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...

THE BFG

Roald Dahl’s delightful tale, written way back in 1982, is here given the Royal Shakespeare Company Christmas-show treatment. 

The story follows the adventures of a little girl named Sophie, who’s taken to a magical land by the Big Friendly Giant (or BFG, for short). There, he teaches her whizzpopping, shows her his secret collection of dreams, and lets her taste his extraordinary food, the snozzcumber. When it becomes apparent a tribe of man-eating giants are planning to rampage through England, Sophie and the BFG realise they must save the country from unprecedented disaster... 

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 7 February

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ROBIN HOOD

As if Robin Hood didn’t already have enough on his plate dealing with the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham and wooing the beautiful Maid Marion, the festive season also finds Sherwood Forest’s most famous resident getting tangled up in all manner of pantomime traditions (custard pie, anyone?).

Gok Wan, Faye Tozer and Matt Cardle here join Hippodrome panto regular Matt Slack, who’s playing Robin, for ‘the ultimate sheriff-busting pantomime extravaganza’.  Christopher Biggins makes a special appearance as King Richard, with Andrew Ryan and Sandra Marvin completing the high-quality line-up.
Birmingham Hippodrome, 

Birmingham Hippodrome, untiil Sunday 1 February   

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BLOOD BROTHERS

Genuinely moving, surprisingly funny, and filled with all of Willy Russell’s usual astute observations about the British class system, Blood Brothers tells the story of twins, separated at birth, who spend their lives in contrasting social circumstances but are inextricably drawn together. A musical loved even by theatre-goers who don’t love musicals, the show boasts a raft of memorable songs, including Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged Tell Me It’s Not True. 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, until Saturday 31 January; Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 19 - Saturday 23 May; Birmingham Hippodrome, Tuesdayv 20 October - Saturday 24 October; Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 November

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SIX THE MUSICAL

From Tudor queens to battling boss-women, the 2022 Tony Award-winning 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 80-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power. 
The show sees the cast being ably supported by all-female band The Ladies In Waiting.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, until Saturday 31 January; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 March; Birmingham Hippodrome, Tuesday 31 March - Saturday 11 April

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ALL IS BUT FANTASY

Hailed as a groundbreaking theatrical event, All Is But Fantasy focuses on four Shakespeare characters - Lady Macbeth, Juliet, Emilia and Richard III - and poses the question: can you have ambition and love and still be alive in Act Five? 

Whitney White is the award-winning artist in search of an answer to that particular conundrum, presenting two high-energy gig-theatre performances that bring together rock, soul, pop and gospel music. Whitney is ably assisted in her endeavours by Macbeth’s three witches as backing singers!   

The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 21 February

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PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH

The Coventry Belgrade here teams up with local theatre company China Plate to present an ambitious play which not only shines a light on the criminal justice system but also aims to ask important questions about colonial legacy, contested heritage, and how stories are told. 

Written by former Birmingham Poet Laureate Casey Bailey - who previously made a splash as a playwright with the critically acclaimed Grimeboy - Please Do Not Touch follows the fortunes of committed activist Mason. A young man who finds himself incarcerated, he determines to keep fighting injustice, even as the system against which he rails seeks to shut him down... 

Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thursday 29 - Saturday 31 January

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DONE TO DEATH, BY JOVE

Fun-loving duo Gavin Robertson and Nicholas Collett blend humour, variety, theatre and dance in a show that pays spoof homage to ‘the great British detective’. 

The production is based around the idea that its cast of six has become a cast of two due to an M6 breakdown of the van carrying the props, the set and four of the performers. 

The intrepid remaining cast members, Messers Robertson and Collett, are therefore left to present the show on their own - an endeavour which, not surprisingly, leads to all manner of mix-ups and mayhem. 

The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Saturday 31 January

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THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the same-named Susan Hill novel, The Woman In Black is a classic ghost story first performed in 1989. It has since become one of the West End’s most successful plays, and was memorably made into a film starring Daniel Radcliffe in 2012. 

Solicitor Arthur Kipp believes that his family have somehow been cursed by a mysterious woman in black. In an attempt to tell his story, and to exorcise the evil curse which he’s convinced hangs over him, he hires a young actor to assist him in recounting his experiences... 

The Alexandra, Birmingham, until Saturday 31 January; Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 31 March - Saturday 4 April 

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MURDER SHE DIDN'T WRITE

Now here’s an improvised show with plenty to recommend it... 
First and foremost, it was a multiple-sell-out hit at the Edinburgh Fringe... 
Secondly, it’s presented by a critically acclaimed company - Degrees Of Error - who are past masters of the improv genre... 

