Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre. At a time when virtually every commercial movie screening in the UK is digital, Warwick Arts Centre is bucking the trend to become the only cinema in the West Midlands to present regular 35mm films screenings alongside their regular 4K programme - beginning with Christopher Nolan's eagerly awaited The Odyssey (from Friday 17 July 2026). Since re-opening in 2021, following a major refurbishment, the plush Coventry-based three-screen cin

Martha Allen-Smith, Abigail Drennan and Cassandra Wilson. Photo by Rob Fuz. Shakers: Under New Management. Performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 2-12 July. Directed by Andrew Woolley. Review by Charles Essex It’s Friday night. Glad rags on and the weekend starts. Where better to forget your troubles than Shakers, the nightclub with plastic palm trees in a run-down northern town with unemployment and closing shops and industry. It is

Dance teacher Mavis (centre) takes her class through its paces. Photo courtesy of The Priory. Stepping Out written by Richard Harris, Directed by Steve Bingham, choreography by Sue Biddle, on at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth from 1 – 11 July 2026. Review by Ann Evans Just like the play itself, the back stories of the cast are as interesting as the back stories of the characters. Stepping Out takes place in a typical village hall where Mavis Turner (Sarah Dietrich) teaches

Photo courtesy of the Neurodiversity Show. The Neurodiversity Show at the CBS Arena, Coventry on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 from 10am – 4pm. Preview by Annette Kinsella. You have to finish cleaning the house before your in-laws arrive this afternoon. Do you: A) Make a plan to tackle each room quickly and efficiently? B) Start off, but get distracted by an old postcard and end up booking a holiday to the Lake District? C) Start off, but get distracted by that same postcard and en

Careers Tour. Photo courtesy of the BMM. “It was wonderful seeing the excitement as the children realised that they could do it too.” More than 200 children aged 11 to 16 were inspired by games developers, vehicle engineers, and technology innovators at this year’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Week designed and led by the British Motor Museum. Through talks and activities delivered by a range of local companies, including Playground Games, Lotus Ca

Stepping Out written by Richard Harris at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, from 1-11 July. Director Steve Bingham. Choreographer Sue Biddle. Preview Stepping Out is a warm and very funny play about the lives, laughs and loves of a group of women (and one man) attending a weekly tap-dance class in a dingy North London church hall. Mavis, a former professional dancer teaches the bumbling tappers whilst mediating the dramas that erupt among the motley but loveable crew. When they

Packington Hall. Photo by Martyn Blair of Corley & Fillongley Photographic Club. BBC Gardeners’ World Live and the Good Food Show Summer, which will be renamed as the Good Food Festival, are moving to the breathtaking 4,500-acre Packington Estate in Meriden, Warwickshire with the first Show taking place 17 – 20 June 2027. After an incredible 35-year legacy at the NEC Birmingham, these much-loved flagship events will relocate to Packington Estate, just five miles from the NE

Popcorn. Wayne Hudson played by Connor Bailey and Scout played by Kelly Davidson. Photo courtesy of The Criterion Theatre. Popcorn by Ben Elton, Criterion Theatre, Earlsdon, Coventry, from 27 June – 4 July. Review by Hilary Hopker It was a sweltering opening night for Popcorn at the Criterion. Thankfully the recent refurbishment of the lobby area meant there was cooling air con, but because they are awaiting a grant for the main theatre, many people were left fanning themsel

CEO Peter Armstrong. Photo courtesy of the BMM. The British Motor Museum invites visitors to return to the golden era of hot hatches in their new exhibition: ‘Spoiler Alert: The Hot Hatch Story’, celebrating these everyday road heroes. Inspired by the energetic atmosphere of car meets and the bold visuals of era-defining car magazines, the exhibition immerses visitors in the 80s and 90s hot hatch culture in a space brimming with nostalgia. ‘Spoiler Alert’, which opened on 20

Copernicana CIC and Firstlight Theatre bring The Morality of Mrs. Dulska to The Bear Pit Theatre, 8–11 July 2026. Running time 110 minutes (plus interval) Preview A fiercely funny European masterpiece is coming straight to the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Copernicana CIC and firstlight Theatre are staging Gabriela Zapolska’s landmark comedy, The Morality of Mrs. Dulska, at The Bear Pit Theatre this July. The play is a hilarious, biting satire about keeping up appearances

Looking down into the workshop. Photo courtesy of the BMM. The British Motor Museum is ready to welcome families this summer with £1 child tickets for visits between 25 June and 1 September. The Chancellor recently announced the UK government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, which will temporarily reduce VAT on eligible family activities from when schools finish for the summer in Scotland (25 June) until children return to classrooms in England, Wales and Northern Irel

A Midsummer Night's Dream. Photo©EllieKurttz A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, edited by Robin Belfield at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon until 30 August. Review by Heidi Barber. First published in 1600, this popular Shakespearean play is one of his most entertaining and imaginative comedies. It has inspired numerous film versions including a 1935 film with James Cagney as the well-known and aptly named character, Bottom. For those who have not seen th

Petrol & Pride. Photo by Olgun Kordal. The British Motor Museum is to host ‘Petrol & Pride’, which returns for its second year on Sunday, 26 July. Building an empowering new fixture for members, friends and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, the event aims to allow everyone to show off their pride in their wheels and themselves. The event is inclusive not only of all people, but of all vehicles. Visitors can immerse themselves in a day of music, food and fun in the beating h

Local writers taking part in Cov Lit Fest. A new community literary festival is taking place in Coventry city centre from 25-27 June 2026 with fun and fascinating book-related activities for all ages in venues across Coventry City Centre, with a strong focus on local authors. The collage above shows local writers: l- r Top row: Pippa Virdee, Eleanor Nesbitt, Ann Evans Middle row: Nicky Downes, Danny Scott, Margaret Mather Bottom row: Anna Stephens, Andrea Mbarushimana and Di

Killer Queen Natalie Van Spelde and ensemble. Photo by Martin Pulley. We Will Rock You, Music and Lyrics by Queen, Story and Script by Ben Elton, at Rgby Theatre from 20 – 27 June 2026. Directed by Emma Bright, Musical Director Liam Walker, Choreographer Jo Walker. Review by Ann Evans This could be the shortest review ever – I only need two words to describe Rugby Theatre’s production of We Will Rock You – Utterly Brilliant! But I won’t stop there because there is so much w