast wishing good health with a ‘be well’.

Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden are combining their considerable talents, touring as a duo for the first time, for a nationwide wassail.

Presenting traditional seasonal material, they will take audiences back to some of the oldest songs in the English canon.

They’ll be telling Christmas tales, spreading good cheer and lighting up the darkest days of the year.

Please note, this show is recommended for ages 12+.

Open Mic: Word & Music on 9 November at 8pm

Our Open Mic sessions are open to everyone.

If you’re a singer, instrumentalist, poet, MC or any other kind of musical performer then this is an opportunity for you. No need to pre-book, just sign up on the night, but do it early to avoid disappointment!

Free Event

Jazz Fridays on 10, 17 & 24 November at 5.30pm

We are delighted to bring back our weekly foyer programme of live jazz, hosted by The Aaron Moloney Trio plus special guest musicians.

As always, this event also features an open jam session for local musicians in the second half. Come and Play!

Free event.

Callas – Paris, 1958 on 11 – 12 November

A night to remember. Maria Callas, the quintessential diva and the face of the opera in the 20th century, made her Paris debut with this legendary performance at the sumptuous Paris Opéra on December 19th, 1958, for one night only.

This historic moment, considered the ‘event of the century’, was broadcast live across Europe. This was the first live broadcast of a concert to TV screens in history.

It was a major social event, attended by “Le Tout Paris” (including French President Coty, Jean Cocteau, the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Charlie Chaplin, Brigitte Bardot, and many more). Callas appeared on the famous stage wearing her most elegant couture and a million dollars’ worth of jewelry. She opened with her signature role, Norma’s “Casta diva”, followed by the haunting “Miserere” scene from Verdi’s Il Trovatore, before she lightened the mood with the mischievous “Una voce poco fa” from Il Barbiere di Siviglia. The climax of the evening came in the second half: a fully staged performance of Tosca, Act II.

Tosca is a story of police brutality, sexual harassment, and sheer violence, psychological and physical, conveyed through some of opera’s most iconic moments – including the great aria “Vissi d’arte”. Callas’ now-legendary interpretation of “Vissi d’arte” was already beloved during her lifetime, as seen in the audience’s enthusiastic reaction captured in the film, which caused the production to halt temporarily. Callas – joined by her brilliant sparring partner, Tito Gobbi, as Scarpia – savours this material in a monumental virtuoso performance.

The repertoire in this performance shows Callas at her best, both in recital and as an operatic actress. Visual elements were as important as the vocal dimensions in her art.

Available for the first time entirely in colour and in 4K Ultra HD – meticulously restored from the recently discovered original 16mm reels and a newly discovered sound source – this is an opportunity to experience this historical performance as never before.

Please note, this film is rated PG for mild violence, sex and suicide references.

Musical Picnics on 12 November at 11am

A wonderful monthly series of original, participatory family performances continue.

Come and enjoy making music with an eclectic mix of incredible musicians, musical styles, cultures, instruments and personalities.

Free event.

Family Sundays on 12, 19 & 26 November at 1.30pm

Free creative activities for families.

Every Sunday, drop-in for creative workshops led by our featured artists-in-residence. Working across visual arts, dance, drama, spoken word and music, we invite you to come and spend time together as a family making, exploring and having fun!

Look out for Musical Picnics and Family Singing on select Sunday mornings too, so you can make a day of it at Warwick Arts Centre!

Schedule:

Every Sunday between 8 October and 10 December 2023.

On Sunday 19th November, look out for a special additional creative workshop in the Creative Learning Space led by the University’s Math’s department!

Free event.

Unite – CMD on 19 November at 7.30pm

Dance has brought humans together from the beginning of our existence on Earth.

Warwick University’s Classical and Modern Dance society present Unite, a celebration of the beauty and importance of dance, all things creative. Watch Warwick dancers in their element performing a variety of different dance styles including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, commercial, and more.

We are very excited to be joined by performers from five other outstanding Warwick dance societies: Tap; EQHO; Koncept; Latin and Ballroom; Warwick Irish Dance and Warwick Chinese Dance Team.

Join us for an evening of passion and creativity and be inspired by the power that movement can have!

