There’s never a dull month when it comes to theatre in the Midlands. Check out our selection of shows coming to venues across the region during the next few weeks...

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

Eager to pursue loftier pastimes, four young lads decide to boot their wenching ways into touch for a whole year. But then, as luck would have it, four young beauties unexpectedly arrive on the scene, putting the boys’ resolve well and truly to the test!...

One of Shakespeare’s lesser performed works, Love’s Labour’s Lost gained in popularity for a while courtesy of Kenneth Branagh’s film version. Taking as its theme men’s preoccupation with the opposite sex, it’s a work which has much to offer in the way of chuckleworthy entertainment - a claim which can’t necessarily be made for all of the bard’s comedies... 

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 18 May

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WITHNAIL AND I

During the bohemian days of the late 1960s, two out-of-work thespians - Withnail and Marwood - leave behind them the bright lights of London in favour of what they hope will be a cathartic holiday in the countryside. But will their stay at the country home of Withnail’s flamboyantly gay uncle help reinvigorate their booze- and drug-addled brains - and in so doing inspire them to kickstart their flagging acting careers?...

Nearly 40 years after its release, the film of Withnail And I is widely considered to be one of the greatest British movies ever made - so the arrival of this brand-new and first-ever stage version will no doubt delight its legion of fans. The play has been written by Bruce Robinson - who wrote and directed the film - and is helmed by The Rep’s artistic director, Sean Foley.

The Rep, Birmingham, until Saturday 25 May

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THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA

Hanif Kureishi’s first foray into the world of novel writing proved to be hugely successful. Published in 1990, The Buddha Of Suburbia won the Whitbread Award for best first novel, was later made into a four-part television series by the BBC, and kickstarted for British Pakistani playwright Hanif a career as a novelist which has since seen him listed by The Times as one of the 50 greatest post-war British writers.
Set in South London in the late 1970s, the book tells the story of Karim Amir, a 17-year-old mixed-race boy who describes himself as an Englishman born and bred; almost. 

Eager to escape the suburbs and convinced that the bright lights of the city can provide him with the excitement he craves, he sets out on an adventure that sees him come face-to-face with all manner of interesting characters...

Dee Ahluwalia takes the lead role in this Emma Rice-directed stage adaptation, the publicity for which describes it as an ‘irresistible, heart-breaking and joyful exploration of family, friends, sex, theatre and, ultimately, belonging’.    

Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 1 June

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ENGLISH

Iranian American playwright Sanaz Toossi’s humorous, poignant and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is here making its European debut. 

Set in a classroom in Iran, the play focuses on four adult students for whom learning to speak English is vital. 

As the story unfolds and they attempt to perfect their accents, pronunciation and vocabulary, the classmates come to realise that there is far more to their lives than can ever be uttered through language...

This Diyan Zora-directed production is being presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in association with London’s Kiln Theatre, to where it will transfer next month.

This event takes place at The Other Place, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Other Place, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 1 June

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SISTER ACT

After seeing her gangster boyfriend kill an employee, Reno lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier is placed on a witness protection programme and hidden in a convent, where she proceeds to take over the rehearsals of the in-house choir of nuns. 

Thanks to her musical expertise, the choir becomes a huge success and church attendances go through the roof. But in giving the church a new lease of life, Deloris may inadvertently have jeopardised her own safety...

Based on the hit Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same name, this fun-filled spectacular stars Sue Cleaver - who’s best known for playing the character of Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street - as Mother Superior. 

Birmingham Hippodrome, Monday 13 - Saturday 18 May

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BEAUTIFUL EVIL THINGS

A one-woman play from critically acclaimed theatre company Ad Infinitum, Beautiful Evil Things views the epic tale of the Trojan War through the eyes of decapitated gorgon Medusa.

“We figured hers is the most infamous of female gazes,” explains the production’s performer and co-creator, Deborah Pugh. “So what if we could see some of these well-trodden stories through Medusa’s eyes? What would be her take on it, and who would she focus on?

“These stories are called epics for a reason - every thread you pull can go off in 15 different directions. Even in the moment Medusa is decapitated, she gives birth from her neck to a winged horse and a golden giant. We need the audience to ignore that because we need the story to go in another direction. It’s still the Trojan War as you know it; we just follow a different thread.”

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 May

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THE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASS

Having fled war-torn Syria, nine-year-old Ahmet now sits on a chair at the back of the classroom, a refugee kid separated from his parents, unable to speak English, and at the mercy of the school bullies. 
But salvation is at hand... When one of his classmates learns of his plight, she and her friends determine to reunite the little Syrian boy with his family... 

A thought-provoking exploration of the power of friendship and kindness - experienced in a world that doesn’t always make sense - Nick Ahad’s new play is adapted from Onjali Q Raúf’s multi-award-winning children’s novel of the same name... 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tuesday 14 - Saturday 18 May

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MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL

The smell of the greasepaint and roar of the crowd has tempted the furry cast of Madagascar the movie to forsake New York's Central Park Zoo in favour of treading the boards on a UK theatre tour. 

