Our Pablo, dashing as ever...
Pablo Bronstein and the Treasures of Chatsworth
Our Pablo’s had himself a treasure hunt over in Derbados, and pulled out a trunk full of goodies from the deep, dark depths of the halls at Chatsworth House. Having carefully selected 62 works of art from the stately home, Bronstein has managed to secure the largest UK loan from the house for over thirty years. Good on yer, lad. There are works from both Rembrandt and Franz Hals, as well as the chairs used by William IV and Queen Adelaide for their coronation. Not only that, but Pablo’s given it a go himsen, and created a collection of works inspired by his finds at Chatsworth. With furniture, performances and erudite drawings, there’ll be summat for your inner David Dickinson to indulge in. It’s completely free to have a goose, and it’s right on your doorstep. Catch it while you can.
Runs until 20 September, free, Nottingham Contemporary
The DH Lawrence Festival of Culture
The son of a miner and a teacher, DH Lawrence was a Notts head through and through. Growing up in Eastwood, the fella became the first local lad to be awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Nottingham High School. Well in. A grisly bout of pneumonia ended his academic career at the school, but that didn’t stop him rising to the top of the literary charts with novels including Sons and Lovers, Women in Love and Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Pretty raunchy stuff for the early twentieth century, so Lawrence was branded as a bit of a bad lad – a pornographer. We’re not stuck in the sexual dark ages any longer, so we’re celebrating the life of the Nottingham legend with a Festival of Culture in his name. Head over to the DH Lawrence Heritage Centre in Eastwood, and delve into a creative discussion about his short story, Once. Share your ideas with likeminded literature boffs, or develop a taste for the old chap’s lingo. At the beginning of the month, Pits Props and Prose will be the only way to spend your Saturday night, celebrating the city’s mining heritage, with the Eastwood Male Voice choir providing the tunes. Get yourself on the centre’s website for all the juicy details.
Runs until Saturday 19 September, free, DH Lawrence Heritage Centre and Eastwood
image: Yeu Yoga
Yeu Yoga Beginners’ Course
Sweating it out down the gym can be a right arse ache in itself without having to subject yourself to the sights of muscle flexers and the selfie snappers. Thankfully, not every fitness location is riddled with narcissists, and there are some places that contribute to your mental wellbeing rather than ruin it. Yep, Yeu Yoga have fired up some four-week courses covering the bases of hatha yoga – a branch of the sport Hindus reckon Shiva himsen founded. Godly wisdom for thirty nicker? Well worth dabbing in. The sessions will cover everything from breathing techniques to shoulder stands, leaving you all limber and relaxed for the week to come.
Every week from Monday 7 September, 8pm, £30, The YMCA International Community Centre
The Country and The City: Songs of Rank and Rebellion
From the Luddites and Mr Hood, to rioting and telling your Geography teacher to shove his detention up his backside, we’ve always been one to stick it to the man in Nottingham. One posse backing the sentiment, with truly rebellious heart, is the Nottingham Clarion Choir. After forming in 1988, they’ve been continuing on their socialist quest to support groups that champion human rights, democracy and awareness of environmental issues... in the form of song! For this bout of belting, they’ll be focussing on the nineteenth century – la-la-la-land ownership, revolution and the Chartist and Luddite movements being the focal point. Treat yourself.
Tuesday 8 September, 6.30pm, free, Nottingham Contemporary
1984
Conspiracy Season: 1984
Following two sell-out runs and a critically acclaimed tour, Robert Icke and Duncan MacMillan’s imagining of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four is coming to our humble city in the form of a play. We follow the story of Winston Smith, otherwise known as Comrade 6079, in the dystopian world in which he lives. Headed by an all-seeing, all knowing governing body, Big Brother, Smith begins writing in a diary and thinking independently. Bad move, 6079. He is launched into one rather large heap of trouble, and the only way for you to find out what happens is by purchasing a ticket and going along to watch. Or reading the book, of course.
Wednesday 9 - Saturday 26 September, £10.50 - £28.50, Nottingham Playhouse
How To Change The World
To the daft among us, the word Greenpeace conjures images of hippies rolling around in the muck. But what of the movement’s real message? Its foundations can be traced back to 1971, when activists set off in a rickety fishing boat, attempting to stop Nixon’s atomic bomb tests in a move that said “We’ll give it a good crack.” And the rest is history. Jerry Rothwell’s new documentary unearths some of the organisation’s earliest unseen footage, private journals and interviews to deliver the truth behind the pioneers of the movement. This film is being screened at Broadway and afterwards, there’s going to be a live-by-satellite panel discussion including the director himself, fashion autere and political activist Vivienne Westwood, and more special guests. Not to be missed. We'll see you there.