Thirdly, the show is a real hoot. An Agatha Christie-inspired whodunnit, it features a classic murder-mystery, which is created ‘on the spot’. Audience members are then encouraged to don their deerstalkers (if they’ve brought them along!), grab a magnifying glass and make sure their ‘finger of suspicion’ is ‘at the ready’... 

The show runs for two hours, including an interval.

Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 3 February; The Swan Theatre, Worcester, Tuesday 24 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Wednesday 6 & Thursday 7 May; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Monday 21 September  

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PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF

It’s been 20 years since the publication of The Lightning Thief - the first novel in Rick Riordan’s hit fantasy-adventure series, Percy Jackson And The Olympians. 

The story follows the character of teenager Percy, who keeps finding himself in trouble at school and struggling to fit in. Eventually, he discovers that he’s a demigod - his mother is human, but his absent father is a god from Greek mythology...

The epic adventures that ensue for Percy and his friends have previously been captured on the big screen, and recently found a new audience via a Disney+ TV series. Now, fans around the country have the chance to catch up with Percy live on stage in this touring musical.

“The show is absolutely epic,” says Cahir O’Neill, who plays the character of Grover, a satyr. “I mean, we go on such a huge journey throughout the show. Expect the unexpected - one minute we’re on a bus, the next minute, we’re blowing up the bus, and then there’s monsters flying everywhere!”   
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK champion Danny Beard joins the cast as Mr D.

Malvern Theatres, Wednesday 4 - Saturday 7 February; Birmingham Hippodrome, Tuesday 24 - Saturday 28 February

   

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CROWN OF BLOOD

That’s how Utopia Theatre describes Crown Of Blood, its new co-production with Sheffield Theatres. 
A National Portfolio Organisation, Utopia exists to create ‘exceptional and world-class African theatre with imaginative flair’. In this particular instance, it’s doing so by presenting a 19th-century-set Yoruba adaptation of Macbeth. 

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wednesday 11 - Saturday 14 February

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THE BATTLE

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 Rep, Birmingham, Wednesday 11 February - Saturday 7 March

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NINE SIXTEENTHS

Widely admired choreographer Pauline Mayers is the remarkable talent behind this intriguing new production. Blending devised theatre, dance and lip sync, the show asks questions about the demographics of those who control the media, and aims to shed light 0n the ways in which black women are scrutinised in the public eye. 

The production’s starting-point - reflected in the title - is the nine-sixteenths of a second for which Janet Jackson’s breast was exposed on screen to millions of television viewers during a half-time performance with Justin Timberlake at the 2004 Superbowl. 

The incident derailed Jackson’s career for many years. By contrast, the career of Timberlake, who’d been responsible for exposing her as part of their performance choreography - went from strength to strength... 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Thursday 12 February  

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BLUEY'S BIG PLAY

Blue Heeler puppy Bluey has certainly had plenty to bark about since making her television debut eight years ago. 

The Australian animated pre-school series in which she stars has not only developed a huge international fanbase but also picked up prestigious Emmy and Bafta awards. On the back of such global success, it was only a matter of time before the popular pup’s adventures made it onto the stage... 
This 50-minute show finds Bluey and younger sister Bingo determined to thwart their dad’s plan to enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon...

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 13 - Sunday 15 February; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Wednesday 4 - Saturday 8 March; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Thursday 23 - Sunday 26 July

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OUR LITTLE HOUR

Award-winning playwright Dougie Blaxland’s Our Little Hour tells the story of Walter Tull, the first black footballer to play at the highest level of the UK game, who then went on to become the first man of his heritage to be commissioned as an officer in the British Army... The production, described by its publicity as ‘an intensely moving musical drama’, includes 16 ‘hauntingly beautiful original songs’.

Swan Theatre, Worcester, Saturday 14 February; Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 February

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THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

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...

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Saturday 14 February - Sunday 14 March

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BRAVE BETTIE

When the council threatens to cut down Bettie’s favourite tree, she must find the courage to protect it... 
Half Moon and Z-arts join forces to present Tatenda Naomi Matsvai’s thought-provoking woodland adventure. Telling a tale of friendship, bravery and self-discovery, the show brings together poetry, songs, live music and stories. 

Suitable for children aged between three and eight.

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Sunday 15 February

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FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY

If it’s not broken, don’t turn it into a stage musical; that would surely have been the advice which millions of Friends fans would’ve given the creative team who set out to make this show...

