Pick of the Week: 8 -14 February

It's the year of the third wheel...

Any Means Necessary
Back in 2009, over 100 environmental protesters’ homes were raided by the police, who then arrested them for planning to take over the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. 26 were brought to court, and convictions seemed inevitable, but there was one problem – one of the main protest organisers was an undercover policeman working for the National Public Order Intelligence Unit. Mark “Flash” Stone – real name Mark Kennedy – was unmasked like a Scooby-Doo villain. He became the poster boy for undercover police scandals, and is one of the inspirations behind playwright Kefi Chadwick’s Any Means Necessary. Further reports of undercover police officers abusing their position, and the endless stories of tangled lies, all feed into this play which delves to uncover the truth. Chadwick, commissioned by the Playhouse, has fictionalised the very real events that lead to spies fathering children with the objects of their surveillance, with a particular focus on the unwitting women who were duped by these moles. Make sure you get along to the post-show discussion on Thursday 11 February with director Giles Croft and members of the cast, and the pre-show talk on Wednesday 17 February with Kefi Chadwick, alongside activist Merrick Badger.
Runs until 20 February, £10.50 - £28.50, Nottingham Playhouse

image: City Arts

Frost Inside the Window
At some point in each of our lives, the tops of our noggins will be dusted with silver, and the skin around our eyes will reveal every giggle we’ve ever giggled. It’s an unavoidable part of life. But we’re all about embracing that in Hoodtown, and none more so than City Arts, who are running an exhibition to celebrate the residents of our city’s care homes. There’s a six by twelve foot window displaying digital portraits of Nottingham’s most golden of oldies, with touch sensitive selection so you choose what you watch. There’s also a few short films for you to get dead emotional over an’ all. Some proper human history, right on your doorstep.
Runs until 19 February, City Arts

LGBT Hate Crime
February sees the nation celebrate LGBT month. Five Leaves Bookshop are getting right involved, with a discussion focussing on LGBT rights and hate crime, courtesy of the University of Nottingham’s Research Priority Area in Rights and Justice. Join the conversation surrounding the rate of hate crime in Nottingham, and why people avoid reporting it. You’ll also discuss what can be done by those both within and without the LGBT community to prevent crime and spread awareness. David Edgeley from Rainbow Heritage, and Sam Hope, an LGBT activist, will be on hand to supply their expert knowledge on the subject. Get on down, and get informed.
Thursday 11 February, 7pm, free, Five Leaves Bookshop

Get yer whine on...

Spanky’s Dancehall Valentine’s Party
Valentine’s Day can be a sad, sad affair. If you’re fortunate enough to have someone to keep your arse cheeks warm in the winter, you’re saddled with a load of pressure to buy ‘em a token of love, with the price directly proportionate to the time you’ve been together. And if you’re single, well, it’s just bleddy depressing, innit? Luckily, Spanky’s have got you covered. Get right sweaty as you get down an’ dirty to dancehall riddims at their Valentine’s party. Funky Fresh Collective dance crew will be on hand for you to draw inspiration from, and reggae/dancehall DJs will be seeing you through till 2am with their tunes. Who knows, you might even bag yourself a date...
Friday 12 February, 9pm, free, Spanky Van Dykes

KOG & the Zongo Brigade
Oooosh. There’s a party gwarn’ this Friday, and if you’re not there, you’re so much more than square, my friend. You’re practically non-existent on the Notts afro-fusion scene, and that’s a title no one wants to be lumbered with. The massive sounds of KOG & the Zongo Brigade will be filling the sweaty crevices of The Maze, along with the support of local vibe-bringers, Origin One and BUD, as well as a sprinkling of beatboxing from Motormouf and Ashmore. Not one to be missed, make sure you get there early to grab a cold-ish can of Red Stripe.
Friday 12 February, 9pm, £5, The Maze

Inform your mind on Minecraft...

Minecraft for Parents
The sprogs have holed themselves away in their rooms for hours. Apparently, they’re playing on something known to those with a youthful demeanor as Minecraft? You, as responsible (sometimes), mature (kind of) adults (by definition) have no idea what that is, what it entails, or whether it’s summat you should allow or not. Fortunately for you, NVA are providing a day’s worth of workshops, talks and demos to fill you in on all things Minecraft, and are ready to tell you all the stuff your kids just don’t have the patience for. Ungrateful little gobshites. It were you who bought the bleedin’ console in the first place...
Friday 12 February, 11.30am, free with entry fee, National Videogame Arcade

Useless Machine
We like creating irrelevant, useless bric-a-brac as much as the next person. Always on hand to supply the means for this craving, is Hackspace, and this week, they’re giving us the opportunity to build our very own useless, pointless, unimportant machine. Winner. They’ll supply the electronic starter kit, and a whole host of tools, it’s basically Lego for grown ups. According to the experts, you’ll only need an hour to complete your design, and when you’re done, you’re allowed to take it home to show off to bemused family and friends. It’s summat to do with your Saturday that doesn’t involve trekking with the other half round Viccy Centre, so it’s definitely worth a bash...
Saturday 13 February, 10am, £15, Hackspace

Only the freshest of produce, please...

Community Food Swap
Food is what makes the world go round, in our eyes. There’s nothing we enjoy more than tucking into a homemade pie that’s been baked lovingly by someone else. If you’re also of the ilk that other people’s food undoubtedly tastes better than the stuff you whip up yourself, then head over to Green’s Windmill this Sunday for a one of a kind food swap. Yep, you caught the catch. You do have to take something along to swap for whatever tasty morsel takes your fancy, but as long as it’s homemade, homegrown or foraged yourself, it’ll qualify. The more you bring, the more you can take away, so get a move on, foodies.
Sunday 14 February, 1pm, free, Green’s Windmill

Third Wheel
You spend car journeys trapped on the back seat, roller coaster rides sat next to a stranger, and when it comes to 2 for 1 cinema tickets, you end up paying full price. Yep, being the third wheel has never really had many perks. Until now. Malt Cross are honouring the struggle faced by third wheelers across the shire, with a Valentine's offer that’s made just for you. They’re inviting you to bring your favourite couple along for an evening of 3 for 2 deals, DJs and general Valentine’s themed fun, especially designed for the third member in the relationship.
Sunday 14 February, 7pm, 3 for 2 deals, Malt Cross