Kayhan Kalhor & Erdal Erzincan on 20 November at 7.30pm

Grammy Award winner, Womex Artist Award winner and five time Grammy Award nominee Kayhan Kalhor is regarded as the world’s greatest master of the kamancheh (Persian violin).

One of the most exciting of his innumerable projects and unique collaborations that have attracted audiences around the globe is his duo with the renowned Turkish baglama player Erdal Erzincan.

Their CD “The Wind” was released in 2006 by ECM and their collaboration has remained vibrant ever since. The classical music traditions of Persia and of Ottoman Turkey that inspire the music of Kalhor and Erzincan share a great deal in common, including the ancient modal compositional system known as maqam, and the idea of improvisation plays a definitive role in their intensely spiritual and emotional performances.

Their music is thoroughly modern and seeks to bring the listener into its trance-like realm by interweaving ecstatic rhythms with sensual melodic phrases. The result is a set of instrumental compositions that flow into each other like one continuous work, with gently drifting passages in which the two instruments echo and improvise on different phrases.

Please note, this show is recommended for ages 8+.

Ward Thomas on 21 November at 7.30pm

Hailed as the UK’s most successful country act, twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas will tour across the country with a special show with stripped back versions of songs from across their career.

Recording their debut album, 2014’s ‘From Where We Stand’, whilst still in school, the duo have since cemented themselves as pioneers in the UK Country and Americana scene.

Not least for the follow-up album ‘Cartwheels’ released in 2016 going to No.1 in the UK Album Charts, the first by a UK country act to top the charts.

In 2019, the band were presented the Country Music Association’s Jeff Walker Global Achievement Award in recognition of their success and impact on country music in the UK.

‘Music In The Madness’ was hailed by critics for its live sound mixed with country-pop style, whilst of their Barbican show earlier this year, The Upcoming said: ‘It’s safe to say Ward Thomas delivered a magical performance that left us on a high – an evening to remember.’

These unique shows will take Ward Thomas back to their early days of performing and writing together, seeing the duo perform and share the stories behind the songs that have seen them make such an impact on country music.

Met Opera X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X on 25 November at 1pm

Anthony Davis’s groundbreaking opera, which premiered in 1986, arrives at the Met at long last.

Robert O’Hara, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 2020 for his direction of Slave Play, oversees a new staging that imagines Malcolm as an everyman whose story transcends time and space. A cast of breakout artists take part in the operatic retelling of Malcom X’s life.

Baritone Will Liverman, who triumphed in the Met premiere of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, sings Malcolm. Soprano Leah Hawkins plays his mother, Louise; mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis is his sister Ella; bass-baritone Michael Sumuel is his brother Reginald; and tenor Victor Ryan Robertson is the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. Kazem Abdullah conducts the newly revised score, which provides a layered, jazz-inflected setting for the esteemed writer Thulani Davis’s libretto.

Please note, this film is rated 12A.

Steeleye Span In Concert on 25 November at 7.30pm

Steeleye Span, The 50th Anniversary Tour Continues.

Folk Rock Pioneers, Steeleye Span changed the face of folk music forever, taking it out of small clubs and into the world of gold discs and international tours.

Five decades on and this six-piece line up celebrate over fifty years of this wonderful music playing all the favourite songs and tunes from their long and glittering career.

Family Singing on 26 November at 11.30am

Join us for our popular Sunday morning hour of singing in the foyer of the Warwick Arts Centre.

Perfect for first timers and regulars, you will learn songs to get you singing, moving, and dancing, with a healthy dose of creativity thrown in. Open to all ages, you just need to bring yourself and your willingness to have lots of fun! An opportunity for all the family to sing together.

Free event.

What’s Love Got To Do With It? on 26 November at 8pm

International sensation What’s Love Got To Do With It? is back with a brand new cast!

The exciting live show celebrating the music of Tina Turner is getting back on the road with a huge tour across the UK.

The massive debut tour of What’s Love Got To Do With It? launched in February 2019 and quickly proved to be the ultimate tribute show with audiences packing out theatres and arenas across the UK and Europe.

