Books
Birmingham graduates land starring roles in Malaysian fairy tale opera
Four Malaysian graduates from Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK are starring in an operatic version of the Brothers Grimm’s 1893 fairy tale ‘Hansel and Gretel’, which will be staged in Kuala Lumpur this summer. Written by 19th century German composer Engelbert Humperdinck and staged by Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO), the…
6 photos of Akala book launch in Birmingham exploring issues of racism
BAFTA winner and social entrepreneur Akala confronted issues of race and class as part of a new book launched at Birmingham City University this evening. ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ sees the MOBO award-winning artist discuss policing, education and politics, exploring issues which he considers are at the heart of the legacy…
Poet Yrsa Daley-Ward is bringing her latest work to Birmingham
Poet, writer and LGBTQi activist Yrsa Daley-Ward is in Birmingham next week to discuss her latest book ‘The Terrible’. Of mixed West Indian and West African heritage and born to a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father, Yrsa was raised by her devout Seventh Day Adventist grandparents in the small English town of Chorley.
Creative course launched for budding comic artists in Birmingham
Kicking off right here in the Midlands is an exciting new course aimed at would-be comic book artists in the area, tutored by the artists behind Spider-Man and Watchmen. With the tutorial skills of comic book professionals including John McCrea (Hitman, Judge Dredd, Spider-Man), Laura Howell (The Beano, The Regular Show) and Dave Gibbons who drew a little comic you may have…
8 inspiring reads from local female authors for International Women’s Day
It is currently International Women’s Month, with International Women’s Day (IWD) taking place on Thursday 8th March. Both annual events are celebrated to highlight the contributions of women in history and contemporary society.
8 photos of adorable Brummie school kids dressed up for World Book Day
Young children at a school in Birmingham have been sharing their love of books today by dressing up as their favourite fictional characters. Celebrating World Book Day with hundreds of other schools across the country, pupils at The Wisdom Academy donned outfits paying tribute to storybook and comic characters; from pirates, wizards and superheroes to princesses, queens and…
Here’s the 12 buff ginger dudes who stripped naked to fight stigma [NSFW]
Twelve redheaded dudes have stripped totally naked to raise money for charity, while taking a stand against the stigma associated with being ginger. Often socially mocked for being very pale but for bright fiery hair, redheads aren’t traditionally the poster-boys for ‘popular’ beauty standards, but these fellas are showing off their assets to change just that.
Sacha Dhawan joins ‘Boy with the Topknot’ cast for BBC screening in Wolverhampton
Actor Sacha Dhawan has returned to Wolverhampton to join cast and crew for a special screening of new BBC drama The Boy with the Topknot. After having recently filmed in the West Midlands city, the Iron Fist and Sherlock star was back in Wolves to officially launch a preview of the one-off feature length programme, which is based…
OPINION | IT: The real horror is not a killer clown, it’s us
Imagine coming home to a house where you can still smell the fragrance of a loved one who will never come back again, their clothes and belongings are still there, and you feel a deep emptiness as you step inside. Imagine coming home to a place where you know the demon of bullying stills haunts…
Black Lives Matter author is bringing book tour to Birmingham
Impact Hub Birmingham is hosting an evening of topical discussion and film around the Black Lives Matter movement, featuring US author Angie Thomas. With a screening of 50 Shades of Melanin followed by a discussion with film director Naomi Grant and Siana Bangura, the ‘Art Against The Grain’ evening will launch itself straight into the heart…