Theatre | Run, 2 Faced Dance, Dance Xchange

2 Faced Dance Company’s Run is an evening of dance presented by three female choreographers, featuring three new works from the company’s artistic director Tamsin Fitzgerald, Prague-based Lenka Vagnerova and the first BENCH commission recipient Rebecca Evans. All three pieces – danced by 2 Faced Dance’s all-male company – explore human choice and our decision to take flight or fight the darker side of humanity. Themes of fear, paranoia and evil resonate throughout the evening, which feels particularly poignant given the current political instability.

Run, 2 Faced Dance; image Chris Nash

Review | Buddy, Belgrade Theatre Coventry

It seems as though every popular musician has been the subject of a jukebox musical, and so it is not surprising that the story of Buddy Holly has been explored in Buddy. Touring the UK and seen at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, this musical follows passionate, impulsive Buddy on his struggle to break free of country music and make his name as a rock and roll star, concluding with his early death in a plane crash – the day the music died.

Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Review | 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips, Knee-high Theatre

There’s a buzz of excitement in the air whenever Kneehigh Theatre are in town; their joyful, anarchic style combined with a strong emphasis on storytelling is popular with all ages. The Cornwall based company go from strength to strength, building international renown at a remarkable pace. With resident director Emma Rice now at the helm of Shakespeare’s Globe, Kneehigh’s reach and influence seems set to grow even further.

Katy Owens as Lily Tregenza with Tips the Cat in 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips; image Steve Tanner

Theatre | The Tempest, Birmingham Royal Ballet

As the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death draw to a close, the Birmingham Royal Ballet present the anticipated new creation from David Bintley, The Tempest. The Tempest has fascinated David Bintley for over 20 years. After two decades of research and exploration, he finally presents his long-held Shakespearean dream after finally finding the right composer in Sally Beamish.

Iain Mackay as Prospero in The Tempest; photo Bill Cooper

Review | Sister Act, New Alexandra Theatre

Jamie Wilson and the Leicester Curve’s new production of Sister Act contains all of the ingredients for a smash-hit musical: a star director, a celebrity lead, a well-known, beloved story based on a popular film, and a plethora of sequins and catchy tunes.

Alexandra Burke in Sister Act; image Tristam Kenton

Theatre | Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Birmingham Hippodrome

One of the world’s most famous cars has flown into the Birmingham Hippodrome this week, in the form of Ian Fleming’s spectacular musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Based on the beloved film of the same name, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sees struggling inventor Caractacus Potts swept away on an extraordinary adventure with his children, Jeremy and Jemima, and the beautiful Truly Scrumptious.

Lee Mead as Caractacus Potts and Carrie Hope Fletcher as Truly Scrumptious; image Alastair Muir

Review | Footloose, New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham

In the mid-west American town of Bomont, a small tight knit community are suspicious of any new-comer, and especially streetwise Chicago teenager Ren McCormack. Ren has moved from Chicago with his mother Ethel after the sudden departure of his dad. Eager to move on from his recent loss and keen to spread his wings in a new town, Ren’s dreams of a new start are dashed when he discovers one curious fact about Bomont County; rock music and dancing are illegal.

Luke Baker as Ren McCormack

Review | Mamma Mia, Birmingham Hippodrome

Every year, the Birmingham Hippodrome bring a blockbuster West End musical to the UK’s second city; a brilliant tradition eclipsed only in size and scale by their annual pantomime. Their 2016 offering is Mamma Mia, bringing the azure blue skies of Greece to the typically grey British summer in Birmingham.

Emma Clifford as Tanya, Sara Poyzer as Donna and Jacqueline Braun as Rosie; image Brinkhoff M+Âgenburg

Review | Shakespeare Triple Bill, Birmingham Royal Ballet

The Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Shakespeare celebrations continue this week as they conclude their Birmingham season with a Shakespeare Triple Bill, consisting of Jessica Lang’s new Wink, José Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane and David Bintley’s The Shakespeare Suite. Three contrasting dance styles and very different interpretations of Shakespeare’s work combine to emphasise his enduring broad appeal, as well as the versatility of the Birmingham Royal Ballet dancers.

Momoko Hirata and Artists of the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Wink; image Andrew Ross

Review | The Taming of the Shrew, Birmingham Royal Ballet

In a landmark year packed with Shakespearean productions to celebrate the 400th birthday of the Bard, the Birmingham Royal Ballet perform John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew for the very first time.

Elisha Willis and Iain Mackay in The Taming of the Shrew; image Andrew Ross