Surname Viet Given Name Nam
A screening at the Contemporary this Tuesday sees a documentary from Trin T. Minh-ha, exploring the role of Vietnamese women throughout history and in modern day society. Drawing from her own life as well as the experiences and stories of real women, Trin uses folk poetry, dance and print text to paint a picture of a culture’s voice, one that hasn’t been heard by the Western masses. An eye-opening viewing that might open up a world difficult to put the lid back on. And with the absence of a price tag, it won’t be hurting the wallet either.
Tuesday 19 August, 6.30pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary
Phlebas - Robin Williams Tribute
Last week one of the most fantastical and eccentric actors in the land popped his clogs after an ongoing battle with depression. The man who brought so much laughter to our childhoods surely wouldn’t want us getting down… Unless it’s in the form of a disco boogie. Phlebas are hosting a Robin Williams tribute night, where you can dress up as your favourite character from his films and dance the night away to the usual plethora of mental, random tunes. We expect to see many Mrs Doubtfires and Genies carrrying on his legacy of silliness – long may that fire burn.
Tuesday 19 August, 10pm, £2/£3, Bar Eleven
Pendrop
Ever fancied yourself as a bit of an owd Billy Wordswo’th or a Carol Ann Duffeh? Blackdrop are hosting a creative writing and poetry workshop for all those who’re literarily inclined, or just fancy having a little scribble. It’s proper cheap, and you might even summon the performance demons to find yourself at one of their spoken word events in the future. With an aim to nurture young talent and stir a few creative juices in the city, Blackdrop are an organisation to keep an eye out for if you’re into being gobby, with events for hip hop, comedy, storytelling, sketches and poetry.
Wednesday 20 August, 6.30pm, £2, Ustinov Room, Nottingham Playhouse
Kids’ Workshops
Ah, summer time and the joys of finding things to fill your nippers’ day while they’re off school. The scatty weather is no match for two fun workshops going off in Beeston - they’ll get their hands mucky and minds occupied. The first is a drawing and painting class – all you’ll need is a pencil, a paintbrush and an imagination. The second is a scrapbook class, so take along any photos you might want to turn into a beautiful memory. Materials and refreshments will be provided for both, but the more stuff everyone chips in, the better. For 7 – 15 year olds, book by calling 0115 9223743.
Drawing and painting: Wednesday 20 August, 2pm, £10; Scrapbooking: Thursday 21 August, 2pm, £12.50, Artworks, Chilwell Road
Superhero Picnic
We know they’re flogging the Batman thing to death, but who can blame them – it’s damned cool and to not take advantage would be a crime. So, do you want to meet Batman? Of course you do. Want to combine that with archery, laser tag, segways, table football, a kids’ assault course, a superhero trail and a best dressed superhero teddy competition? Of course you do. Okay, most of us will be grafting away at work, but if you have any annual leave left or are on kid duty then pack up a picnic and get yourself down.
Wednesday 20 August, 11am – 3pm, free entry (some activities will have a small charge), Wollaton Park
Reel Equality
Sick of the status quo of female characters in film being somewhat empty and shallow? You’re not the only one. Equation are kicking off a brand new series of movie nights for all those people out there who love a good movie and hate sexism. As you may have gathered from the title - the screenings tell woman-centred stories, and challenge gender stereotypes. Kicking things off at the launch party are grooves from Notts’ own Stiff Kittens DJs, free cake from the Screaming Carrot bakery and a screening of offbeat classic Ghost World. They also suggest a bit of dressing up too, as the best dressed gets one year’s Broadway membership. Snazzy.
Friday 22 August, 8.30pm, free, Broadway
Dance Like Twats presents… Shit-Pop!
There aren’t many events quite as explicitly self-explanatory as this one. Going on the basis that life’s too short to care what people think, they highly recommend you get on the dancefloor and make a complete muppet out of yourself as well as dancing away the week’s stresses. With a night full of what they call “cheesy bangers”, which to us normal folk translates as huge pop anthems from Wham! to The Killers, R Kelly to Cyndi Lauper, there’s bound to be plenty of “ooooh” throw your hands up in the air moments, and we simply cannot wait to shake it like fools with them.
