The latest news, updates and events in Birmingham
A new short film, shot on location in the West Midlands, shares a timely story about past, present and future, and makes an urgent plea for understanding during divisive times. Director Neil Paul’s contemporary tale The Forgotten Soldier touches upon the sacrifices made by Sikh soldiers during World War I which have been largely confined…
A play exploring how Covid-19 impacts an intergenerational South Asian household is being performed this week as part of a Birmingham arts festival highlighting stories around mental health and wellbeing. Produced by Sampad and written by Farrah Chaudhry, The Walls Between Us brings to the stage researched, personal experiences of Covid-19, looking at issues of grief,…
Midland Actors Theatre and Purbanat Theatre premiered a philosophical new work in the Jewellery Quarter which explored humanity’s descent into the dark abyss after an apocalyptic war wipes out most of the human race. ‘Descent’ is a stark and daring new drama which takes the audience on a unique theatrical journey from the darkness of…
A performing poet from Birmingham has set up an emergency fund to help freelancers in the arts, amid the coronavirus crisis which is leaving many self-employed artists out of work. Vicki MacWinyers, a stage manager whose résumé includes working at Birmingham REP and the mac, has set a target of £10,000 to help artists whose work has been…
As Arenacross takes over Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena for two days as part of its UK tour, our reporter Vimal Korpal finds out more about the exhilarating, stunt fuelled, action-packed, dirt bike racing tournament! Vimal chats to Professional Supercross Rider Dan Reardon, Mark McCann from Arenacross UK; and young Birmingham riders Beanie Reece and Tyler…
A Christmas song The Fairy Tale of New Street – a Brummy inspired parody of “The Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues, has been recorded with a music video and released as a single, with all money raised going to a local Birmingham homeless charity. The 4 piece band Ire-ish shot to local fame when…
Over 200 volunteers have come together in Birmingham for the annual Diwali Basket Brigade. The volunteers packed and delivered 525 hampers to the region’s needy in the annual Diwali Basket Brigade, attended by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant John Crabtree, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and Consul General of India, Dr Aman Puri.
A free mini theatre festival is set to take place in West Bromwich this weekend, with performances being held in actively running businesses. Actors and music artists are taking their talent to retail spaces in the Sandwell market town, including in an Afro Caribbean fast food shop, a hairdressers, an Asian sari store, a coffee shop and …
Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated by Hindus in across the world today, including in Birmingham and the West Midlands. On this day, a sister ties a Raksha Bandhan also know as a Rakhi around the wrist of her brother in order to pray for his prosperity, health and well-being. The brother in return offers gifts…
A huge 27-foot sculpture, made from 100,000 confiscated knives, was welcomed to Birmingham earlier today as the city comes together to tackle knife crime. Birmingham City Council, working with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, has brought the Knife Angel to Victoria Square, where it will stand for four weeks as a physical reminder…