The blockbuster DreamWorks film comes to life at venues across the region over the next few months, with Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo all present and correct in a show that producers promise will send your kids home positively wild (which may or may not be a good thing!). CBBC and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Karim Zeroual stars.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Thursday 16 - Sunday 19 May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thursday 30 May - Sunday 2 June

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THE OLIVE BOY

When his mother dies unexpectedly, a grieving teen decides that the only way to move forward is to try and get a girlfriend. But some things in life are easier said than done... A month-long sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe speaks volumes for the quality of this coming-of-age comedy, a show which its producers are publicising as ‘crude and compelling’. 

The production has been deemed suitable for audience members aged 16-plus.

Swan Theatre, Worcester, Saturday 18 May; Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Tuesday 21 & Wednesday 22 May; Lichfield Garrick, Saturday 25 May 

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MORGAN & WEST'S MASSIVE MAGIC SHOW FOR KIDS

Time-travelling magicians Morgan & West here make a welcome return with a show that combines ‘conjuring capers, mysterious magic tricks, larger-than-life laughs, and fantastic facial furniture’. All of which the dynamic duo intend to cram into one single solitary hour of non-stop family fun! 

Although the production has been designed with youngsters aged five-plus in mind, the fellas are confident that younger children will also enjoy the show. 

Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, Sunday 19 May

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OPERATION JULIE: A ROCK MUSICAL

Telling the true story of Wales’ biggest-ever drugs bust, Operation Julie is described by its producers as ‘Breaking Bad collides with The Good Life’ and is presented against a 1970s prog-rock soundscape... 

If you’re looking to experience a refreshingly original night out at the theatre, we would humbly suggest that this might well be the show for you... 

Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 May

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THE ROTTING HART: A NEW QUEER HORROR

Theatre, choreography and storytelling are the vehicles via which The Crested Fools deliver their ‘new queer horror’ - a production which, while tackling the history of homophobia in Spain, also takes a look at ‘the enduring hate that persists inside ourselves’. 

The show visits the Old Joint Stock having made a big impression at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it was nominated for the highly regarded OffFest Award.   

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thursday 23 & Friday 24 May

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​CHARLES DICKENS' THE HAUNTING

Charles Dickens’ ghost stories are the inspiration for this spine-chiller of a play from Hugh Janes. 

Employed by a former associate of his uncle to catalogue a private library, book dealer David Filde encounters more than he bargained for when he visits a crumbling mansion on a desolate moorland...

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme,  Friday 24 May - Saturday 15 June

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NASTY

“We are an autobiographical, confessional, queer theatre company comprised of three emerging artists,” explain Succulent Theatre, the trio of talented women behind this thought-provoking new show. “We make work based on our own lived experiences and perform this through a variety of story-telling, music and movement. 

“[Our new play] Nasty guides the audience through the experiences of two ‘big’ women and showcases the battles they’ve had with body image, eating habits, bodily functions and their compulsive need for self-pleasure! Some stories are funny, some stories are strange, some might make you shed a tear. What connects them all is that every one single person can relate to at least one of them. Not holding back from the truth of what it is to be a human, we want to teach everyone that it’s completely okay to be unapologetically you - as long as you are always kind.”

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Friday 24 & Saturday 25 May

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THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Anybody turning up at the Gatehouse expecting to see a conventional version of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest is in for a bit of a surprise. Sure, the show is based on Wilde’s oft-performed Victorian comedy, but the company behind it, the interestingly named Say It Again, Sorry?, have very much put their own interactive spin on events. 

When a traditional production of Earnest gets under way, everything seems to be going according to plan… until, that is, the lead actor fails to arrive on cue. His non-appearance sees the situation quickly descend into chaos, with the company desperately needing the audience’s assistance as they battle to get the performance back on track...

Palace Theatre, Redditch, Friday 24 - Saturday 25 May; Lichfield Garrick, Thursday 27 - Saturday 29 June

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THE LION INSIDE

Rachel Bright & Jim Field’s bestselling story is here given the theatrical treatment by Nicoll Entertainment, whose children’s shows are tailored specifically to youngsters aged three and older. 

With a running time of 55 minutes, the show tells the tale of a tiny little mouse who decides he’d like to roar like the lion who lives on top of the rock under which he (the mouse) resides. 

Maybe the lion would teach him how to?... Or maybe he’d just gobble him up instead!... 

Playfully exploring themes including facing up to deeply held fears, dealing with the experience of change, and celebrating people’s differences, the production brings together the ever-popular kids’-show ingredients of puppetry, music and song.   

Birmingham Town Hall, Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 May

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PEPPA PIG'S FUN DAY OUT

If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and enjoyed the experience of watching them having a fantastic time - you’ll be in no doubt that this latest production is well worth catching.

The show sees Peppa, along with her family and friends, enjoying a fun-packed day at the zoo and the beach. 

