Pick of the Week: 15 - 21 February

Black Wave Cinema Night
If your cinema experience solely consists of catching the latest Ryan Gosling flick at Cineworld, then boy oh boy do you need to up your game. And if you’re already at the independent-film-at-Broadway level, enjoy a change of scenery with a Euro flick at ‘Tempreh. Skupljači Perja, by Serbian director Aleksandar Petrović, to be precise. Tying into the current exhibition, the 1967 film falls into the Black Wave genre – Yugoslavian films of the sixties and seventies that use dark humour to provide an overtly critical examination of society in Yugoslavia at the time. There’ll even be an introduction to the flick by film critic, professor of film history and theory, and author Vlastimir Sudar. Top notch film food for your brain cells.
Tuesday 16 February, 6.30pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

Polari: The Lost and Found of Gay Language
If you’ve ever told your other half to “wait five minutes while you put some slap on”, then you’ll be well versed in the language of Polari, and you didn’t even know it. Brilliant. Yet another string to add to your already well-strung bow. What is it, you ask? A secret language created using theatrical slang, italianate words, a dollop of rhyming slang and Romany, and used by homosexuals way back when we were ignorant enough to condemn homosexuality. In celebration of LGBT history month, University of Nottingham are hosting a lecture by Professor Paul Baker about Polari. A thought-provoking discussion that’ll get you thinking about the clever ways you use language.
Wednesday 17 February, 6.30pm, free, Lakeside Arts

Any Means Necessary - Pre-Show Talk
We’re going absolutely potty for the Playhouse brand spankin’ production of Any Means Necessary. This week, you can catch the performance with a bit of a special pre-show talk between the show’s writer, Kefi Chadwick, the director, Giles Croft, and the environmental activist who knew Mark Kennedy – and who we interviewed in our latest mag – Merrick Badger. They’ll discuss the writing process, the real-life events that inspired the play, the history of undercover policing and, no doubt, a hell of a lot more around the subject. The talk is free, you just need to book on to get in the know before the show.
Wednesday 17 February, 6.30pm, free with ticket, Nottingham Playhouse

Austerity Cafe
We love a world first in Hoodtown. This month, Rough Trade are treating us to an “experimental fusion of political satire, fractured melodies and home-grown verse, serving up bite-sized chunks of the UK sociopolitical pie.” Oo-er. Alright then, lad, we’ll give you a go. Austerity Cafe is a rhyme opera, performed by Andy Szpuk, who takes on the role of Yannis – owner of the Austerity Cafe. He opens his floor to customers wishing to air their views, including Phil the lorry driver, Karl the protestor and George the banker. Worra treat. If you end up feeling particularly inspired by the night’s performance, you can take to the stage yourself in a poetry open mic. Words at the ready.
Wednesday 17 February, 7pm, free, Rough Trade

Build a Robot
Unleash the demon that is your inner mad scientist, and set about designing and building your very own robot minion to assist in your evil plan to take over the world. Or just muck about and see if you can improve the way your alarm clock wakes you up in the morn. For less than a tenner, the good people at Game City are ready and waiting to teach you how to programme a MeArm robot, which they’ve promised can be built with only ‘a screwdriver and a smile’. Got a NVA wristband already? Then this event, as long with the rest of their Learn a Thing workshops on this season, are completely free. Winner.
Wednesday 17 February, 11.30am, £10/free, National Videogame Arcade

Be.One
What do you get what you cross a beehive, an artist, and a load of bob-on musicians? You guessed it – an album drawn from the beehive-inspired Wolfgang Buttress pavilion! Okay, rewind. Wolfgang Buttress was asked to design a massive pavilion based on a beehive, and they played a soundscape based on NTU bees throughout the structure, to give it the full effect. Now, there is an album full of this goodness, and it’s being performed in Nottingham Arts Theatre as a full, sensory experience. It’s meant to be a dead immersive installation, doused in improv and new ideas. Massive. Different. Music. Bees. Do it.
Thursday 18 - Friday 19 February, 7pm, £12, Nottingham Arts Theatre

Trace Programme 
Secret locations are right up our street. Or someone’s street. Who knows. That’s the point. Ruth Angel Edwards and Jake Kent have put together what looks set to be a rather impressive exhibition that includes work from 32 artists from New York, Los Angeles, London, Marseille and – of course – Nottingham. There’ll be video, sculpture, sound, and allsorts. Keep your peepers on the prize for details of where it’s going to be. Alongside the exhibition will be a Rave Dinner Party ay Backlit, and a discussion on lost lesbian, gay and queer spaces, followed by a karaoke party and a chance for a boogie. Putting the art in to party. We like it.  
Thursday 18 - Sunday 21 February,  free, various locations

Wah Wah: An Evening Celebrating All Things Analogue
Living in the digital age, we can often find ourselves shouting at printed books when we can’t copy and paste the text. It’s easy to forget that we live IRL, so Malt Cross are providing a reminder of our roots with an evening celebrating all things analogue. In support of their Kickstarter campaign, there’s gonna be a screen printing workshop with the wonderfully hands-on Dizzy Ink, proper vinyl tunes with The Music Exchange, and visuals from Wigflex magician Matt Woodham. Among the realms of physics will be munchables from Dave’s Pretzels and delicious craft beers from BrewDog, so you can fill up on the good stuff while getting your fingers mucky with some proper wave makers.
Thursday 18 February, 7pm, free/£5 on the door, Malt Cross

Beeston Film Festival
We don’t believe we’re given enough credit as a city. Far from just being home to infamous, tight-clad criminals and pharmaceutical companies, we’ve spawned a fair few top dollar creative types, and we’re right ready to share ‘em. The White Lion at Beeston is gearing up to present a film festival to rival Cannes and Sundance, all with a bunch of local films featuring local actors, including Vicky McClure. If you fancy yourself as Notts answer to Tarantino, you’ve still got time to submit your film to the panel. Popcorn and clapper boards at the ready.
Friday 19 – Sunday 21 February, £4 - £15, The White Lion

Wild Wanderings 
Who dun't love a good owd treasure hunt? If you need to keep your kid entertained for a bit, or even if you’re just feeling a bit nostalgic for activities from birthday parties, then get stuck in to the Wild Wanderings Trail. Wander through the gardens and into the museum to find the animals that’ve been hidden along the way. With the chance to win the prize to end all grand prizes, and for just a quid, how could you say no? Keep the kids away from the telly even longer by staying for the fun crafts activities afterwards. Well in.
Monday 15 - Friday 19 February, 10am, £1, Wollaton Park

For the motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.

Promoters: Want your event featured in one of our upcoming Pick of the Weeks? If so then you can start by adding your event details into our magazine and website database.