Pick of the Week: 7 - 13 December

image: Robert Day

Dick Whittington
Try as you might, there is no escaping the influx of red, white and green stripes, bearded blokes and swelling waistlines December brings. So you may as well just go with it and grab yersen a ticket to the panto, duck. This year, it’s the story of Dick Whittington – a young country lad who leaves home for the big wide world with his cheeky mog in tow. Directed by the wonderful Kenneth Alan Taylor, the show is set to be a spectacle – and a hilarious one at that – with the Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company on hand to deliver songs with a smile. Go on. You know you want to.
Runs until Saturday 16 January, £25.50,  Nottingham Playhouse

image: Nottingham Contemporary

9 Lives
It is often said that people are only afraid of what they don’t understand. Sadly, in some parts of the world, this leads to groups in society being persecuted, and forced to flee their homes for fear of being killed. In Eritrea, those who are homosexual are threatened daily by vicious homophobia that puts their lives at risk. 9 Lives is a play written by Zodwa Nyoni, that tells Ishmael’s story. An asylum seeker seeking refuge in the UK – Leeds to be precise – after his life is threatened because of his sexuality. In a time when media scaremongering and propaganda regarding refugees is rife, it’s important that we seek to educate ourselves through other mediums, to better understand the world around us. There will be a question and answer opportunity after the performance, led by director Alex Chishom and actor, Lladel Bryant.
Tuesday 8 December, 7pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary

YMCA Digital: Young Creatives Annual Showcase
There must be sommat in the water in old Hoodtown. Sprogs are popping up all over the shop with more talent in their little fingers than the chart hitters have in their whole bodehs. And what do we do with talented young’uns in Hoodtown? Nurture ‘em, of course. That’s exactly what YMCA Digital have been doing, and they’re just about ready to show them off to the world in their annual showcase this week. There’s also gonna be guest performances from established Notts talent, Bru-C and Emily Franklin, and you don’t even have to put your hands in your pockets to see ‘em. Winner winner, chicken dinner.
Tuesday 8 December, 6.30pm, free, Rough Trade

image: Make to Make

Make to Make
Eight weeks ago, twelve strangers from St Ann’s came together to participate in design workshops to create their own streetwear fashion label. And by jove, they’ve only gone and done it. After being tutored in Fashion Design and Construction, Visual Art and Photography, and taking part in screen printing and branding workshops, they’re about ready to show off their work in a free fashion show this week. There’ll be a load of live music, workshops given by the participants, and a secret auction before the night is out. The fashion show begins at 7pm, but you best get down early to make the most of all the other glorious stuff on offer.
Wednesday 9 December, 5pm, free, Backlit Gallery

Screen:Play 
Like magpies, we love new, shiny things. We especially love them when they raise money for good causes. Unlike magpies. The selfish bastards. Any road, new event Screen:Play is pooling cash for the Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre’s Journey to Recovery Fund, which provides those on a low income with the opportunity to travel to counselling sessions as well as access to free childcare while in attendance. Here’s the deal: a band play some kick-ass tunes and then pick a film for afterwards. For the first event, we can look forward to all-female, punky five-piece Babe Punch and nineties classic 10 Things I Hate About You. All with a raffle, cake and popcorn. Swell.
Thursday 10 December, 7pm, free, Rough Trade

The baddest bunch around...

Sheep Soup Sharing
Reeling from the success of Mrs Green: The Musical, the biggest, baddest theatre production group in Notts are back with yet another delicious slice of the musical pie. Made up of graduates from the Television Workshop, they’ve added Trev from D.I.D to the mix, and used the musical genius of Rob Green and Harleighblu. The company are now ready to share the ideas they’ve come up with to a friendly yet constructive audience. That means you lot. As part of the process of creating a brand spankin’ show, they’ll be performing short scenes and songs, and wanna know what you think of ‘em. Rob Green and Harleighblu are gonna do number, as well as poet, Ben Norris. Do ‘em a favour, show yer face.
Thursday 10 October, 7pm, free, The Lofthouse

Georgie: Following The 20 Mile Road Tour 
Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Our Georgie’s only gone and got herself bleddy signed to Columbia. She might be playing in the big leagues now, and belong to the same label as Adele, but Georgie is still a Notts gyal through and through. To pay homage to her bus journey from Mansfield to Notts, she’s labelled her tour, The 20 Mile Road, after her song of the same name. There’s support coming from fellow Notts talent, Josh Wheatley and the incredible Felix MB, so reschedule whatever you had planned for Thursday, and have a listen to the bloody brilliant vocals of Notts answer to Patti Smith.
Thursday 10 December, 7.30pm, £4, The Maze

Smouldering...

The Petebox
Every bleeder’s gone loopy for looping at the minute, what with beatboxing extraordinaire Motormouf starting his new monthly Loopers night up at The Maze. So it’s the perfect time for local legend Petebox to hit his hometown once more, with music all birthed from the gob. With support from Londoners Too Many Ts, inclusive of their golden-era hip hop vibes, the night is set to go off with some of the maddest and most innovative sounds. If you’ve ever seen Mr ‘Box before, you’ll know his performance will leave you with a gaping mouth, gagging to swallow some mad skills. If you’ve never had the pleasure, now’s your chance to see a true Nottingham legend. Don’t miss out.
Friday 11 December, 6.30pm, £11.20, Rescue Rooms

Cover From Another Brother
An evening of true chaos is coming your way this week. But chaos filled with bags of Christmas cheer, as some of Nottingham’s best loved bands and artists, rock up to The Lofthouse to have a jolly good sing song, covering each other’s tracks. Lowrie, Ryan Farmer, Anwyn Williams, George Holroyd and Jasmin Issaka are but four of the massive lineup expected to belt out the lyrics to some well-loved local hits. There’s no running order, and not a set list in sight, so you’re advised to get down early and grab a pint to make sure you don’t miss anyone. The evening will also be raising money for the Emmanuel House Christmas appeal, which supports homeless adults, so bring a couple quid to chuck in the bucket, eh.
Friday 11 December, 8pm, free, The Lofthouse

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

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