Brought to you by the award-winning producers behind the hugely successful Whitney – Queen Of The Night, What’s Love Got To Do With It?pays homage to one of the most iconic and much-loved musical artists of the 20th Century.

In this exciting touring theatre show, audiences can expect a night of high energy with feel-good rock-and-roll featuring Tina’s greatest hits performed by the amazing vocal talent of Holly Bannis (Whitney – Queen Of The Night, ITV’s Starstruck) supported by a full 10-piece live band.

In a breath-taking career spanning more than 50 years, audiences can look forward to hearing stunning musical arrangements of Tina’s most-loved classic hits including Private Dancer, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Proud Mary, River Deep, Nutbush City Limits, Simply The Best and many more.

This not-to-be missed musical experience is a stunning celebration of one of the greatest female singers of our time.

What’s Love Got To Do With It? is presented by live music promoters Cuffe and Taylor in association with Paul Roberts Productions.

Symphony Orchestra of India on 29 November at 7.30pm

Based in Mumbai, the Symphony Orchestra of India is India’s first and only professional orchestra.

A stirring programme begins with Williams’ Imperial March, a grand and iconic work that debuted in The Empire Strikes Back, and has since featured across the entire Star Wars franchise.

It is contrasted by Brahms’ colossal second piano concerto, which moves from a rich and melodic first movement, into a turbulent ‘small scherzo’, followed by a slow and dreamy third, before reaching a thrilling and energetic conclusion.

Ending the night is Wagner’s Parsifal Suite, a piece which harks back to conductor Richard Farnes’ time as Music Director of Opera North, where he developed a close affinity with Wagner.

Founded in 2006 by National Centre for the Performing Arts Chairman Khushroo N. Suntook and internationally-renowned violin virtuoso (and SOI Music Director) Marat Bisengaliev, Symphony Orchestra of India places great emphasis on education – with many SOI musicians also teaching, keen to develop the musical potential of young people.

Pre-Concert Talk

Before the concert there will be a pre-concert talk for £5 (£2.50 for Orchestral Package bookers). If you’d like to attend, you can book this directly via Box Office. More details about the talk to follow!

Harsh Narayan and the Sarangi on 30 November at 7.30pm

Join us for an evening of Indian music featuring Harsh Narayan, one of India’s foremost and upcoming sarangi players.

The sarangi is one of India’s oldest and most remarkable instruments. It is easily adaptable to different styles of music from folk to classical, offering a spectrum of tonal colour and emotional nuance.

Harsh will give an introductory talk about the sarangi, followed by a performance accompanied by Kedar Nath Havaldar on the tabla. This concert will appeal to fans of Indian music, as well as anyone who is curious to know more.

This event is presented in collaboration with the Gurmat Sangeet Academy.

Royal Spa Centre & Town Hall

A multi-purpose arts venue in Leamington Spa. Please note, any shows or events taking place at the Pump Rooms will also feature in this section.

What’s On page and booking information: Royal Spa Centre

There’s a Monster in Your Show on 7 November at 1.30pm and 4.30pm

Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series makes its debut as a brand-new musical show.

A group of performers are preparing to start their show, but quickly discover they are not alone on stage. Little Monster wants to be part of the fun too! With an invitation to his friends, Dragon, Alien and Unicorn to join him, you can expect comedy and chaos as they help to create a magical show, learning about the joy of books and friendship along the way.

A high-energy 50-minute adventure featuring lively original music, this show is the perfect introduction to live theatre.

Chelys Consort of Viols on at St Mary’s, Warwick on 7 November at 7.30pm

The Honour of William Byrd

If musical output gives us an indication of the person within, then who is this man who is both devoutly Catholic yet clearly a favourite of the Protestant Queen who made his faith illegal? A character capable of both weighty contemplation and sharp wit, and the loyal friend who wrote so personally and touchingly of the loss of his teacher and friend Thomas Tallis. This programme explores the proud Englishman, devoted friend, loyal subject, and faithful servant who was William Byrd.

The Chelys Consort are: Ibi Aziz, Jenny Bullock, Kate Conway, Alison Kinder, and Sam Stadlen

http://www.chelysconsort.co.uk

Ballet Theatre UK: The Wizard of Oz on 9 November at 7.30pm

Join Ballet Theatre UK as we follow the yellow brick road and discover all the wonders of Oz.

