Cast of Flashbang. Photo courtesy of Proforca Theatre Company. Flashbang written by James Lewis, directed by David Brady presented by Proforca Theatre Company at the Belgrade Theatre, B2 Venue, Coventry from Thursday 7 – Saturday 9 May. Review by Annette Kinsella. Which wise philosopher first observed that “we are all just two or three bad decisions away from Armageddon”? History does not record their identity, but I’d be willing to put money on it being someone who once wi

Mum Comes To Dinner by Nicholas Marsh. Photo courtesy of Rugby Theatre. As part of Rugby’s Fringe Week Black Box Productions present three new one-act plays for one night only – 7 May 2026 at Rugby Theatre, including new work from their Rugby Theatre Writers’ Group. Review by Ann Evans There was an excellent turn out to support this year’s Black Box Productions, which brings us new plays from local writers, in the stripped back theatre using the bare minimum of props and scen

Some of the colourful cast. Photo by Pamela Raith Photography. Murder She Didn’t Write. Performed by Degrees of Error at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, from 6-7 May. Director Lizzy Skrzypiec. Review by Hilary Hopker. The premise of this play is simple yet terrifying for most actors. No one knows what’s going to happen next, not the audience, not the actors, nor the guy on sound effects. This is improv at a level you’ve never seen before. The play opens with a detective narr

(l-r) Michael Barker as Henry and Chris Gilbey-Smith as Kenneth. Photo by Richard Smith. Love, Love, Love by Mike Bartlett at The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from 6 - 16 May. Directed by Lynda Lewis. Review by Ann Evans. The Loft’s latest production may be called Love, Love, Love, but the overriding emotion that this dysfunctional family send out is loathe, loathe, loathe! That does of course, make for an excellent evening’s entertainment. The story is set over three very

Holly Lawlor and Aisling O’Mara. Photo by Ste Murray. Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan adapted by Sonya Kelly at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from 1 – 9 May 2026. Directed by Róisin McBrinn. Review by Amanda Burden 1987: a year etched in the heart of every Sky Blues fan - the first and only time (so far) Coventry City lifted the FA Cup. This weekend, as the city turned sky blue once again to celebrate a return to the Premier League, with the now-legendary open-top bus rolling th

Sara Pascoe. Photo courtesy of the artist. Festival on the Close, Rugby, from: 20 – 25 June 2026. Preview Rugby, the much-loved Festival on The Close returns to Rugby this year with an exciting programme packed with headline performances, unforgettable music, comedy, and live theatre. As the festival approaches its ten-year anniversary, organisers promise a spectacular celebration of live performance for audiences of all ages, and all in support of Rugby’s Bradby Club, the lo

Seb Farrall – A Celebration. Performed at The Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, Sunday 3 May 2026. Review by Charles Essex. Seb Farrall was a highly respected and extremely talented and enthusiastic character on the local choral music scene before his tragic death on his 32nd birthday following a cycling accident. Evidence of the high esteem with which he was regarded was that there was hardly an empty seat in the Butterworth Hall for this tribute to him a year afte

Rebecca Collingwood as Gwendolyn Lacey . Photo courtesy of the production company. Malory Towers from the novels by Enid Blyton and adapted and directed By Emma Rice, at the Belgrade Theatre as part of the UK Tour, from 12 - 16 May. Preview. The Emma Rice Company has announced the full cast for their upcoming tour of Malory Towers from the novels by Enid Blyton and adapted by Emma Rice. Rice directs Eden Barrie (Mary Lou Atkinson), Molly Cheesley (Alicia Johns), Rebecca C

Dave Candy in Pigeon Syndrome. Photo by Ben Keyser. Before the Fringe – a triple bill of one act plays presented by Broadly Speaking Productions. At Ilmington Village Hall 2 May 2026 and again at Tysoe Village Hall 7 pm Sunday 17 May. Review by Charles Essex Playwright Ben Keyser’s theatre company Broadly Speaking Productions put on a triple bill of his clever one act plays at Ilmington Village Hall. Pigeon Syndrome, which has won numerous awards for Best in Festival

