CovLitFest Children's Poetry Competition Award Ceremony with Coventry poet laureate Andrea Mbarushimana and young poet laureate Diamond Kayode-Osunlana Photo courtesy of CovLitFest. The first CovLitFest can be declared a resounding success after attracting nearly 300 people to twelve events in four different city centre venues across three days from 25 to 27 June 2026. The idea sprung from Coventry writer Alison Manning as she wondered why Coventry doesn't have a literary fe

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

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

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

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

Phoebe Dann (Sherrie), Ben Ionoff (Stacie Jaxx) and Harry Bowser (Drew Boley). Photo by Robert Warner. Rock of Ages at The Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth from Monday 22 June to Saturday 27 June. Book by Chris D’Arienzo and arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp. Review by Ashley Hayward. This highly enjoyable show transports us back in time to the 1980’s world of sex, drugs and rock and roll and it superbly captures the optimism, excesses and culture of that era. The act

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

BBC Orchestra. Photo courtesy of the BBC. Friday Night is Musicals Night with the BBC Orchestra, Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre on 19 June 2026. Review by Antony Hopker BBC’s iconic Friday Night is Music Night arrived at Warwick Arts Centre and put on a treat for the Coventry audience. The long-running show was playing a live show, which will be broadcast in September. If you weren’t there it’s well worth listening to. If you were there, it’s well worth hearing it agai

Never a dull moment. Photo courtesy of Brainiac. Brainiac Live at The Belgrade Theatre, 20 June 2026. Review by Jan Malatesta The Belgrade once again, welcomed Brainiac Live, based on the well-known TV show, for a momentous and awe-inspiring science spectacular. The show was energetic and fast-paced, with enthusiastic audience participation, ear-splitting sound effects, and plenty of loud explosive bangs. Our high-spirited presenters – Ned, Taz, Raz, and Dave the Handyman –

A topical floral dislay. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. It’s always good to try out the brand new and of course the well-established, and at the BBC Good Food Show and BBC Gardeners' World Live currently on at the Birmingham NEC, there are new products and firm favourites galore. Hot off the press, so to speak is CoffeeB, a brand-new eco-friendly way of making exceptional coffee that was launched just the day before! (17 June 2026). James Newitt is the founder of Coffee

Photo courtesy of La Joaquina Flamenco Express. Authentic Flamenco Sound and Dance performed at The Rother Street Arts House, Friday 19 June 2026. Review by Charles Essex Artistic Director of the newly-opened Rother Street Arts House, John-Robert Partridge (JP), has organised an eclectic programme of guests and acts and theatrical performances. JP cast his net widely and brought one of the foremost Flamenco groups to Stratford. The highly talented and experienced Flamenco Ex

Professor Alice Roberts and David Stevens. Photo © BBCGWL Professor Alice Roberts and designer David Stevens are the proud winners of Best Show Garden and a Platinum award at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2026 for their immersive Garden of Evolution. This educational show garden is inspired by 500 million years of life on Earth, and academics from the University of Birmingham have played an active part in its development. Visitors to the garden can journey through dramatic prehi

One of our favourite gardens, Sensed, Not Seen. Designed by Rebecca Williams. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. BBC Gardeners’ World Live and Good Food Show is on from 18 – 21 June at the NEC Birmingham. Review by Ann Evans For many visitors to the BBC Gardeners' World Live Show today and over the weekend, they will be heading straight for the beautiful show gardens, to see what the experts have come up with this year. Well, they won’t be disappointed as a dozen gardens

Ghostbusting charity fundraisers. Photo courtesy of Rob Tysal Pro Photography. Showmaster’s Collectormania was back at Milton Keynes Centre:mk for three days at the end of May, drawing in huge crowds, and attracting stallholders from all over the country. The show was held over the weekend of Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May with free admittance. Centre:mk in Milton Keynes was an ideal place to hold this Comic Con event as it already had a bustling footfall with all the local shopp

Sam, Jack and David with Sherry Expression. Photo courtesy of Shakespeare Distillery. Shakespeare Distillery is celebrating its biggest international success to date after Jester Rum Cask Strength Sherry Expression was crowned World's Best at the prestigious World Rum Awards 2026. Following last year's Bronze Medal success, the Stratford-upon-Avon distillery has gone one step further, with its latest limited-edition release progressing through every stage of the competiti

Jools Holland at the WAC. Photo courtesy of Antony Hopker. Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Warwick Arts Centre, 13 June. Review by Hilary Hopker. I know Jools Holland well - he’s always in my front room on New Year’s Eve. I am of course referring to years of having watched Hootenanny and Later…with Jools Holland. This was the first time I’ve seen him live. The show opened with support act Will Brown, who is a pop and soul newcomer. He started his set with hi

Keith Brymer Jones and Marj Hogarth. Photo courtesy of the artists. Us, Pots and a Welsh Chapel- Keith Brymer Jones and Marj Hogarth at Warwick Arts Centre, Friday 12 June 2026 Review by Alison Manning In April 2022, whilst holidaying in Wales, we noticed an impressive, large old chapel for sale in the town of Pwllheli. My daughter joked about buying it, but sadly we didn't have a spare £200,000, though that seemed like quite a reasonable price for such an expansive, grade

Alma and John (Leonie Slater and Zander Gibney). Photo by Richard Smith. Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams at The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from 10 – 20 June 2026. Directed by Sue Moore. Review by Ann Evans Summer and Smoke is set in the deep south of the Mississippi around the turn of the 20th century up to around 1916. Basically, it’s a love story – one which certainly doesn’t run smoothly. Alma Winemiller (Leonie Slater) is the puritanical daughter of the gruff an

Image courtesy of Oddsocks Productions. Romeo and Juliet, an Oddsocks Production on at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until Wednesday 10 June with performances on Tuesday at 1.30pm and 7pm, and Wednesday at 1.30pm. Review by Alison Manning. Although this play needs no introduction, this version of Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare with a difference. It is both shortened and simplified to make it more accessible to a potentially younger audience (recommended for 7+, though still