So it’s probably a good thing that those millions of fans were never actually canvassed for their opinion... because as it happens, Friends! The Musical Parody makes for a thoroughly enjoyable night out at the theatre. 

Lovingly lampooning the hit TV sitcom from the 1990s and early noughties, the show is a good-hearted romp through the series’ most memorable moments, but with the addition of some high-energy song & dance routines. What’s not to like?... 

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Monday 16 - Saturday 21 February

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THERE'S A MONSTER IN YOUR SHOW

Children’s author Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures leap from page to stage, as his critically acclaimed Who’s In Your Book? series heads for the region in the form of a well-received stage musical. 

The show sees Little Monster being joined by friends Dragon, Alien and Unicorn for 50 minutes of comedy, chaos and high-energy fun, during which the pals will be learning all about the joy of friendship and books.

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tuesday 17 - Saturday 21 February; Birmingham Town Hall, Thursday 23 & Friday 24 April 

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TALES FROM ACORN WOOD

Stage adaptations of books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler invariably offer theatrical magic aplenty, so this is definitely a show that’s well worth catching. 

Bringing together clever puppetry and toe-tapping 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 one-plus. 

Lichfield Garrick, Thursday 19 & Friday 20 February; Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 February; The Swan Theatre, Worcester, Saturday 28 February & Sunday 1 March; Birmingham Hippodrome, Thursday 26 - Sunday 29 March

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THE DINOSAUR THAT POOPED: A ROCK SHOW

Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter are promising their brand-new production will come complete with new songs, a lot of laughs and (not surprisingly given the show’s title) a whole load of poo! 

Based on Tom and Dougie’s bestselling children’s books, The Dinosaur That Pooped follows Danny and Dino as they try to get hold of the last two tickets to their favourite rock band’s last-ever concert. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan... Will the band perform? Will Danny rock out? Or will Dino’s rumbling tummy save the day?...

Palace Theatre, Redditch, Thursday 19 February; Brierley Hill Civic, Sunday 24 May; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Saturday 6 June

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HORRIBLE HISTORIES

If you love the Horrible Histories series - and why the heck wouldn’t you?! - then this concert version is well worth catching. 

The premise of the production is that William Shakespeare has been asked to create the greatest show on earth, but has no idea how much trouble he’ll get from monstrous monarchs King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria! Things then hot up when Death appears, while both Boudica and Cleopatra have designs on taking over. 

The show features a live band and a selection of much-loved songs from the television series, including Stupid Deaths, Charles II, Dick Turpin and The Monarchs’ Song. 

The Alexandra, Birmingham, Friday 20 & Saturday 21 February

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THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD

With millions of copies having been sold in double-quick time after it was published in 1999, it’s fair to say that Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s picture book The Gruffalo captured the hearts and minds of children everywhere. So it was no surprise when the dynamic duo then produced this sequel story five years later... 
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, caring not a jot about the legend of the Big Bad Mouse...
Award-winning theatre company Tall Stories, who certainly know a thing or two about adapting Donaldson/Scheffler books for the stage, here present a production that brings together ‘songs, laughs and scary fun for everyone aged three to 103’. 

The Rep, Birmingham, Friday 20 - Sunday 22 February; Lichfield Garrick, Monday 9 & Tuesday 10 March

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I'M MUSLAMIC DON'T PANIK

Bobak is visiting Iran to explore his cultural heritage. While on the journey of self-discovery, he encounters all manner of weird and wonderful characters - from the women defiantly running the first-ever (and last) Tehran marathon, to the participants in an underground breakdance battle... 

Blending live music, spoken word and comedy (alongside the aforementioned breakdancing!), the show will be followed by a chance to join the cast for traditional Persian tea and biscuits.    

Thimblemill Library, Smethwick, Saturday 21 February; Wolverhampton Arts Centre, Tuesday 24 February; Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Saturday 18 April 

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JUSTIN TIME TO ROCK

BAFTA Award-winning children’s television presenter Justin Fletcher returns to the region with a brand-new all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza. Justin is advising his young fans to prepare themselves for a show that’s positively awash with well-known songs, energetic dancing and plenty of rocktastic fun!

Birmingham Town Hall, Sunday 22 February; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunday 24 May; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 25 May

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DINOSAUR ADVENTURE LIVE

Dinosaur Adventure Live is being advertised as ‘the greatest prehistoric show on Earth’, providing audiences with a ‘65 million years in the making’ hour of ‘roarsome’ fun that’s ‘totally T-rex-iffic’... 
The interactive experience allows families to take a journey through the Jurassic era, meet dinos face-to-face, and check out the impossible-to-ignore roar of a terror-inducing Tyrannosaurus...

