Pick of the Week: 25 - 31 May

Sheep Shearing at Stonebridge City Farm on Tuesday is one of them stuff.

Case Studies – The Brian Case Memorial Exhibition 
Nottingham is well special for many reasons. One of which is the fact that we’re the only place in the country you can get yourself onto a course on science-based visual arts. And don’t worry, it ain’t a bunch of students slinging Bunsen burners at a canvas and calling themselves cutting edge. The people on this course know their shit, so expect to be wowed at their latest showcase. Thirteen postgraduates from UoN’s biological photography and imaging department have been exploring the natural world for an exhibition dedicated to the late Professor Brian Case who co-founded the course. To boot, there’s a bit of a knees up on Tuesday with local ales and a guest speaker to give us a few insights. See you there duck.
Monday 25 May – Wednesday 3 June, 12pm – 6pm, free, Surface Gallery

The Luminarium

Wheee! Festival
One for all kids, big and small. Wheee! is hosting an exciting range of theatre and dance shows for children this half term. Thank the Lord above. And, it’s hosted in - drum roll - the new Luminarium. Is that a round of applause we hear? There’s a toddler room containing a tactile dance show; Hop, a dance show about Icarus; Catapluf’s Musical Journey, an imaginative music show; and STATik, a fun theatre piece about a radio factory. All are aimed at kids aged five and over. A Crack in Time is a five-hour interactive tour around Papplewick museum that interacts with Victorian Nottingham and is aimed at older children. It’s gonna be perfect for that moment you cannot stand to play one more game of shops with your wee kiddies, and don’t just wanna stick Peppa Pig on repeat. It’s educational, it’s sensory, and it’s a bag of fun.
Monday 25 May - Sunday 31 May, various prices Lakeside Arts Centre

Sheep Shearing Demonstrations
Bloody Nottingham. Aren’t we a cracker of a city? Great night life, brimming with artistic talent, and we’ve got a fully fledged farm smack bang in the middle of our city. What more could you want? This half term, Stonebridge are putting on an alternative session for the kiddywinks and are gonna teach ‘em the life skill of sheep shearing. Never again will your sprog reach for the shearers with looks of trepidation and worry, afraid that their favourite ewe will be mocked in the field for having the messiest crop on the farm. Little Jonny and Jemima will be fully equipped with the kind of trimming skills even Sid Sottung would be jealous of. And for absolutely no charge whatsoever, it’s a win all round, really.
Tuesday 26 May, 10am, free, Stonebridge City Farm

Speak Out, Act Up
Sometimes it can seem like we live in a rather backwards society with issues like gay marriage still being hotly debated. It’s important to remind ourselves how far we’ve come, and remember that progress and change don’t happen overnight. Enlightening us to a societal group that are often ignored is good owd ‘Tempreh, who are bringing us Tongues Untied - a short film from 1989 about the lives of black gay men, facing stigma for the colour of the skin and their sexuality - as part of their Speak Out, Act Up event which ties into their current exhibition nicely. Following the screening will be a poetic consideration of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes’ life, by British filmmaker, Isaac Julien, introduced by local civil rights activist, Russel Christie.
Tuesday 26 May, 6.30pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

Font Festival
No, not a celebration of Times New Roman or a public demonstration against Comic Sans (regrettably). But fresh, original, Nottingham theatre. You’ve got nay reason not to support your local arts community, speshly when most of the events won’t cost you a penny. Just tek a peek at the listings, and you’ll see there’s many an exciting play. It’s run by companies including Act 2, Fowl Humour, The Gramophones, Nonsuch Theatre and Zoo Indigo, who’re all carving up Nottingham’s theatre scene. The shows vary in subject from Lance Armstrong, to the lingering sparseness of the end of a party, to a journey across the UK, and many more concepts to tickle your pickle. Hosted in Hockley’s intimate venues, Lee Rosy’s and The Lofthouse, these events are for the public - nudge - to get out and interact more with Nottingham’s theatre companies. Don't be shy cupcake.
Wednesday 27 May - Sunday 31 May, Free - £6, Hockley

TEDxNottinghamCityWomen
Come on. We’ve all been there. You know, sat in us dressing gowns on a Sunday, binge-watching TED Talks only to emerge on the other side with square eyes and a throbbing noggin. Well, this Thursday you can gain all the wisdom without having to worry about the impending obesity because you’ll have to get off your derriere to listen to these nuggets of information. This event’s all about women and the issues they have to face. With everyone from slam poets, computational geneticists, bioengineers, political scientists and then some, you’re bound to learn something insightful. This one is open to all so ladies and gentlemen, put your best foot forward and get among some education. There’s no better way to make the world a decent place.
Thursday 28 May, 12pm, free, Nottingham Central Library

Lady Leshurr
We’d go as far as to say that this is the baddest lady in grime right about now. Spitting bars like it ain’t no joke, but always with a tongue firmly in cheek, she was billed by Mike Skinner in The Guardian as “the one to watch”. We’re buzzing our bottoms off for her gig at The Maze, not only so we can hear Lukatar in all its grimey glory, but because she’s got a whole host of Notts superstars waiting to support. Jah Digga and 2Tone are on the bill, as well as flavour of the month duo, Ashmore and Motormouf. If you’re up for a skank, this is the only place you wanna be this week.
Thursday 28 May, 7pm, £8.50, The Maze 

We Got Soul
The Riverbank has magical powers. Despite being firmly rooted on the banks of the Trent, there’s a distinct holiday vibe that greets you the moment you step over the threshold. Treat yourself to that carefree goodness and splash out on a ticket to their pop up party this weekend. There having themselves a bit of a soul takeover, with three different rooms providing the best soul music the business has to offer. With DJs including Soulmaster Cass and Russ Winstanley on the decks, you’ll find yersen boogying until they turn the lights on. Why not pop down earlier and indulge in their two course meal deal? You’ll need a lot of energy for all that hip shakin’ that’s bound to ensue.
Friday 29 May, 8pm, £10+, The Riverbank

Detonate Festival
Hold tight the original ravers. The time has finally come. Forget the mardy little soundboys who’ve been whinging that “Nas isn’t drum ‘n’ bass” - the silly boggers have lost the actual plot. We’re about to witness something seriously special. The hip hop legend is about to play his exalted Illmatic in Colwick Country Park alongside everyone from Sub Focus, to Skepta, to Congo Natty, to Mike Skinner, to Klashnekoff, to a history set from Youngsta. Sorry to dampen your undercrackers like that, but hold up, it gets even better. There’s loads of local folk from the Wigflex, Basslaced, Tumble and Highness crews, to Spam Chop and even our Scorz. Sort out your ticket pronto slacker, it won’t be long until there ain’t a thing left.
Saturday 30 May, 11am – 11pm, £45+, Colwick Country Park

Draw a Doodle Dandy
Shake the dust off the old HB pencils and bring your easel out the attic. Get back into the swing of your drawing days or try something out of the ordinary, and pop down to a life drawing class with a bit of a difference. Draw a Doodle Dandy are a rather cheeky (pardon the pun) collection of artists who specialise in offering life drawing sessions that incorporate themes and costumes into the lessons. This time, they’ll be donning their best headscarves and popping on their polka dots for their rockabilly session. You’ll need to book your place in advance, so head over to their event page and sort it out.
Sunday 31 May, 12pm, £15/£20, St John’s Church

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

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