Alchemy (2017)
20th – 28th May 2017
Black Country Touring hosted the Southbank Centre’s Alchemy:a contemporary festival exploring the cultural links between the UK and South Asia – through live performance, talks, exhibitions, workshops and music. We worked in collaboration with Creative Black Country and our promoters to present a range of work in various partner venues.
Festival highlights included: Beats Without Boundaries where South Asian rap meets Brit spirit; the wild colours and antics of Circus Raj; stories shared over the dinner table with Daughters of the Curry Revolution; Funny Women comedy with Noreen Khan; and the locally inspired film Anita & Me. Plus the inimitable Singh Twins’ miniature paintings at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
The official launch day was Saturday 20th May and kicked off with Circus Raj at Glasshouse and India Rocks! (or NOT?) at Wolverhampton Art Gallery culminating with an explosion of music by Swami and Punjabtronix.
Alchemy Black Country is a touring partnership project between Black Country Touring, Cast Doncaster, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, and Southbank Centre. The tour is generously supported by Arts Council England.
You can see full listings for the festival below.
ALCHEMY LAUNCH DAY
EVENT: Circus Raj
TYPE: Circus , Family (5 yrs+)
DATE: Sat 20th May 2017
TIME: 11am & 2pm
VENUE: Glasshouse Arts Centre, Stourbridge, DY8 4HF
ADMISSION: Adults £5 / Children free
BOX OFFICE: 01384 399 433
ALCHEMY LAUNCH DAY
EVENT: India Rocks (Or Not?)
TYPE: Music, photography, Talk (14 yrs+)
DATE: Sat 20th May 2017
TIME: 6pm – 10pm
VENUE: Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU
ADMISSION: Free
BOX OFFICE: 01902 552 055 / www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk
EVENT: Mersey Miniatures by The Singh Twins
TYPE: Art exhibition (all ages)
DATE: Sat 20th May – Sun 23rd July 2017
TIME: 10.30 – 4 (Sun 11 – 4)
VENUE: Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU
ADMISSION: Free
BOX OFFICE: 01902 552 055 / www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk
EVENT: Bangla Brummies
TYPE: Theatre (12 yrs+)
DATE: Sun 21st May 2017
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: Brasshouse Community Centre, Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick, B66 1BA
ADMISSION: £2
BOX OFFICE: 0121 555 5672
EVENT: 100 Masters
TYPE: Workshop, Talk (all ages)
DATE: Sun 21st May 2017
TIME: 1.00 – 3.00
VENUE: Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, 128 – 130 High St, Smethwick, B66 3AP
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: 0121 525 1127
EVENT: Om Shanti Om (Cert 12)
TYPE: Film
DATE: Mon 22nd May 2017
TIME: 8.15pm
VENUE: Lighthouse Media Centre, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT
ADMISSION: £8.15 / £6.75
BOX OFFICE: 01902 716 055 / light-house.co.uk
EVENT: The Lunchbox (Cert PG)
TYPE: Film
DATE: Tues 23rd May 2017
TIME: 2pm
VENUE: Forest Arts Centre, Hawbush Road, Walsall, WS3 1AG
ADMISSION: Contact venue
BOX OFFICE: 0300 555 2898
NB: Forest Arts Centre has been renamed “Walsall Arena And Arts Centre”.
EVENT: Daughters of the Curry Revolution
TYPE: Theatre (8 yrs+)
DATE: Tues 23rd May 2017
TIME: 12pm / 2pm / 7pm
VENUE: Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley St, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN
ADMISSION: £7.50 (including refreshments)
BOX OFFICE: 01902 572 090 / www.newhamptonarts.co.uk
EVENT: Bhangra Tots
TYPE: Family / Dance / Theatre / Workshop (2 yrs +)
DATE: Wed 24th May 2017
TIME: 10 am
VENUE: Brasshouse Community Centre, Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick, B66 1BA
ADMISSION: Contact Venue
BOX OFFICE: 0121 555 5672
EVENT: Beats Without Boundaries
TYPE: Music (14 yrs +)
DATE: Wed 24th May 2017
TIME: TBC
VENUE: Arena Theatre, Wulfruna St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SE
ADMISSION: TBC
BOX OFFICE: 01902 321 321 / www.wlv.ac.uk/arena-theatre
EVENT: Funny Girls with Noreen Khan
TYPE: Comedy (18 yrs +)
DATE: Thurs 25th May 2017
TIME: 7.45 – 9.30
VENUE: Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU
ADMISSION: Free
BOX OFFICE: 01902 552 055 / www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk
EVENT: Bollywood Brass Band
TYPE: Music (all ages)
DATE: Thurs 25th May 2017
TIME: 7.30
VENUE: Thimblemill Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, B67 5RJ
ADMISSION: £3 in advance / £4 on the door
BOX OFFICE: 0121 429 2039
EVENT: Anita and Me (Cert 12)
TYPE: Film
DATE: Fri 26th May 2017
TIME: 6.30
VENUE: Brasshouse Community Centre, Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick, B66 1BA
ADMISSION: £2
BOX OFFICE: 0121 555 5672
EVENT: Rajasthan Heritage Band
TYPE: Music (5 yrs +)
DATE: Sat 27th May 2017
TIME: 7.00
VENUE: Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley St, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN
ADMISSION: £8 / £6.50 / Family £26
BOX OFFICE: 01902 572 090 / www.newhamptonarts.co.uk
EVENT: Desi Pub Mela
TYPE: Family, Music, Art, Visual
DATE: Sun 28th May 2017
TIME: 1.00 onwards
VENUE: The Red Cow Pub, 296 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NL
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFO: 0121 535 1127
EVENT: Desi Pub Bus Crawl
TYPE: Tour, Food, Arts (18 yrs +)
DATE: Sun 28th May 2017
TIME: Tours from 2,30 onwards until 5
VENUE: The Red Cow Pub, 296 High Street, Smethwick, B66 3NL
ADMISSION: £10
BOX OFFICE: 0121 535 1127