Enjoy Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion, (and yes Toto too) as they seek the Wonderful Wizard to find that there’s no place like home!

The Wizard of Oz is a two act, full-length, ballet adaptation of the iconic tale by L. Frank Baum, told through the magic of classical dance. Set to a classical score which brings the story to life, this production is family friendly and is the perfect way to introduce children to the classical ballet.

The production is presented with beautiful backdrops, stunning theatrical sets and costumes evoking the iconic sketches by W.W. Denslow, from the original publication.

“A ballet company of great achievement”

– The Dancing Times

“Glittering costumes, expressive dancers . . . a pleasure to witness a production of this calibre”

– Dance Europe

Remembrance Sunday with Tredegar Band on 12 November at 4pm

TREDEGAR BAND and Warwickshire and Coventry Youth Brass

Ian Porthouse and Simon Hogg conductors

Brass Band music for Remembrance Sunday including Canzona by Robert Simpson and Men Marching by Robin Holloway (two Leamington-born composers). With Strauss’s Festmusik der Stadt Wien and Sibelius’s Finlandia, several solo items, and a Judy Garland Tribute, there is something for everyone – all played by our local talented youth players and a champion band back again in Leamington after last year’s triumphant appearance in the Royal Spa Centre.

“Listeners were left spellbound in admiration” – 4barsrest.com

http://www.tredegartownband.co.uk

The Drifters on 14 November at 7.30pm

The Drifters are back on tour in the UK performing all their classic hits including ‘Saturday Night at the Movies’, ‘You’re More Than A Number,’ ‘Come on Over to My Place’, ‘Under the Boardwalk’, ‘Kissin’ In The Back Row’ and many more!

The legendary group have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performed for the President of the United States and listed among the Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Under the guidance of Tina Treadwell (daughter of the group’s original founders, George & Faye Treadwell) The Drifters have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years with multiple successful UK tours including headline shows in major arenas and, most notably, the world famous Royal Albert Hall in London for the first ever time in the group’s glittering career. “I am thrilled with the success of our recent UK tours and we invite you all to join us in continuing to celebrate this incredible and everlasting story of The Drifters.” Said Tina, speaking about the tour.

Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra Family Concert on 19 November at 3pm

For further details of the Kings & Queens themed concert, please see website.

Junction T Trio at Kingsley School Hall, Beauchamp School on 23 November at 7pm

Japheth Law flute, Gen Li cello, Daisuke Yoshida piano

Gaubert               Trois Aquarelles

Mouquet             Le Flûte de Pan Op 15

Elgar                     Chanson de Matin Op 15 No 2

Monti                   Csárdás

Saint-Saëns         The Swan

Granados             Danza Española

Popper                 Dance of the Elves Op 39

Weber                  Trio in G minor Op 63

2023 Leamington Music Prize Winners’ concert

The Leamington Music Prize has been awarded to outstanding Royal Birmingham Conservatoire students since its inception in 2009. This Trio of young musicians hailing from China, Japan, and Malaysia (explaining its unusual name) will charm and entertain with a programme that will take us on some exciting trips through the continent of Europe.

Royal Shakespeare Company

The Royal Shakespeare Company have 3 theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Swan and The Other Place.. They mostly stage productions of Shakespeare’s plays – a surprise to all, I know, but there are a number of other events on from time to time. I know from my time working there that while they are a theatre, their plays feature beautiful music from The Orchestra of the Swan, and that the Christmas productions are often fantastic events for the whole family – after all, this is where shows like Matilda the Musical started.

What’s On page and booking information: Royal Shakespeare Company

The Box of Delights on 6 November to 7 January at various times

‘There are tricks…and then there’s magic!’

After a seemingly chance encounter on a train, orphaned schoolboy Kay Harker finds himself the guardian of a small wooden box with powers beyond his wildest dreams. Caught up in a battle between two powerful magicians, Kay fights to save not just the people he loves but also the future of Christmas itself.