Friday 22 August, 9pm, free, The Maze
Summer Nights Film Festival
While we’ve got this lovely weather cracking off, the last thing you want to do is sit inside a dark stuffy cinema - which sucks for us lot that love films. Thankfully some people think outside the box office and the product of these thoughts is a film festival showing three critically acclaimed films (Gravity, Grease and, aptly, The Dark Knight Rises) on a massive screen in the middle of Wollaton Park. So pack a folding chair, bring your own and enjoy some great cinematic entertainment with the added enjoyment of oxygen. Just don’t go dressed as Bruce Wayne, it’s a bit passé...
Friday 22 August - Sunday 24 August, 7pm, £12, Wollaton Park
Lace Squared
If you’re stuck for something to do when you're in town over the next five weekends, nip down to Lace Market Square and poke your nose around. There’ll be a vintage fair, arts and crafts stalls, and plenty of live street entertainment. If owt, you could even just have a mooch around for a bit of snap or a fairground-themed cocktail. Tasty. From jazz to folk to reggae to funk, Rastarella of Cultural Vibrations has selected a myriad of musicians to perform including Frankie Rudolf, Ashmore, Liam O’Kane, Hemulen Sounds, MuHa and loads more. Can’t hurt to have a peep, can it?
Launch event – Friday 22 August, 6pm, free, Lace Market Square. Lace Squared runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Sunday 14 September
Doctor Who New Season Premiere + Q+A
Chances are that you’ve heard there’s a new Doctor on the way to your tellyboxes. The latest season of the show sees Peter Capaldi - of The Thick Of It fame - take the regeneration baton. We’re sure he’ll be toning down his effin and blindin’ for the role, and add another dimension to everyone’s favourite BBC show. You can catch the first episode of the new season all big and stuff down at Broadway. Even better, you get an extra five minutes of footage, a bit of a look behind the scenes, and a live Q+A with the doctor, his assistant and the show’s writer. All together now, “Waaaa-ooooooh.”
Saturday 23 August, 7.35pm, £9, Broadway Cinema
Revenge of Calculon
Notts can happily say it caters to most musical niches. Even if you didn’t think you were in to something, you can become a convert overnight. One to add to the bag is synthy electro made by dudes wearing luchador masks… yep, you read that right. From the minds behind the equally bonkers Spaceships Are Cool, Revenge Of Calculon are two guys making vintage electronic noise that wouldn’t sound out of place on a fifties B-movie. Support will be from the unique and epic I Am Lono and 8mm Orchestra. And, if you fancy taking a slice home with you, they’re launching their debut 7” X, Y & Z Rays on the night.
Saturday 23 August, 8pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary
Stop Pretending Art Is Hard
Ever wished you were good at all that arty stuff, but found it a bit too hard? Well, The Dilettante Society and Hopkinson want you to stop wishing. They’re once again inviting you to the top floor of the gallery to transform a huge empty space into a beautiful dilettante gallery, with all materials provided. No professional skills needed. There’ll be plenty of other exciting things to sink your arty teeth into too, including Velcro Poetry and even a few games of “pin the facial hair on the artist”. It sounds like a right arty party and not one that requires noses to be in the air.
Saturday 23 August, 7.30pm, free, Hopkinson Gallery
Alley Café Fourteenth Birthday
How time flies, eh? The little café with the big menu and chilled out nights is turning fourteen. And what teenager doesn’t want a party? Especially if I’m Not From London are organising it. Along with the residents spinning up a storm, there’ll be a menagerie of musical musings providing the soundtrack for the evening: a selection of Nottingham’s finest bands and DJs will be on form, and a few surprise performances from elsewhere in the UK. Lacklustre not being in their vocabulary, there will be a light show provided by Metempsychosis to bring a touch of psychedelia. Get your party poppers ready and expect good tunes, happy vibes, free booze and tasty treats. All of this for the grand sum of... Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Alley Café fourteenth birthday party, Sunday 24 August, free, Alley Cafe
For the full motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.
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