Entertainment News

An iconic Lake District mountain and what lies within is to provide the inspiration for a live underground performance by a 44-piece orchestra and a unique light display designed by 'Paper Bridge' artist Steve Messam this September. Honister Slate Mine, deep inside the mighty Fleetwith Pike, has been chosen by the award-winning Cobweb Orchestra as one of four subterranean venues across the North of England to host a special underground music and light extravaganza featuring their full-piece orchestra.

Two world champion break dance crews from different corners of the globe are set to lay down their best dance moves in an epic dance battle in London's Trafalgar Square. London-based UK B-Boy crew, Soul Mavericks, will face Korea's B- Boy World champions Jinjo Crew, at the free London Korean Festival on August 9th in Trafalgar Square. Both crews are widely acclaimed and travel internationally to represent their countries in hip-hop dance battles.

The voices of reggae past, present and future join forces for one night only to showcase and celebrate the journey of Jamaican music as The Drum Arts/Theatre Centre, in Birmingham, will be presenting Mykal Rose, Etana and Cold Fever in Concert in the Main Auditorium on Friday September 11.

Equal parts memoir and historical account, the new book from author Tadesse E.A., “Ethiopia: Making Sense of the Past and the Present with People” (published by Balboa Press AU), tells a poignant story of life in Ethiopia. “History and historic events have a significant impact on people,” Tadesse E.A. says. “Whatever we do, wherever we live our history, is a key part of who we are today."

‘All the world’s a stage...’ and in this case, the decks of a pirate shipwreck play area at community garden Martineau Gardens, will be transformed into a stage for a special outdoor theatre production of ‘Hamlet’. The Shakespearean tragedy will be performed on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August by Folksy Theatre.

Wolverhampton’s “most infamous neighbourhood” accidents in the 19^th century and Georgian enamelling will be the subject of talks exploring different facets of local history next month. The City of Wolverhampton Council's Arts and Museums Service regularly organises local history talks on a wide variety of topics, including three this month.

After some serious spring cleaning – there will be piles of records (vinyl, CDs tapes, including exclusive promo copies) and books, plus some posters, African clothes and craft, and bits and pieces that need a 'loving home.' So you can swing over to Harlesden, in London, and grab a bargain, or just a chat with BBM/BMC's Kwaku, who'll be manning the stalls.

Take the new Film Trail at Blenheim Palace, from Friday 31 July, and discover behind the scenes of your favourite action film. Mission Impossible's latest blockbuster Rogue Nation premiers on the 24 July and is in theatres from Friday 31 July. Visitors can head to Blenheim Palace to see how and where the film was shot and learn all about filming at the Palace.

It's summertime at the Maritime Museum in Falmouth which means there's a whole host of family fun for the school holidays. Opening on July 18, enter the Dragon's Den, the Maritime Museum's new interactive Vikings and dragons play zone. Explore the world of Viking myths, monsters and legends with games galore and fun for kids of all ages.

A free exhibition featuring portrait prints by artists as diverse as Hogarth, Dürer and Grayson Perry opens at the Bath & North East Somerset Council-run Victoria Art Gallery on August 20. A highlight of the exhibition, entitled 'Portraits and Identity', will be Perry's 'Map of Days', which was purchased by the Gallery in 2014, using grant-aid from outside bodies. This unusual self-portrait takes the form of a map showing the inner workings of the artist's mind.

Where's the best place to go in the UK to stargaze? It appears the answer is Mid Wales where the dark skies and reduced light pollution are attracting global recognition. The Welsh region renowned for its unspoilt, natural beauty now has two areas that have achieved International Dark Sky status and a further area stretching into North Wales is set to apply to join them later this year.

The 16th Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival returns on Saturday September 5 (10am-6pm) and Sunday September 6 (10am to 5pm) to celebrate the town's proud maritime past and important maritime future with visiting ships including The Götheborg (the world's largest wooden sailing ship) and the Jubilee Sailing Trust's Lord Nelson. It's the first time that the Swedish Götheborg will be seen at a UK Maritime Festival.

Pupils from schools around Wolverhampton are striking the right note on a musical tour of Spain organised by Wolverhampton Music Service. The 74 students, aged between 15 and 18, are performing a total of five concerts at a series of international music festivals taking place near Palencia in Spain this week.

The first winner of Britain’s Got Talent - opera singer Paul Potts will be performing live in concert at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre as part of a line up of four new shows announced. The National Theatre production of J.B. Priestly’s An Inspector Calls From Stephen Daldry, the Oscar nominated Director of Billy Elliot, the production is hailed as the theatrical event of our generation winning more awards than any other play in history.

A new exhibition featuring the work of one of Japan’s great masters opens at Wolverhampton Art Gallery next month, giving people the rare chance to see some incredible Eastern artworks. It features the work of 19th century artist Utagawa Hiroshige and marks the first time a touring exhibition from the world-famous Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in Oxford has come to Wolverhampton.