This fantastically festive production is directed by Justin Audibert (The Taming of the Shrew 2019, The Jew of Malta 2015) and designed by RSC Associate Artist Tom Piper.

This production is based on the original stage production first produced by Wilton’s Music Hall and Hero Productions at Wilton’s Music Hall.

Suitable for age 7+

There is a Content Advisory page for this show available on the RSC’s website.

Stratford Playhouse

A theatre in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon hosting a variety of events on its stages.

What’s On page and booking information: Stratford Playhouse

Stratford Jazz on 8 November at 8pm

Featuring Greg Abate and Evan Palmer Trio.

Dark Side of the Moon – LIVE on 11 November at 8pm

After 16 years of touring, playing at theatres across the UK, seven musicians will deliver a show with empathy and passion playing tracks from Pink Floyd’s massive back-catalogue, from the early magical days of founder Syd Barrett through to later iconic albums, renowned for their complex structures.

The emphasis will be on replicating the experience of Pink Floyd live on stage in the 70s which many believe was Floyd at their very best. The superb Cariss Auburn takes on the role of Clare Torry, who performed Great Gig in the Sky on the original 1973 Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon, recreating this unique enigmatic vocal with its extra-terrestrial soundscape which has been leaving audiences enthralled.

As would be expected, the show will include a performance of The Dark Side of the Moon in glorious quadraphonic surround sound and feature a spectacular and dramatic laser light show and evocative images and animated sequences projected on a circular screen, which were key features of Pink Floyd’s live performances.”

The Gruffalo, The Giant and The Mermaid with Julia Donaldson on 12 November at 12pm and 3.30pm

Following their sell-out 2018 show, UK’s best-selling author Julia Donaldson and a cast of four return with a brand-new show based on her much-loved books including The Smartest Giant in Town, The Singing Mermaid, The Highway Rat, and The Gruffalo.

Packed full of songs, puppetry, and audience interaction, join Harry and Betty at their scarecrows wedding, go on an adventure with Cave Baby and a woolly mammoth and see if the grumpy Go-Away Bird would like a friend after all.

Every performance will be followed by a book signing with Julia Donaldson.

From Bach to Barber, Via Brazil (Night Owl) on 14 November at 7pm

Bach meets Brazil – a unique transatlantic journey

Renowned cellist and musical innovator Matthew Barley curates an orchestral journey like no other. Underpinned by the elemental music of J.S. Bach and connected by fragments of improvisation, this programme uncovers links between the music of Argentina, Brazil, North America and Europe.
John McLaughlin Resolution
Piazzolla Milonga del Angel
Mendez Cucurrucucú Paloma
Bach Durch Dein Gefängnis, Gottes Sohn (St John Passion)
Antônio Carlos Jobim Águas de Mar
Philip Glass String Quartet No. 3 ‘Mishima’
Antônio Carlos Jobim Sabiá
Antônio Carlos Jobim Mantiqueira Range
Handel Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 7 ii
Lenine O Silêncio das Estrelas
Bach Ach Grosser König, Gross Zu Allen Zeiten (St John Passion)
Antônio Carlos Jobim The Girl from Ipanema
Regina Aprendendo a Jogar
Barber Adagio for StringsOp. 11
Milton Nascimento Um Girassol da Cor do Seu Cabelo
Director/Cello Matthew Barley

The Folk Club – Gerry Colvin Trio on 16 November at 8pm

“Gerry Colvin is a writer of great substance who is able to give us something that has been
largely missing in English Music for a long time. His subjects and characters are clearly defined,
and his songs create strong images and stories which can make us both laugh and cry in the
same breath. This man is unique and unforgettable. The songs are brilliant. He should be a
household name. Go see him.” Phil Beer, Show of Hands
The hardest act to follow since the feeding of the 5,000!’ Keith Donnelly
“Gerry Colvin is a remarkable talent. I am a fan.” Simon Nicol, Fairport Convention

