The next week in Nottingham is jam-packed with events catering to all - including a play uplifitng hidden voices in our community, two documentary screenings about critical movements, and a night of gothic drag bingo at Rough Trade. Here's our full list of things we'd recommend getting involved in.
Climate and Nature National Emergency Briefing
When: Monday 22 June, 7pm
Where: West Bridgford Methodist Church Hall
How much: Free
A nationwide film is coming to West Bridgford, based on the National Emergency Briefing which took place in Westminster, and including appearances from big names like Chris Packham and Deborah Meaden, along with an array of leading scientists. The film hopes to convey to a wider audience the importance of new evidence, on matters such as extreme weather, environmental damages, cost of living, and other health implications, and screenings are being held all over the country by many different institutions. After the screening there will be a brief open discussion, so that attendees can talk about what the new evidence means for this region specifically. Tickets are free but space is limited, so book in advance, and invite friends and relatives to come along too.
When: Tuesday 23 June
Where: Motorpoint Arena
How much: £50.68 - £180.63
Lily Allen is a legend of British pop, and this month she’s coming to Notts and performing at Nottingham Arena as part of an arena tour promoting her latest album West End Girl. This tour follows a set of UK theatre shows in March which instantly sold out. In a nutshell, these shows are very bold, honest, and for some controversial artistic statements that see Allen interrogate the failed marriage with actor David Harbour which the album is about, while alternating between music genres and theatrical devices. This should be a great one for any fans of her stuff.
GLARE / GLIXEN / MIDRIFT Concert
When: Wednesday 24 June, (doors open) 7pm
Where: The Bodega
How much: £19.50
The Bodega are hosting a rotating headline of shoegaze bands, a genre full of ethereal soundscapes, fuzzy sounding vocals, and distorted alternative rock sounds, which are reminiscent of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. The three bands Glare, Glixen, and Midrift are from Texas, Arizona, and Northern California, and together they will bring several subcultures of alternative rock to the stage in Nottingham. This event is part of their tour across the UK, with them also playing in London, Bristol, Glasgow, and Leeds. Doors open at 7pm and the concert is open to anyone aged fourteen and up, though make sure to book tickets before arriving.
National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
When: Thursday 25 June, 7pm
Where: The Arc Cinema, Beeston
How much: £15.95 - 17.95
The National Theatre Live presents a new production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was first staged in 1985. Based on an 18th century novel, the story is set in the salons of the corrupt French super rich, and follows a destructive rivalry between two less than savoury characters, a marquise and a viscount. The starring actors are Lesley Manville, who was in Phantom Thread, and Aidan Turner, who starred in the famous BBC TV series Poldark. It’s obviously filmed live from the London stage, and the comfortable, stylish facilities of the Arc Cinema in Beeston are perfect for enjoying some top tier British drama like this.
Hot Pot: a play by Hongwei Bao
When: Thursday 25 June, 7:30pm
Where: Djanogly Theatre
How much: £12-16
Hot Pot is about four friends reuniting after the COVID pandemic at a restaurant, and is written by queer Notts writer Hongwei Bao, a scholar associated with the University of Nottingham. What begins as a heartfelt discussion between friends, reminiscing on shared memories, soon turns into a depiction of the very real fears which plague our society - including the vulnerability and courage it takes to openly come out in a society which continues to be unkind to the gay community. After the performance, which should run for about an hour and ten minutes, there will be a Q+A session hosted by another UoN scholar, Dr Xing Huang, about the representation of East Asian LGBTQ+ in the Western world.
When: Thursday 25 June, 8pm
Where: Rough Trade
How much: free
Drag Queens Nana and Marilyn Sane will be hosting a drag bingo night at Rough Trade in Nottingham, with a summer goth theme. Expect a soundtrack of alt, emo, and rock music, and look forward to performances in between games, the first starting at 8:30pm. This is a free event but there will be opportunities to win prizes including drink tokens and crochet items by another Nottingham-based drag artist, Nana Arthole.
When: Saturday 27 June - Sunday 5 July
Where: Variety of locations across Notts
How much: see specific event pages on website
This month will mark the fourth (non-consecutive) year of Nottingham Puppet Festival, and if you’re yet to experience it, you’re guaranteed a very memorable time. Between Saturday 27 June and Sunday 5 July streets, local libraries, community centres, cinemas, and theatres will come alive with puppets of all shapes and sizes. There are both ticketed events, and spectacles which you can see for free. It’s going to be a great day, with some lovely local creatives who care a lot about local arts and culture involved, along with some hugely skilled artists and makers from further afield.
When: Saturday 27 June - Sunday 28 June
Where: The Malt Cross
How much: £125
Miss Imp are a welcoming and very well-established improvised comedy group in Nottingham, who really know their stuff. This month, over the course of a weekend, they’re providing a comprehensive introduction to improv theatre, in the grand and cosy surroundings of St James’ Street’s Malt Cross. Attendees will experience an excellent rundown of the skills needed for this fun art form, including stagecraft, active listening, teamwork, and the well known principle: ‘yes and’. Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a stage performer, we’d still very much recommend this, as it’s a workshop specifically aimed at people of all skill and experience levels.
The Street Project documentary film
When: Saturday 27 June, 7pm
Where: Mammoth Climate Action Cinema, Broad Street
How much: Pay What You Feel system, from £2-10
A cinema dedicated to climate action, and other crucial human struggles, in Nottingham is screening a 52 minute documentary about a global movement called The Street Project, which began in the US, and aims to protect people from the dangers of vehicular violence. The documentary amplifies the voices of victims of hit-and-run and pedestrian crashes, and works to examine the relationship between humanity and the road, by hearing from historians and urban designers too. Overall, the documentary gives a well-rounded, topical account of the issue of traffic violence, and brings the movement to more people’s doors.
Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra: Slavic Masterpieces Concert
When: Sunday 28 June, 3pm
Where: Albert Hall Conference Centre
How much: £7-23
This is the final concert of the season for the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra, and will be filled with classical Eastern European inspired music, by Bartok and Dvorak. The title piece is called Concerto for Orchestra, which Bartok gave illumination for in his 1944 Boston programme, saying, “the title of this symphony-like orchestral work is explained by its tendency to treat the single orchestral instruments in a concertant or soloistic manner.”
The Cello Concerto by Dvorak is inspired by the bohemian landscape in his beloved Czech countryside, and the internationally accredited Jacob Shaw will perform the solo for this piece. The event will be held in the Albert Hall Conference Centre in the historical Castle Quarter, known for its grand Edwardian architecture.
Make sure to have a look at our LeftLion events listings, and sister website notts.com, for more things to do in the coming week.
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