Wednesday 9 September, 8pm, £4 - £8.20, Broadway Cinema
INFL are blowing out ten candles in a field...
Outstanding (In A Field) Festival
The I’m Not From London lads have outdone themselves with this one. They’re having a joint party to celebrate their tenth, and Alley Cafe’s fifteenth, birthday, throwing caution to the wind by hosting a fully-fledged music festival right here in the Notts countryside. At Old MacDonald’s farm, no less. You couldn’t make stuff this up. There’ll be yoga, discussions on mindfulness and ‘the evils of global food monopolies’ – bound to be a hoot after a few ciders – and a bag of local bands to keep you rockin’ till the early hours. Of course, there’ll be a whole selection of locally sourced, meaty, veggie, vegan and gluten-free foods available, as well as pizzas cooked in a cob oven. They’re also promising us reasonably priced beer and cocktails – well in. To keep us all waiting with bated breath, they’re releasing the line-up one band, one day at a time. At the time of print, we have Eyre Llew, The Afterdark Movement, Crosa Rosa and headliner Scorzayzee confirmed, and we can only sit with knees a-knockin’ as we wait for more. At just a tenner a pop for a weekend full of camping joy, there’s nothing to lose. Apart from a tenner.
Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 September, £10, Woodborough
Young Kato
If baby-faced boppers are right up your road, through your front door and positioned neatly on the mantelpiece for all to see - not in a creepy way - then you’d best grab your coat, love, cos Rescue Rooms are sortin’ you good and proper. With support from Radio One big wigs, Zane Lowe and Fearne Cotton, the Cheltenham lads are packing their sleeping bags into the tour bus and heading over to one of the greatest venues in the country. Especially for you. N’aww. If you haven’t heard of ‘em before, but you’re fans of our boys, Saint Raymond and Amber Run, then you should set aside eight bob and lace them converse up tight as ote. There’s absolutely nothin’ stopping you.
Thursday 10 September, 6.30pm, £8, Rescue Rooms
Get your party on, all over Notts...
Nottingham Mela 2015
As a city, we gerra bit of a bad rep in the press. We’ve been branded ‘Shottingham’ more times than we care to mention, and reference is constantly made to our apparently gang/knife crime ridden streets. But we know we’re not a bad bunch. In fact, we have it under good authority, that we’re a pretty bad ass bunch, who come together to celebrate and revel in all our glorious city has to offer. This week, we’re celebrating our city’s diverse population, with our annual South Asian party, Mela. This year, the festival will explore the theme of ‘tipping point: a time at which a change or effect cannot be stopped’. With dances, live music and a hell of a lot of b-e-a-utiful nosh to sample, events for all the family are taking place across the city. You can even catch a ride on a TukTuk. Oh, and did we forget to mention that it’s all absolutely free? In the words of Chandler Bing, “Could Nottingham be any cooler?”
Friday 11 - Sunday 13 September, 13pm, free, Nottingham Castle, Nottingham Playhouse & New Art Exchange
BEX Live
The black pound is a force to be reckoned with. That’s the message that BEX is gonna be shouting from the rooftops of the Albert Hall this weekend. The conference, held for all black entrepreneurs, business owners, artists and professionals, seeks to challenge the negative stereotypes presented by the media, and pumped into society like shit through a tube. There’ll be a ton of specialists attending, including Caribbean property specialists, health foods and natural beauty products, with entrepreneurs encouraged to display their services for £99. There’ll also be a creative barbering competition, and entertainment from Real McCoy comedia, Judith Jacobs, Notts own Lisa Hendricks and hip hop collective LTMT. Although it’s a celebration of black business, the event is open to everyone, regardless of colour, to come and support.
Sunday 13 September, 11am, £5, Albert Hall Conference Centre
This ain't Harry Potter...
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
LGBT Film Season is upon us, and rearing its feather-clad barnet in celebration is a screening and live performance of Hedwig and the Angry Itch. Huzzah. Organisers of the event are calling upon the population of Hoodtown to "slap on some make-up, grown your armpit hair" and help in creating a "sink the pink" atmosphere in the ever-so-sweaty but ever-so-great Mansfield Road venue. Expect a mist of glitter and a lot of naughty jokes. The city’s most fabulously talented drag artistes will be donning their fanciest frocks to create live, immersive performances for your viewing pleasure. In the words of the event itself, “Whether you were ‘born on the other side’ or just fancy a great time”, have yourself a night out with a bit of a difference this Sunday.
Sunday 13 September, 8pm, £10, The Maze
For the motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.
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