Now in his fourth decade in the music industry, Gerry Colvin has carved a niche for himself in

the folk world and established himself as a folk pop legend. In 1995 he co-founded the five-
piece folk band Colvinquarmby. They released six critically acclaimed albums and were voted

best band at the prestigious Fairport Convention Cropredy Festival in 2009. In 2010 they won
the Hancock Award for ‘Best Live Folk Act’.
The new Gerry Colvin Band were delighted to be invited to re-appear at Cropredy Festival
2017 to celebrate 50 years of Fairport Convention, where they received a standing ovation!!
His live concerts are unmissable. A great performer and raconteur as well as a brilliant
songwriter.
Gerry has released three self-penned solo albums with his own band, ‘Jazz Tales of Country
Folk’ followed by ‘Six of One Half a Dozen of the Other’, featuring his original songs. His latest
CD ‘Back and Forth’ was launched at Cropredy in 2018.

The Kast Off Kinks on 18 November at 7.30pm

Not to be missed! The Kast off Kinks include former members of the legendary band ‘The Kinks’. This great line-up features Mick Avory (Founding member of The Kinks & the original drummer on all the classic hits from 1964-84), Mark Haley (keyboards/vocals, Kinks 1989-93, also played with The Rubettes), Mike Steed (bass/vocals, playing history with Love Affair, Chip Hawkes, Marmalade, The Rubettes & Mike Pender). These high-class professionals are then fronted by the equally talented & charismatic Dave Clarke (guitar/main vocals). Dave made three albums with the Noel Redding band, two solo albums as Dave Carlsen and the Dream Machine, one with Jimmy McCulloch, and several others including Mick Avory, Dave Rowberry, Tim Rose and Keith Moon. Dave has been a member of the Kast Off Kinks since it was formed almost thirty years ago. Expect all the hits, including You Really Got Me, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Sunny Afternoon, Lola, Days, Waterloo Sunset, Come Dancing, and many more for a great night out!

Stratford-upon-Avon Symphony Orchestra on 19 November at 2.30pm

Stratford-upon-Avon Symphony Orchestra is back to perform a programme to appeal to classical music lovers and anyone who enjoys fabulous melody and the excitement of a full orchestral performance.
The concert starts with one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable openings ever composed with Sibelius’s Finlandia. This is followed by arguably the most popular of all violin concertos, by Bruch. It was voted to be the nation’s favourite piece of classical music in the the very first Classic FM Hall of Fame and deserves its top billing, being a profound showcase for the instrument. We are very fortunate to have secured Sean Morrison as our soloist, a young and engaging musician embarking on an exciting musical career.
The serene and idyllic 2nd Symphony by Brahms, full of beautiful melodies, brings our concert to a close.

Marti Pellow – Pellow Talk on 25 November at 7.30pm

Marti Pellow – Pellow Talk, The Lost Chapter

I’ve been thrilled with the response to Pellow Talk. It has been the most intimate show I’ve done….. I wanted to do some more shows in this way and The Lost Chapter is a reimagined show that connects you, the audience, with me, the songwriter. It’s Pellow Talk – The Lost Chapter, anexploration of the songwriter, and the songs that make the man.

Solihull Core Theatre

A multi-purpose theatre attached to the Library of Solihull and just behind Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull’s Core Theatre hosts many different genres of shows, with something on for pretty much everyone. Please note, that some of the shows that would normally be on here at The Core Theatre, will be on at The Artrix in Bromsgrove. I will note those shows affected below.

What’s On page and booking information: Solihull Core Theatre

From Tradition to Modernity, An Evening of Indian Dance on 7 November at 7pm

From tradition to modernity, join us to discover the breadth of Indian dance. Featuring five dancers, the evening will consist of solo pieces from emerging to established artists. Join us for a spectacular evening to celebrate the beauty of Indian dance.

Featuring:

Shriya Sharma

Beginning her training aged four, Shriya is a part of the Chitraleka Dance Academy and a member of the Kaishiki Performance Group training under Guru Chitraleka Bolar. In 2022 she graduated from the competitive Centre for Advanced Dance Training ‘Yuva Gati’ national scheme. She enjoys gymnastics and is a keen musician, as a violinist in her university orchestra and western classical (University Scholarship) in her University Chamber Choir. She is currently studying Psychology at the University of Leicester.

