Pick of the Week: 5 - 11 January

Amy Congdon - Crafting Anatomies

Twerk Out 
Ah, The Corner. Gig venue, the offices of yours truly, and home to Venus Pole Dancing. The latter of whom have new regular twerking classes, so you can shake your way to a deliciously peachy batteh. Forget staring at a reflection of yourself, pit-deep in sweat on a gym treadmill – get fit by working the deep muscles in your hips, lower back and stomach. Not only will you get to tone up, but you’ll be able to impress all the lucky lads and lasses in the club with some serious moves. If that’s not your jam, they’ve got loads of other classes to get involved in, including flexibility, aerial hoop and, of course, pole dancing. It’s a great community and they love a new face, so crack on with an achievable and proper fun New Year’s resolution.
Monday 5 January, 7pm, £7, The Corner

Crafting Anatomies 
Art can be very odd sometimes – and rightly so. Bonington Gallery is opening 2015 with a series of talks, demonstrations and workshops to accompany an exhibition which pays close attention to the human body. By looking at how fleshy physiques and all their internal treats have been represented throughout history, a dialogue is created through everything from jewellery cultured from human skin cells, to garments crafted using plastic surgery cutting techniques. Perhaps not the kind of thing you’d buy yer mam as a festive pressie, but with concepts to provoke thought and induce puke all in the same breath, you’ve got to give it to ‘em. The exhibition opens this Wednesday, but they’ve got events and previews over the next month to get booking - well worth pencilling in to your new diary.
Wednesday 7 January – Friday 6 February, Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm, free, Bonington Gallery

Look! The Moon! 
Awooo! The jollies are all over now – it’s time to grab yourself a smooth drink and ease into the New Year with some folky, acoustic goodness. With a double whammy of a happy hour between eight and ten, accompanied by some of Nottingham’s finest musicians, you can leave the carnage that was 2014’s demise behind. First up it’s silky vocals from the lovely Jasmin Issaka, then DH Lawrence & The Vaudevillian Skiffle Show with their mashup of British folk and American bluegrass. The final warblers of the eve come in the form of Careen, a mishmash folk group who draw from everything from reggae to opera. Dab in.
Wednesday 7 January, 8.30pm, free, The Orange Tree

How We Behave
Inspired by an interview with Michel Foucault - a French philosopher whose theories addressed the relationship between power and knowledge, and how they are used as social control - published in Vanity Fair in 1983, in which Foucault asked, “Why can’t life be ‘the material for a work of art?’” This project explored how people shape their lives by interviewing over fifty people, asking the subjects how they work on themselves, how they reflect on their lives and their relationships to others. The exhibition comprises of filmed portraits shown alongside material relating to the project. In addition to the opening party on Friday, there will be a seminar on Saturday to help you delve a little deeper into the exhibition.
Friday 9 – Saturday 17 January, free, Nottingham Contemporary

One Act Play 
Lace Market Theatre hosted a New Writing Competition this year. The winning play, by Matt Fox, is gonna be shown for two days on the trot at a proper Notts, independent theatre, so get down and have a goose. The story takes a less than obvious approach - a couple talk in bed when the scene and conversation quickly break down into a jumbled mess of a life the pair have no idea what to do with. Taking the audience on a funny and emotional journey, the performance tackles the differences between dreams and reality, and how we can draw the two together. Identity and its redefinition play a vital part in the production, so it’s kind of fitting that it’s being taken to the stage at a resolution-laden time of year. Don’t be shy.
Friday 9 – Saturday 10 January, 7.30pm, £5, Lace Market Theatre

Steve Harris, John Robertson and Junior Simpson
Turn that frown upside down with some Saturday night comedy. We’re ruddy lucky to have Just the Tonic because they bring a whole host of funny men and women to this city for a decent ticket price, and although you may not like every single comedian they book, you’ll be sure to have a laugh. Steve Harris headlines this week’s line-up, one of the cheekier chaps on the circuit with punchlines to knock you sideways. Just behind him will be the Australian John Robertson whose humour is darker than a really dark night, as well as the observational comedy of Junior Simpson. Plus, you can hang around after and have a bit of a boogie when the chairs are whipped away and the music starts to play. Just what the doctor ordered.
Saturday 10 January, 6.45pm, £10/£5, Just The Tonic, The Forum

Comic Writing Masterclass
Fancy yourself as a bit of a funny bogger? Nottingham Writers’ Studio is hosting a whole day’s worth of workshop that’ll teach the ins and outs of writing for the laughs. Equipping you with tools to craft the best jokes going, you’ll learn how to write with a punchline, brainstorm comic material, develop underlying humour, and then some. With the expertise of two professional writers, Alfie Crow and Kate Fox, there’s a fountain of chucklesome knowledge to be picking at for budding funny-boned folk. All you’ll need to bring is a pen, some paper, and your best “knock knock” joke... In fact, probably best to leave the latter at the door.
Saturday 10 January, 10am – 4pm, £40/£60, Nottingham Writers’ Studio

Draw-a-Doodle Dandy 
One resolution on many a list this year is to be more creative and more productive. Luckily, there are some regular life drawing classes popping off in Carrington. But don’t go thinking it’s gonna be a terribly stuffy affair – this one’s for anyone and everyone, from beginners to pros, and the aim is to have a laugh while getting all arty. The life models are taking a stand against the stiffness and coming to actual life with more style, drama and variety. The first session is ‘Malay Dreaming’ which will involve performance and dance costumes from Malaysia, all they need is you to bring your crayons, paints, pencils, and get stuck in.
Sunday 11 January, 12pm – 6pm, £15/£20, St. John’s Church, Carrington

Nottingham Jazz Orchestra
Wasting no time in getting us all energised in 2015, NJO have an evening of big band loveliness to end that always rather strange first week back at work. They will be belting out the sounds of the legendary Count Basie orchestra, a band who were considered one of the greatest swing bands in the land. They started in 1935 and are still going strong today (not with the original members, obviously), and we’ve no doubt that NJO will do a fine job bringing us their music. So, get on it, start your new year with a Sunday swing.
Sunday 11 January, 8pm, £6/£4, Federation House, Claremont Road

Weirds, Haggard Cat & Baybo Squaybo
Time to get your knees right back up where they belong. The wonderfully named Baybo Squaybo start this night with some their jangly and chunky sounds that take inspiration from all over the music shop. Haggard Cat Bothday Present, Matt from Baby Godzilla’s side project, will be blasting out their rock-based blues that have walked a thrashier path than most dare to tread. And then to round the evening off rather nicely will be the Leeds band Weirds. Their debut single was released through Nottingham’s Denizen label, and they’ve got some good ears there because these guys – who describe themselves as neo-psyche rock – are pretty damned loud and tasty. Three bands, three quid – that’s a pound a band, ladies and gentleman. Bargain.
Sunday 11 January, 7.15pm, £3, JamCafe

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

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