9 Things To Do in Nottingham This Week

Focusing on diaspora and colonialism among African people, the latest NAE exhibition dismantles the usual gallery rules and rejects strict curation, so viewers get the chance to fully experience the craft and ideas behind the installations and artwork. Probably best not to prod or lick them though – that’s frowned upon. The gallery has collaborated with Paul Goodwin and Hansi Momodu-Gordon to showcase work by African and British-African artists. There’s no rigid theme, just an in-depth look at a range of media and cultural practices like online gaming, bookbinding, printing, conversation and painting. One new commission from Larry Achiampong and David Blandy explores the artists’ own reactions to political radical Frantz Fanon, while another new piece by Barby Asante transforms Nottingham into a map of hidden cultural knowledge. There’ll also be some lighter stuff, like Harold Offeh’s pastiches of classic album covers, and a big-ass balloon sculpture inspired by Jacko. With the current atmosphere fostered by the recent British and US political mess, the need for voices speaking out about issues of race, gender and disenfranchisement is great, so get yersen down to the NAE for a good look at the state of things. Saturday 14 January - Sunday 19 March, free, New Art Exchange. Event link

We never thought a musical about a load of nuns would turn out to be jam-packed with divas and disco, but that’s what you get when you base it on a film with divalicious Whoopi Goldberg. Theatre Royal is showing a brand new production of the stage show, directed and choreographed by Mr Mahogany himself, Craig Revel Horwood from Strictly. Alexandra Burke, of X Factor fame, takes the lead as Deloris Van Cartier, the lounge singer who finds herself hiding from the Mob in a convent – as you do – and ends up teaching nuns to be fulfilled and all that. Aww, ain’t that sweet. Expect sass, soul, and sweetness.
Monday 30 January - Saturday 11 February, £20 - £47.50, Theatre Royal. Event link

Punk and hip hop seem a bit of an odd match, but with both genres known for being political forces it’s  fitting that The King Blues have mashed them together to make a monster of roar of sound. The band went on a bit of a break (okay, a three year break. Lay off, it’s tiring being punk) but they were back on 2015, and have just signed worldwide deal with Cooking Vinyl, with an album dropping sometime very soon. So get on down to Rescue Rooms to get a taste of what’s fresh with them, and enjoy a night of music to blow yer head off and raise your social awareness. And just so you know, they’re proper good lads too - they’ll be holding a food bank at their show to get donations for people sleeping rough in Nottingham, so bring some cans of soup and bog rolls along with your moshing shoes.
Monday 30 January, 6.30pm, £14, Rescue Rooms. Event link

We all know that Babe Punch are the baddest of gyally this side of the ‘Mids, and luckily for us, we get to revel in their glory this week as they do their thing on stage at The Bodega. The newly-emerging five-piece are heavy on the grunge and punk, with their own spin of a racket you’ve just gotta hear. Plus, their stage presence is awesome. And if that weren’t enough, there’s Holly Taylor-Gamble to tease your tabs with her proper Notts folk-pop sounds, and support from Beth Jowett and Chris Hine. And what do all these artists have in common? We hear you cry. Well, they’ve all been curated thanks to Confetti – the creative media college well worth writing an essay or two for. See you there, duck.
Wednesday 1 February, 7pm, free, The Bodega. Event link

Under Tory rule, people in the UK have been suffering from the effects of austerity. Whether it’s access limitations to mental health services, being hit by the bedroom tax, or benefit sanctions for job seekers, people are having a hard time of it. Last year, Ken Loach’s feature-length film I, Daniel Blake came out, highlighting the rubbish goings-on with the help of our fair city. Yep, Loach worked personally with clients from St Ann’s Advice Centre and Emmanuel Community Centre when developing the script, so it’s as close to the truth as a fictional story can get. The tale goes that a middle-aged carpenter by the name of Daniel Blake finds himself on state welfare following a heart attack, and meets a single mother in a similar position. It’s an emotional one, so get your tissues pocketed for the screening that includes a Q&A with austerity queen Jack Monroe and the filmmakers.
Friday 3 February, 6.30pm, £7/£8, Nottingham Arts Theatre. Event link

There’s been a lorra stuff about immigration in the news of late, and not all of it’s good news. In fact, none of it is. One woman who’s looking to turn our frowns upside down instead for an evening is Ishi Khan-Jackson, who’s put together a one-woman comedy show where she explores her identity as a woman born in Zambia, with Indian roots, who lives in Britain. ‘Does that make me BriZamdian?’ she asks. Get down to Nottingham Playhouse to celebrate our hybrid-happy genetic makeups, and chuckle away at Ishi’s story of migration, belonging and identity. The whole shebang culminates with a Bollywood dance too, so get them hands together duck.
Friday 3 February, 8pm, £9/£11, Nottingham Playhouse. Event link

Got summat inside that you need to let out? No, no, re-clench your buttocks, son, we’re talking arts, not farts. As part of New Art Theatre’s latest show Untitled, about African diaspora, Nottingham Black Archive will be putting on a workshop that guides you through the thought-provoking exhibits, and then encourages those poor little provoked thoughts into a legit piece of writing or poetry. It’s a great chance to get the juices flowing, and tap into your creative side. The workshop if free, but nab yersen a place in advance – you’re not the only one with gobsfull to tell the world.
Saturday 4 February, 1pm - 4pm, free, New Art Exchange. Event link

It’s that time again – Nottingham Contemporary have got a new exhibition on. This one’s all about life in the eighties, with a focus on the work of black artists and speakers who address racism and colonial legacy. Around 100 works by more than thirty artists will fill both gallery spaces – with painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video and archival displays all exploring British culture and politics from the time period. Montage is a particular recurring theme in this season’s exhibition, giving a nod to the way artists have reassembled histories and identities in the face of misrepresentation. There’s also the film season The Time is Now? running alongside the exhibition, which includes the flicks of black and Asian filmmakers. They’re all free, but make sure you book. All the work offered up for absorption over the next three months is sure to spark loads of conversations, so get down to the launch night on Friday 3 February and get your chin wagging. The galleries will be open until 9pm, there’ll be music from the legendary BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Don Letts, and you get a free cocktail on entry. Just make sure you RSVP on Facebook.
Saturday 4 February - Sunday 30 April, free, Nottingham Contemporary. Event link

When was the last time you got yourself down to a good, owd-fashioned, dutty rave? Pond Life have been whacking on a few parties of late, and this is the fourth in their Diskotech series. You can expect the full Pond Life Asbo sound system, plus decor, lighting and surprises, all in a secret location that’s a five-quid taxi ride away from the city centre. It’s gonna be pure vibes all night, with all the bass music you can shove in your ears without going completely deaf. There are sets from Womba, Daseplate, a Canopus Records takeover, plus umpteen soundclashes. It’s Bentronix vs Reaction on the dubstep clash; Scooby vs Cammy on the techno clash; and Poach vs Ali Mck on the bassline clash. See you at the front left speaker, yeah?
Saturday 4 Februrary, 9pm, £10, Secret Location. Event link

For the full motherload of goings-on this week, check out our What's On section.