Theatre
Sampad: Queen of Hearts | Fri 25 – Sat 26 March
Written in English by Rukhsana Ahmad and directed by Harmage Singh Kalirai, the production features interludes of Hindi music and dance.
Srishti: SEVENS | Wed 30 Mar
SEVENS, a new triple bill of Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance with live music from one of the UK’s leading choreographers of classical Indian dance. Conceptualised and choreographed by award-winning Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer Nina Rajarani MBE, with an original music score by composers Y Yadavan and Shammi Pithia.
Arts Markets
MAC Arts Markets | Sun 3 April | 11am – 5pm | Free
With a long history of successful craft fairs, MAC is proud to present another year of regular markets featuring the work of local designer makers. Expect a range of stalls with a broad selection of quality handmade products including ceramics, jewellery, paintings, and craft items.
Music
Chris Difford | Wed 6 April
Chris Difford is a Grammy nominated and double Ivor Novello Award winning lyricist who has brought us characters and sketches from everyday life, and has successfully turned the mundane into the beautiful, the urbane into the exquisite, for over 40 years.
John Hegley Drawings of Dromedaries (and other Creatures) | Sun 1 May
An hour of poems, drawings, stories and possibly dancing. Included in the spectacle are a pair of Dromedaries, alongside a number of newly composed pieces touching on John Keats’s letters and leisure activities.
John Hegley’s Tree and Biscuits Handy Bird Family Workshop | Sat 30 April
Ahead of the new show from celebrated poet and musician John Hegley, coming to MAC on Sunday 1 May (see related event above), enjoy a special writing and drawing family workshop with the man himself. John will guide you through making paper birds and hands, crafting words to decorate them, and drawing worlds for them to visit.
Festivals
Surge in Spring V | Fri 22 – Sat 23 April
Surge Forward return to Midlands Arts Centre to present their annual Surge in Spring festival for two days of exceptional music from around the globe. Highlights include Swiss accordion maverick Mario Batkovic, Korean bamboo flute maestro Hyelim Kim, exuberant Ethiopian song and dance from Krar Collective and the high energy Surge Orchestra, plus a host of free events with a stellar line up of guests.
Freedom Road: Re-Imagined | Sat 7 May
Freedom Road: A Re-Imagining is an incredible live music performance combining music, photography, filmed footage and vocals to honour the civil rights movement. Using combined arts with an enthesis on Music, voice, photography and film, Freedom Road Project produces works which explore the heritage of Black Communities alongside the themes of race, identity and belonging. The organisation is committed to doing this inclusively and believes that shared experiences enrich communities
Cinema
Mother’s Day: Belfast + Afternoon Tea | Sun 27 March
Treat your mum this Mother’s Day with a trip to MAC’s Cinema followed by an indulgent afternoon tea. Enjoy a screening of this popular film telling the story of a city, community and family.
TAPE and Invisible Women present Touched | Sat 26 March
Celebrate the diversity and fluidity of desire with Touched, a screening showcasing sensuous shorts by female and non-binary filmmakers.
Film Stories: Movie Geek Live! | Wed 30 March
The regular monthly live show returns, where Film Stories editor Simon Brew chats film, shows clips, interviews filmmakers in person and talks nerdy stuff.
Family
Colour Box: The Iron Giant | Sat 2 April
Flatpack’s Colour Box hosts events on the first weekend of every month throughout 2022. Before the screening, parents and children alike will have the opportunity to make their very own Iron Giant (or any kind of robot!) using found items from the scrap store and recycled materials.
Cinema Bambino: The Phantom of the Open | Fri 8 April
Our special Cinema Bambino screenings run throughout March, enabling new parents to enjoy films with their babies (under 12 months) in a calm environment with low sound and more lighting, offering the opportunity to get out of the house and meet other parents.
Shark in the Park | Wed 13 Apr
From the creative team behind ‘The Hairy Maclary show’ – see all 3 of Nick Sharratt’s ‘Shark in the Park’ books live on Stage! Featuring all 3 of the ‘Shark in the Park’ Series – Shark in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day – this fin-tastic, family musical follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on 3 exciting adventures.
The Highland Joker: The Bubble Show | Wed 20 Apr
Join Mr. Bubbles with his extraordinary soap bubbles in all shapes and sizes! The Bubble Show is a unique blend of magic, storytelling, and bubble art! Enjoy bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles, and even fire bubbles.
Courses
MAC is offering a wide range of Easter Holiday courses for children and young people. From Magic Camp, to Family Pottery and Printmaking, there’s lots of creative activities to keep children entertained during the school break.
Man Made Youth Company: April Half-Term Free Intensive | Mon 11 – Thu 14 Apr | Free
Man Made Youth Company is continuing their free artistic programme for young men aged 12+ which includes dance and physical theatre workshops, creating indoor and outdoor work, as well as exploring digital programmes and screen dance.
Find out more and book now at macbirmingham.co.uk.