The Reluctent Revolutionary
Whistling Orchestra
If you’re constantly annoying your colleagues while whistling along to the radio, or find birds conversing with your tooting as you potter about your everyday affairs, then perhaps you ought to pay Primary a visit. This week, they’re calling flute-less flutists of all ages to attend an informal meeting, with the prospect of joining a brand new, one of a kind whistling orchestra. Artist Emma Smith is attempting to compose an original orchestral score, inspired by working songs from Notts, and she needs a load of you Nottinghamians to perform it for her. If you’re interested, or think you might be, definitely pop along. It’ll be summat different to do, at the very least...
Tuesday 26 April, 6.30pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary
Ceramic Slab-Built Vase
Have you ever been sat in your yard thinking, “It’s starting to look like the innards of IKEA in ‘ere.” Well, it’s time to get original, babeh. This month offers the opportunity to get to Sarah Burton’s vase-building workshop. Not only is there the chance to get all experimental and expressive and that, but you’ll eventually be able to walk away with your very own creation. A bit like giving birth. Learn how to roll out a slab of clay, make a vase, and then decorate it with different textures and glazes. After you’re done pottering around the gallery, our Sarah is gonna take them all away to fire so you can collect them in a few weeks’ time. Bob on. Give her a bell on 07905946125 to book.
Wednesday 27 April, 10:30am, £40, Focus Gallery
Rusty Returners Launch
Hung up your boots? Think your glory days are behind you? Over forty? You might just have a few goals left in you. Legendary Forest and England defender – and getting on a bit, himself – Viv Anderson will be running the Rusty Returner sessions to get you oldies back into the beautiful game. Viv was the first black player to represent England in a full international game. Also, as part of the launch, if you get tired of scoring hat-tricks and yelling about whether it was offside or not, you can get a free sports massage to soothe those creaking joints. There’ll also be live music and free tea and coffee available. Football is a game even the ancient and rickety can still have a blast with, so why not give the youngsters a run (or a gentle jog) for their money?
Wednesday 27 April, 7.30-8.30pm, free, Southglade Leisure Centre
BFI Presents: Richard III + Live by Satellite Q&A with Ian McKellen
“A horse, my kingdom for a horse!” You don’t have to give up your kingdom to go and see this classic and unique twist on a Shakespeare classic at Nottingham’s very own Broadway cinema. Whereas, the original play took place during the Wars of the Roses, this version starring Ian McKellen as Richard III, is set in a fictionalised 1930s Britain, in the grip of a power struggle between the Nazi-esque Richard III and his rivals for the throne. With slick pacing, eye-catching visuals and sharp humour, this is something you won’t want to miss. What’s more, the movie’s also preceded by a short documentary which follows McKellen as he wanders about Britain to the various locations of the movie and play. If you still haven’t had your fill of delightful old thespians, then stick around after, because there’ll also be a discussion between McKellen and director Richard Loncraine, broadcast live from BFI Southbank.
Thursday 28 April, 7:30pm, ticket prices vary between £4.00 and £8.20, Broadway Cinema
Em-Con 2016
Geeks of the East Midlands, unite! Yes, it’s that time of year again where you get to dress up like your favourite character with (almost) no shame whatsoever and celebrate. The official EM TV and film convention is coming to town with everything from traders and Q&As to the most elaborate of cosplayers, so each and every one of us can nerd the hell out. This year, we’re celebrating fifty whole years of Star Trek with none other than Walter Koenig – Chekov – signing autographs. Plus, original red Power Ranger Austin St. John is coming, so form a megazord of your best friends and go see him. There’s the chance to show your zeal for everything from Game of Thrones to Doctor Who, through to Star Wars and Harry Potter. With so many comic book artists, writers, and classic props, there’ll be something for everyone to become over-obsessed with.
Saturday 30 April, 6.30pm, £11.20 - £16.80, Motorpoint Arena
Kino Klubb presents The Ninth Configuration
Fancy something a little more highbrow? Go and check out the screening of William Blatty’s The Ninth Configuration. It’s the second in Blatty’s ‘faith trilogy’, which started with the legendarily scary and gross, The Exorcist, and ended with The Exorcist III. The basic premise is that a gothic castle in America (which is unusual enough, given the distinct lack of castles in the US) is being used as a mental institution for ex-military personnel, who are encouraged to live out their fantasies as a form of therapy. We won’t spoil too much, but it’s intelligent, darkly funny, has got some mesmerising visuals and one of the best barroom brawls in cinema history. As with all Kino Klubb featured films, there’ll be an introduction preceding the movie, which will fill you in on some fascinating behind-the-scenes nuggets of info about the movie.
Friday 29 April, 8:45pm, ticket prices vary between £4.00 and £8.20, Broadway Cinema
Nottingham Alternative Film Network 1st birthday - The Reluctant Revolutionary charity screening
Feel like something a bit different from the normal Hollywood schlock? Want to gain new insights into the wider world? Well, NAFN is celebrating its one year anniversary with a screening of The Reluctant Revolutionary, directed by BAFTA-nominated director, Sean McAllister. It’s about the Arab Spring which rocked North Africa and the Middle East in 2011 and how it affected the life of one Yemeni tour guide. There’ll be a live Q&A sesh with Sean and all of the profits of this charity screening will go to the star of The Reluctant Revolutionary, Kais Al-Qualisi, the reluctant tour guide whose family have now been left homeless by the fighting in Yemen. As well as that, you can also see a collection of shorts about the Arab Spring called Trials of Spring. All of this is coupled with some of the finest cuisine straight out of Yemen.
Saturday 30 April, 5:00pm, ticket prices vary between £8.25 and £9.90, White Lion Bar and Kitchen
Kold Chillin’
The longest running hippity hop night in Nottingham is back. The Old Angel was its long running haunt previously, but with that unfortunately closing its doors for good, KOLD Chillin' will be setting up just down the road, in Rough Trade. The DJ line-up is Archive, Lethargy, and Hurst - plus, they say, a homage to be paid to past guest turntable pioneers. They promise that you will “hear nothing but the Ruff Raps, Heavy Breaks and Stone Kold Classics, all the way from The Bronx to the Bay” - strictly all on vinyl, of course. The event will be running bi-monthly from here on out, so keep your eyes, and ears, peeled for future dates.
Saturday 30th April, 7pm, free, Rough Trade
Forbidden Forest Festival
A one day festival in the forest at Donington Park that will host live acts within the musical genres of bass music, house, and tech house. Acts include My Nu Leng + Dread MC, TQD, Skream, and Leftwing & Kody across two stages from early afternoon until late. Several bits of advice to avoid disappointment: under 18s, man bags, and tracksuits will not be permitted. We’re sure they have their reasons. There are also coach tickets available, though Nottingham ones do look to be sold out.
Sunday 1 May, 2pm, ticket prices vary between £20 and £25, Donington Park Forest DE74 2RP
Mimm 5th Birthday with Mr Scruff
To celebrate five years of Mimm Store (independant music, art and clothing, if you were unaware), they have coaxed the Mancunian electronic music producer and DJ, Mr Scruff, to play for six (yes, six) hours this bank holiday weekend, within the confines of the Nottingham Irish Centre. Lover of tea, big tunes and amazingly twisted cartoons, Mr Scruff has produced absolute bangers throughout his career including the popular Get a Move On, Jazz Potato and the beautifully odd Shanty Town. Only final release tickets left (double the price of the original super early bird ones), but, hey, it’ll be worth it.
Sunday 1 May, 9pm, £20, The Irish Centre
For the full motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.
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