Mohika Shankar

Prem Rai

Lakshmi Srinivasan

Lakshmi is an Indian Classical dance artiste, educator and choreographer trained in two distinct forms of classical dance – Bharatanatyam & Bharatanrityam (Karana based movement practise from temple sculptures of India). She has a Post Graduate degree in Dance from Jain University, Bangalore and is the Artistic director of Ankura Dance in Coventry and the West Midlands.

With more than 3 decades of performing experience including India and the U.K, Lakshmi has an excellent track record of being engaged with South Asian dance in Britain involved in sector in various capacities.

Anjana Bala

Anjana Bala is a dance artist and anthropologist interested in tensions between bodies, cultures, and affects. She creates and trains in Bharatanatyam alongside naturalistic and uncodified creative movement practices. She has performed and been part of community projects at the Roundhouse, The National Gallery, and Sadler’s Wells. As an anthropologist, she is interested in how history and critical theory can deepen her artistic work. Her research, which explores cross cultural interpretations of mental health, motivates a desire to ensure safety and sensitivity within artistic spaces.

Diwali Sari Sari Night on 9 November at 5.30pm

9th November, Sari Sari Night Lantern Parade

Dress up! Dress up! Dress up! For a dazzling evening of food, music and dance!

Sari Sari Night is a chance to get out your sparkliest saris, party clothes and maybe give that prom dress another outing. Dress up, glow up and sparkle on this starry, starry night to celebrate Diwali with a lantern parade through Solihull town centre. No need to book, just turn up!

For more informatiion, visit Art at the Heart CIC

Timings

From 5.30 pm: Meet up in The Core (Studio) – at the glow station. If you don’t have a lantern, bring a torch or glow sticks or use your mobile phone.

6.00 pm Parade through High Street (Touchwood if wet) and wind up in Theatre Square (The Core if wet), where Diwali lanterns will be hung for the ceremonial lighting, with music, dancing and Diwali refreshments available from the Encore Cafe in The Core.

Henry’s Blueshouse – Jamie They & The Worried Men on 10 November at 7.30pm

Solihull Henry’s Blueshouse nights take place in the relaxed atmosphere of our ground-floor Studio at The Core Theatre, with the occasional show in the main house.

Jamie Thyer & The Worried Men

In the winter months of 1994, guitarist JAMIE THYER took time out from playing on demonstrations for Marshall amplification and Rotosound strings. He began writing and rehearsing with a rhythm section under the ironic name of THE WORRIED MEN. Initially, they considered that the originality of their style and direction would place them on the outer peripheries of fashion motivated rock music, yet, because of their ability to entertain and not merely play, enthusiastic audiences, promoters and even record companies swiftly disproved this!

THE WORRIED MEN continue touring around England and Ireland, often seen in the company of PETER GREEN, JOHNNY WINTER, NINE BELOW ZERO, WALTER TROUT, etc. Recently, Jamie was invited to join forces with MOTT THE HOOPLE’S VERDEN ALLEN on an adventure which produced the album Love You and Leave You (Angel Air Records), taking in many gigs at top venues, BBC radio broadcasts and an opportunity to headline the main stage at Cambridge Rock Festival; each episode earning Jamie much praise, much press and many plaudits.

Shrek the Musical on at Bromsgrove Artrix on 14 – 18 November at 7.30pm

St. Augustine’s Musical Theatre Company are proud to present the Solihull premiere of Shrek the Musical this November at The Core Theatre. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a hit fairy tale adventure featuring all new songs and some unforgettable classics like Freak Flag and I’m a Believer.

Shrek the ogre is horrified to find his peaceful swamp crowded with fairytale folk, evicted from their homes in Duloc by the evil Lord Farquaad. Lord Farquaad agrees to remove them, but only if Shrek brings the Princess Fiona to his castle to be married.

Accompanied by his new, annoying (but lovable!) friend Donkey, Shrek endeavours to complete his quest, getting more than he bargained for as he attempts to ‘rescue’ the feisty princess from her tower. There are unexpected friendships, surprising romances, and a shocking secret is revealed!

It’s a Big, Bright, Beautiful World full of adorable characters. This ogre-sized show is fun for all of the family, book your tickets now!

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