Salutations my friends! How have you been? How about that weather huh? Craaaaaaaaazy!
Anyway enough chit chat, I know why your here, your here for yet another dose of your favourite blog post W.O.A.M. (c’mon, you gotta know what this means by now, right?)
This week mac Birmingham are offering a wide range of exciting Cinema screenings, Theatre Performances, Exhibitions, Music Performances, Dance Shows, Comedy shows and Talks!
As always you can all the information you need in the links posted below.
Now then, shall we get started?
Cinema: This week in the Cinema we have ‘Far From The Madding Crowd’. Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer, captivated by her wilful spirit; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a handsome and reckless sergeant; and William Boldwood (Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love – as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance.
In addition to this the Cinema is also showing foreign language film ‘Argerich’. The mother through the daughter’s eyes – a family portrait blending intimate conversations, agreements and disagreements, and shred ties of sounds and blood. This intimate portrait of two musical giants by Martha Argerich’s daughter Stéphanie has been filmed over two decades and around the world: Warsaw, where Martha Argerich won the Chopin competition first prize; Japan, which hosts a unique Argerich festival; London, where Stephen Kovacevich, Stéphanie’s father, lives, works and enjoys intensively Indian food; Belgium, where Martha lives in a house filled with pianos and cats; Argentina, which she left at the age of twelve to study in Vienna, but still conceals valuable family treasures; Switzerland, where Stéphanie and her sister Lyda are currently living. Made up of documentary sequences focusing on the two characters of Martha and Stephen in their everyday lives, in rehearsal and in performance, the film will be largely given over to intimate, delicious anecdotes, and a few scenes in which the family is reunited. A film by Stéphanie Argerich.
‘A View From The Bridge’ is showing this Monday. Don’t miss a stellar cast led by Mark Strong (The Imitation Game; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) in the Young Vic’s ‘magnetic, electrifying, astonishingly bold’ production of A View from the Bridge – the Evening Standard, Guardian and Independent’s top theatre pick of 2014. The great Arthur Miller confronts the American dream in this dark and passionate tale. In Brooklyn, longshoreman Eddie Carbone welcomes his Sicilian cousins to the land of freedom. But when one of them falls for his beautiful niece, they discover that freedom comes at a price.
Mac cinema are also showing ENO Live: ‘The Pirates of Penzance’. Guaranteed to be a major event, Mike Leigh (Palme d’Or winner and five times Oscar nominee) directs his first ever opera for the stage. Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular comic opera features much-loved favourites including A Policeman’s Lot is Not a Happy One and I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General. Sentimental pirates, blundering policeman, absurd adventures and improbable paradoxes – Gilbert and Sullivan’s dazzling The Pirates of Penzance comes to ENO in a highly anticipated new production from renowned film maker and director Mike Leigh.
For lovers of foreign cinema, mac has got you covered! ‘Tots Volem El Millor Per A Ella’ One year after suffering a horrible traffic accident, Geni is ready to resume her life… or at least that’s what her family wants to see. The truth is that despite trying to please everyone, Geni feels unable to live up to the expectations: her life before the accident no longer interests her. Why resume it then? The confusion that this creates causes her behaviour to become increasingly more erratic and leads to a single idea that begins to grow within her: escape.
Not enough of a fix for you foreign film addicts out there? Fine! Here’s another gem: ‘8&1/2’.Guido is a film director, trying to relax after his last big hit. He can’t get a moment’s peace, however, with the people who have worked with him in the past constantly looking for more work. He wrestles with his conscience, but is unable to come up with a new idea. While thinking, he starts to recall major happenings in his life, and all the women he has loved and left. An autobiographical film of Fellini, about the trials and tribulations of film making. Written by Colin Tinto.
Mac cinema are also showing ‘Harold Offeh: Covers (Plus Q+A)’. Covers: Graceful Series followed by a conversation with the artist + live performance commission from Kate Spence / Black Hole Club. Harold Offeh born in Accra, Ghana is an artist who works in a range of media including performance, video, photography and interactive and digital media, employing humour as a means to confront the viewer with an assessment of contemporary popular culture.
In addition, mac are also showing ‘The Dark Horse’. Starring an extraordinary NZ cast; Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider and Boy), James Rolleston (Boy) and Kirk Torrance (Outrageous Fortune) The Dark Horse is an inspiring true story based on the life of a charismatic, brilliant but little-known New Zealand Hero and chess champion – Genesis Potini, aka Gen.
And finally this week mac cinema are screening timeless classic ‘Cinderella’. A live-action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella” brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually-dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.
For more on mac’s vast array of films, check the links below!