Parents are advised to prepare their children for all manner of cracking capers, including singing and dancing with colourful scarecrows, feeding penguins, building big sandcastles, and swimming in the sea! 
Looks like an oinktastic time is going to be had by all!

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 May; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Wednesday 31 July & Thursday 1 August; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 August; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 September; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 September; Malvern Theatres, Wednesday 16 - Thursday 17th October

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THE LITTLE PRINCE

Kids’ theatre company Lyngo here turn their attention to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s bestselling children’s book, recounting the story of a young boy who lives on an asteroid and decides to visit Earth, courtesy of a passing flock of space-birds... 

Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton upon Trent, Monday 27 May

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DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE: TROUBLE ON VOLCANO ISLAND

 

The previous Dinosaur Adventure Live production was advertised as ‘the greatest prehistoric show on Earth’, providing audiences with a ‘65 million years in the making’ hour of ‘roarsome’ fun that was ‘totally T-rex-iffic’... 

If this brand-new offering proves to be anywhere near as fun-filled and slick as the producers’ pun-packed publicity, then the above-listed venues could well have a ‘monster’ hit on their hands! 

This latest adventure provides sure-to-be-awestruck youngsters with the chance to meet a selection of magnificent monsters from the mists of time - including, of course, the gigantic (but presumably in this instance not gigantically terrifying!) Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Tuesday 28 May; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wednesday 29 May

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THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA

Everybody’s favourite tea-guzzling tiger is back in town, dropping in on Sophie and her mum just as they’re settling down for an afternoon cuppa... Adapted by David Wood from the late Judith Kerr’s 1968 book of the same name, this 55-minute show features singalong songs and plenty of magic - not to mention a big, stripey tiger, of course!

Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 28 - Thursday 30 May; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Friday 31 May - Sunday 2 June; Worcester Swan Theatre, Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 July

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UNFORTUNATE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE WITCH

Marketed as a tell-all tale of sex, sorcery and suckers, Unfortunate has a subtitle that makes it pretty clear what the show is all about. 

Ursula, for those who’ve never come across the character before, is a villainous sea witch and the main antagonist in the 1989 animated film, The Little Mermaid. 

A Disney Diva par excellence, she’s been making waves in her very own stage musical for the past five years and visits Birmingham this month in the form of Orange Is The New Black’s Shawna Hamic.
The show features strong language, partial nudity, scenes of a sexual nature and plenty of trademark filthy humour - so if you’re of a decidedly delicate disposition, you may want to go swim in a different sea.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thursday 11 - Sunday 14 July

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MINISTRY OF SCIENCE LIVE

An anarchic approach to science communication is the name of the game when the Ministry Of Science comes to town. 

As well as taking a look at the inventors and engineers who’ve shaped and inspired the modern world, the show’s presenters will be conducting clever demonstrations aplenty - so expect the occasional loud bang! 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Sunday 21 July

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CLUEDO 2

Inspired by the success of the original Cluedo play, this brand-new comedy whodunnit is based on the famous detective boardgame of the same name. 

Heartbeat and Casualty star Jason Durr and Strictly champion Ellie Leach top-bill in a Swinging 60s-set show that features a new house, new suspects, and plenty of dead bodies...

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 July

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FIREMAN SAM

Now an impressive 37 years into his firefighting career, Fireman Sam is still putting out blazes in Pontypandy and lighting up children’s eyes with delight. 

In this brand-new adventure, perpetual troublemaker Norman Price follows two famous animal explorers into the mountains and ends up stranded in a cave. As ever, it falls to Fireman Sam to come to the rescue and save the day...

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thursday 25 July; William Aston Hall, Wrexham, Saturday 3 August; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Saturday 24 August

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AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL

If you’re a nostalgia buff with a soft spot for the 1980s, this is a night out at the theatre not to be missed.  

Based on the same-named Academy Award-winning film starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger, Leicester Curve’s well-reviewed show tracks the heady romance that develops between Zack Mayo - a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate - and a young, captivating and seriously fiery woman named Paula Pokrifki. 

The story unfolds against a backdrop of classic 1980s pop songs from the likes of Blondie, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. It also features the Oscar-bagging hit, Up Where We Belong, which was recorded by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 23 - Saturday 28 September  

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DEAR ZOO

First published in 1982, Dear Zoo - a lift-the-flap book by Rod Campbell - has delighted generations of children and accumulated millions of sales worldwide. 

This hugely popular stage version of the story features music, child-friendly puppets and lots of audience participation.

Worcester Swan Theatre, Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 September

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SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE

This brand-new family-friendly stage production - touring to Shrewsbury courtesy of London’s world-renowned Science Museum - aims to ‘ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you in new and exciting ways’.

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 12 October

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THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A FLY

The People’s Theatre Company - highly rated creators of the fabulous Don’t Dribble On The Dragon - here bring one of the world’s best-loved nursery rhymes to life. 

Their show comes complete with colourful animal characters and numerous singalong songs, including If You’re Happy And You Know It and Incy Wincy Spider... 

Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire, Saturday 12 October; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Friday 18 & Sat 19 October