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Sunday 22 February; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Thursday 2 April; Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Tuesday 26 May; Roses Theatre, Tewksbury, Tuesday 21 July; The Core Theatre, Solihull, Tuesday 28 July

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QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE

Quentin Crisp certainly had a talent for outrageous self-publicity. Back in the mid-20th century, ‘mincing around’ the streets of London in gaudy makeup and dying one’s hair crimson was a pretty good way for a gay man to get himself not only noticed but also thoroughly duffed up - and Quentin certainly bagged a beating or two en route to the fame and fragility of his old age... 

Mark Farrelly here makes a welcome return with his much-travelled homage to the man who became known as The Naked Civil Servant. 

Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 24 February

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INSPECTOR MORSE: HOUSE OF GHOSTS

Author Colin Dexter’s crossword-solving, ale-supping, classical music-loving Oxford detective is back in business, this time on stage. 

On the back of a series of well-received novels, Morse became a household name in the 1980s and 90s courtesy of actor John Thaw, who played him in 33 feature-length television episodes. Spin-off shows Lewis and Endeavour followed in the 21st century - and now the cerebral sleuth is making a welcome return in the form of Strictly Come Dancing’s Tom Chambers.
 
This brand-new stage adaptation, based on an original story, finds Morse investigating the on-stage death of a young actress - and in the process uncovering a connection to sinister events in his own dim and distant past. 

Malvern Theatres, Tuesday 24 - Saturday 28 February

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THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR

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 45 handcrafted puppets and has a running time of one hour. 

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 February; Swan Theatre, Worcester, Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 March; Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Birmingham, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 April

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AN IMPROVISED MURDER

Improvised theatre seems to be all the rage nowadays - a fact which should ensure plenty of bums on seats for local ensemble Foghorn Unscripted’s ‘rib-tickling journey into the unknown’. 

“It’s edge-of-your-seat suspense,” they say, “as we create a murder-mystery right before your eyes. Who harbours dark secrets waiting to be unearthed? Who bites the dust? Who’s the culprit? It’s all up to you! Think of yourself as the puppet master, pulling the strings of fate!”   

Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thursday 26 February

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THE BALLAD OF MULAN

Red Dragonfly and Grist To The Mill theatre companies here combine to explore the story of Mulan, a warrior woman - generally considered to be fictional - whose legendary heroics have been made familiar to modern-day audiences by two Disney movies: a 1998 animated feature and a 2020 live-action film. 
West Yorkshire-born British-Chinese actress Michelle Yim takes the title role.  

The Edge Arts Centre, Much Wenlock, South Shropshire, Friday 27 February

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BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

Seen by tens of millions of people across the globe, Buddy is an enormously enduring and touchingly affectionate portrayal of one of rock & roll’s earliest and brightest stars. Charting the singer’s meteoric rise to fame and fortune, and following his career through to his very last performance, the show features timeless Buddy classics such as That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Rave On and Everyday...  

Lichfield Garrick, Monday 2 - Saturday 7 March; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Monday 23 - Tuesday 24 March

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THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Hook up your fishnets, tighten your corsets and prepare to ‘do The Time Warp again’ - The Rocky Horror Show is returning to the Midlands! Richard O Brien’s cult production tells the tale of the straight-laced Brad and the deliciously corruptible Janet, who arrive at the castle of the alien transvestite Frank N Furter and witness the birth of the monster, Rocky. Along the way, they take the audience through a selection of love-’em-or-loathe-’em musical numbers, including Damn It Janet, Sweet Transvestite, and The Time Warp. Great fun’s a guarantee - particularly if you get into the spirit of things and attend the show dressed in your very best stockings & suspenders (as many patrons do)! 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 13 - Saturday 18 April; The Alexandra, Birmingham, Monday 6 - Saturday 11 July

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2:22 A GHOST STORY

Husband & wife Jenny and Sam are divided. Jenny believes their new home is haunted; Sam isn’t having any of it. But something certainly feels strange and frightening. Determined to find out the truth once and for all, they decide to stay up until 2:22 - at which time, all will be revealed. Or not... 

2.22 A Ghost Story premiered in the West End back in 2021, not only becoming a major hit but also providing both Lily Allen and Cheryl with an opportunity to tread the boards. This latest touring version of the show stars real-life couple Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley alongside Grant Kilburn and Shvorne Marks, pictured.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 18 - Saturday 23 May