Show poster Phoenix Players present A Phoenix Night Rises at The Bear Pit, Stratford-upon-Avon from 13 – 16 May 2026 at 7.30pm. Preview. A Phoenix Night Rises – an evening of comedy sketches, musical numbers and original one act plays. Enjoy this celebration of creativity, collaboration and original theatre. This lively evening features comedy sketches, musical performances and two outstanding one-act plays: What Lies Before Us by Chloe MacDonald and Detention Duty by Baz S

Image courtesy of the production company. Flashbang written by James Lewis, directed by David Brady and brought to you by the team at Proforca Theatre Company. Performing at the Belgrade Theatre, B2 Venue, Coventry from Thursday 7 – Saturday 9 May. Preview The new play Flashbang comes to the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry as part of its 2026 UK tour bringing a bold, emotionally charged story of friendship, identity and growing up to the Midlands. noun: flashbang a grenade tha

Legally Blonde JR at The Albany Theatre, Albany Road, Coventry CV5 7JQ, 7:30pm, Thursday 30 April 2026. One day only (matinee and evening show) Review by David Court. Show Poster First published as a novel by Amanda Brown in 2001, Legally Blonde quickly found further life on screen before becoming a hugely successful stage musical in 2007, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. A classic fish-out-of-water comedy, it follows sorority president Elle Woods

Broadly Speaking Productions' triple bill. Before the Fringe - Triple bill at Ilmington Village Hall (2 May) and Tysoe Village Hall (17 May). Preview Playwright Ben Keyser’s theatre company Broadly Speaking Productions is putting on a triple bill of his one act plays before transferring to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. On Saturday 2 May at Ilmington Village Hall, Ben’s play Pigeon Syndrome, which has won numerous awards for Best in Festival and Best Original Play at seve

The company of Arturo Ui. Photo by Marc Brenner. The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui written by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Stephen Sharkey, at the RSC Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until 30 May 2026. Directed by Seán Linnen. Review by Wynne Lang. This is surely a play for our current, troubled times. Written by Bertholt Brecht in exile from Germany in 1941, before the outcome of the war was known or the full extent of Nazi atrocities brought

David Bradley at Rugby Theatre. Photo courtesy of the artist. Featuring a Harry Potter star, an Edinburgh Fringe comedy show, gripping drama and more, a week-long arts festival is back at Rugby Theatre from 2-10 May. Rugby Theatre’s Fringe Week will see a variety of acts appearing at the historic town centre venue, with tickets starting at just £10. The festival kicks off with Michael Mansfield KC, one of Britain’s most influential barristers, who represented victims and fam

(L-R) Julien Rosa, Chris Gilbey-Smith, Mollie Dibb, Zoe Mortimer. Photo by Oliver Hindley Photography. Love, Love, Love by Mike Bartlett, directed by Lynda Lewis at the Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from 6-16 May. Preview Are baby boomers to blame for the fact that their children’s generation is debt-ridden and adrift? Love, Love, Love takes on the baby boomer generation as it retires and finds it full of trouble. Does each generation unwittingly disappoint the next? It’s 196

Meet Shaun the Sheep! Photo courtesy of the BMM. Gaydon Land Rover Show 2 & 3 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire. Shaun the Sheep and Lara Croft Land Rovers join adventure winners and unique historic vehicles at one of the UK’s largest and most exciting shows for the iconic British vehicles. There's also the chance to win a VIP day out at the museum for your family. Adventure in motorsport and films takes the spotlight at the hugely popular Gaydon Land R

Masquerade, Karen Carpenter. Photo courtesy of the artist. On Friday 1 May, Masquerade returns to Stratford, performing at the Rother Street Arts House. Preview Step into a world of timeless melodies and heartfelt harmonies with Masquerade, the ultimate live tribute to the legendary duo, Karen and Richard Carpenter. Fronted by the exceptional Kate Matthews as Karen Carpenter, with her warm, hauntingly accurate vocals, and the talented Rob Norman as Richard Carpenter on pi

Butterfly Owner Clive Farrell (centre) with David Bellamy (L) and Sir David Attenborough (R). Photo courtesy of the Stratford Butterfly Farm. Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is delighted to announce a very special celebration on Friday 8 May, marking the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most treasured naturalists. Sir David Attenborough, who has previously visited the Butterfly Farm, has long been an inspiration to the team and to millions aroun