Entertainment News

Dynamic arts agency Sampad Arts is celebrating its 25^th anniversary on Sunday 15 November with a thrilling line up of lively entertainment that features outstanding music, dance and spoken word artists from Birmingham and beyond. Established in 1990 by Piali Ray OBE, Sampad has played a significant role in helping to establish South Asian arts and artists within mainstream culture in Birmingham and across the UK.

TV favourite David Hasselhoff will arrive in Wolverhampton on Tuesday 17 November as part of the world premiere of a brand new musical - LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE.  The explosive new production opened at the Blackpool Opera House in October and audiences in Wolverhampton will be among the first to see it when the production plays at the Grand Theatre from November 17 – 21.

Brits are not waiting for Christmas to get spending at the shops. New research by intu, the owner, developer and manager of many of the UK’s prime shopping centres, shows the majority of British adults have a full shopping list to complete before the end of November – and what you are planning to buy often depends on where you live. 

Representatives from more than 15 historical organisations will be taking part in Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies' popular Local History Fair on Saturday 14 November. Visitors will be able to explore Wolverhampton's fascinating past, with experts from various organisations on hand to talk to them about different aspects of local heritage.

Freedom from Torture, a national charity supporting survivors of torture with a treatment centre in Birmingham, is marking its 30th anniversary with a celebratory art auction to raise funds to support its work here in the Midlands.

Members of the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, students at the Royal College of Music and musicians of the London Vegetable Orchestra have launched the Get Creative Family Arts Festival by playing some delicious-sounding instruments. They played carrot recorders, courgettes, peppers and even pumpkin percussion.

The nation’s favourite pet show is gearing up to open its doors at the NEC, Birmingham on 7-8 November. With hundreds of different animals, amazing animal action displays and fun and informative talks and demonstrations.

A Paralympian and Birmingham ex-student (now film maker)  has been short-listed for the prestigious Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs 2015, soon to be announced November 4 2015. Gilbey Films, created by founder Andy Gilbert, specializes in disability access films. The company makes short films for venues and attractions, hotels and hospitals, to use on their websites to showcase their accessible features and facilities.

The 12th annual Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) concluded earlier this month. The industry event, hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association was held over the course of five days in Puerto Varas, Chile. Chile has been a long-time partner of the ATTA and offered the organization's inaugural AdventureWeek product in 2013.

It’s been three years in the making, and now people can enjoy for themselves a new art trail which will be officially unveiled this weekend.

The Wednesfield Art Trail is a community-led public art project encapsulating what the area means to local people.

Since November 2012, more than 1,000 residents including pupils from local schools have taken part in the project, which has seen five pieces inspired by the people of Wednesfield completed by Black Country-based Planet Art.

Consultation found that residents associated Wednesfield with their networks of friends and family and the people they know locally rather than other aspects such as local industry, so Planet Art responded by creating sculptures featuring the diverse population of the area and everyday activities and exchanges. 

With the latest Bond film, SPECTRE, out next week, it’s been unveiled by Cineworld, the UK’s leading cinema chain by admissions, that Dame Judi Dench, aged 80, who starred as M for 17 years, is Birmingham’s ultimate Bond girl.

You’ve taken the journey with them from those first arena auditions, sat on the edge of your sofa during the dramatic six-seat challenge, followed their path to judges’ houses and will be tuning in to the studio shows; now is your chance to see The X Factor Live.

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC are to sponsor the preview performance of this year’s pantomime 'Peter Pan' on Friday December 11. The club will put a number of tickets on sale to their members as well as donating a percentage to good causes. Attendees can look forward to an excellent evening of pantomime fun, chance to meet club mascots’ Wolfie and Wendy along with the opportunity to win VIP prizes to meet players on the night.

Voting is open for the fourth annual Older People in the Media Awards. The awards are being run by older people’s charity, Independent Age, in collaboration with Gransnet, the social network for the UK’s 14 million grandparents. Held exclusively online for the first time in 2015, the awards are a celebration of the best representations of older people’s issues in the media.

UK tattoo blog Inkluded has collaborated with Deasil Art Gallery to present an exhibition featuring artwork by a selection of UK and Midlands tattoo artists. Inked Palette opened on 3^rd October to a busy launch event and now remains open to the general public until 20^th October 2015.