– Far From The Madding Crowd: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/far-from-the-madding-crowd-1/
– Argerich: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/argerich/
– National Theatre Live: Encore Screening A View From The Bridge: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/nt-live-encore-screening-a-view-from-the-bridge/
– ENO Live: The Pirates of Penzance (Live): http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/eno-live-pirates-of-penzance-live/
– Tots Volem El Millor Per A Ella: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/tots-volem-el-millor-per-a-ella/
– 8 1/2: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/8-1-2/
– Harold Offeh: Covers (Plus Q+A): http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/harold-offeh-covers-plus-q-a/
– The Dark Horse: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/the-dark-horse/
– Cinderella: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/cinderella/
———————————-
Theatre: This week in mac’s Theatre offerings include ‘Somewhwere to: Top Girls)’. Top Girls is a 1982 play by Caryl Churchill now infamous in theatre for its stylistic innovations and non-linnear narrative. The story follows zeitgesit Marlene who has just been appointed Office Manager and explores contemporary issues of women in the workplace and examines women’s position in society as well as the nature of what success really is.
For more on Top Girls and other Theatre performances at mac, click on the link below!
– Somewhere to: Top Girls: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/somewhere-to_top-girls/
———————————-
Exhibitions: This week, mac are hosting two brilliant exhibitions! Including Trevor Appleson: ‘Birmingham’. Appleson’s classic portrait photographs of carefully selected demographic groups made in his makeshift portable studio are now well known. In towns and settlements from Cape Town to Mexico City to Kibbutz Hatzerim in Israel, Appleson sets up on beaches, street corners, and other public spaces, enabling a captivating representation of place.
Also, mac are showing ‘Wish You We’re Here’. Selected from Jeremy Cooper’s major artists’ postcards collection, Wish you were here? presents works by some of today’s most famous artists. Featuring over 200 artists including Carl Andre, Joseph Beuys, Ruth Claxton, Julie Cockburn, Gilbert & George, Richard Long, Yoko Ono, Ruth Proctor, Dieter Roth, amongst many others, this is a unique opportunity to see works from the collection, some for the first time, before its donation to the British Museum Prints and Drawings Department in 2018.
For more on exciting exhibitions at mac, visit the links below!
– Trevor Appleson: Birmingham: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/exhibition/birmingham/
– Wish You We’re Here: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/exhibition/wish-you-were-here/
———————————-
Music: Mac’s music offerings this week are bountiful! An event from (h) experiment: ‘Sparks May fly’. Two world class musicians come together for a day of music making and the result of their collaboration will be performed for an intimate audience that evening. There are just a few simple rules: each pair of musicians should have some common ground, they should never have played together before (at least not in public) and they should be natural improvisers, happy to collaborate and embrace risk.
Also on offer at mac is ‘Merrymouth’. Merrymouth are a three piece folk-orientated band featuring Ocean Colour Scene songwriter and vocalist Simon Fowler (guitar/vocals), Dan Sealey (guitar/vocals) & Adam Barry (piano/organ/vocals).
For more on (h) experiment, Merrymouth and everything Music related, click on the links below!
– (h) experiment: Sparks may Fly: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/sparks-may-fly/
– Merrymouth: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/merrymouth/
———————————-
Dance: The dance offering at mac this week is a production from Women and Theatre: ‘Boys Talk’. An engaging celebration of male communication with movement, performance and spoken word.Created using the stories and experiences of young men living in Birmingham, Boys Talk explores how boys talk,what they talk about and how they say it. Developed in partnership with Elmhurst School for Dance, Edwards Trust, SWIIS Fostercare and mac birmingham’s Next generation programme.
For more on ‘Boys Talk’ and other dance based performances, check out the link below!
– Women and Theatre: Boys Talk: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/women-theatre-boys-talk/
———————————-
Comedy: The Comedy offerings at mac this week is an exciting offering from (h) experiment: ‘Paradise Circus Live’. Paradise Circus Live is old fashioned revue with a local twist – a host of satirical sketches, stand-up, songs, games and monologues. Jon Bounds and Jon Hickman bring a version of their popular Birmingham miscellany, Paradise Circus, to the stage with biting satire of the media and Birmingham itself — all refracted through a thick lens of Marxist critical theory. It’s funnier than it sounds. Hickman is not from round these parts and Bounds will take him through what it really means to understand Birmingham.
For more on (h) experiment and other comedy shows at mac, check the link below!
– (h) experiment: Paradise Circus Live: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/paradise-circus-live/
———————————-
Talks: This week mac have an exciting talk from the Cannon Hill Art School Lecture: ‘Artists’. Led by Cornelia Parker who will explore her process of making, exhibiting and engaging audiences.
For more on This and any other lecture at mac, check the link below!
– Cannon Hill Art School Lecture: Artists: http://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/cannon-hill-art-school-lecture-artists/
———————————-
And that’s just about it for your W.O.A.M. fix this week mis amigos (cue the google translate search!) Thanks for tuning in and see you next time for What’s on at mac!
Take it easy now everyone
Andy and Amelia
Bsaatmac 