University of Wolverhampton Artsfest returns for third year

The proud words of Dr John Pymm revealing detailing of the third University of Wolverhampton Artsfest event in the city

Dean of the Faculty of Arts, he said: "If you’re passionate about the arts, or would like to merely dip your toe in the water, there is no better time to get involved."

The brochure was this week unveiled and the festival will officially be launched in the Mander Centre on June 10 and run throughout the month at venues across the city.

The packed programme of events range from comedy, to music, to theatre, to art, to poetry to dance. Many events are free and there are offers through Artsfest.

Wolverhampton Grand will host a number of shows such as the creative, family event Running Wild from June 8-10 and mod musical All or Nothing from June 22-24. While a highlight will be John Partridge and Adrian Zmed in the musical La Cage aux Folles from June 27-30

Newhampton Arts Centre will be hosting Diddi Dance, from 8-29 June on Tuesdays and Thursdays, funky pre-school dance classes for girls and boys from 18 months to 4 years. And Central Youth Theatre will be performing Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and Peter Pan for kids at the venue from June 15-17.

While at Arena Theatre shows there include Powerplant on June 8, a sound and video trio led by British percussionist Joby Burgess (whose credits include Peter Gabriel, Max Richter and Eric Whitacre).

While the following night is No Woman's Land. Draped in the gallows humour of 1920s Weimar cabaret, two bearded ladies entertain you in a digital landscape of past and present; they re-trace Lucia Rippel’s footsteps who, after being violently expelled from her home in 1945, walked 220 miles with her two children across the fractured landscape of Europe.

Meanwhile there is poetry night Beyond the Water's Edge on June 12. And from June 16-17 at the venue will be the challenging 14/48 . Seven writers, seven directors, a team of actors, designers, and musicians produce 14 world premiere plays in 48 hours. And on June 24 there is a production interestingly entitled The Murderer – Clown Funeral.

At Wolverhampton Heritage Centre on June 9 is Streets Paved with Gold, a short play written and performed by Victor Richards, which is set in the present but explores recent history from the 1950s onwards.

The family show Signor Baffo is at St Michael and All Angels Church on June 9 when there promises to be 'plates full of fun, with generous helpings of silliness, mischief and adventure.'

For music fans, American rock trio Kings X will be playing at the Slade Rooms in the city on June 13.

Meanwhile four live bands will be found in the tractor shed at Bantock House on June 19 at Country Nights.

Wolverhampton Symphony Orchestra will be at Wolverhampton Grammar School on June 22.

Pulp Function looks at 50 years of music and takes place at The Light House Media Centre on June 25.

While comedy lovers will be treated to a performance by Stewart Lee at the Grand on June 21.

Midwives on Call will be entertaining shoppers at the Mander Centre with some unusual entertainment on June 10.

There is also something a little different at Penn Hall School on June 22 when the Giant Balloon Show arrives.

Another interesting event takes place in the Wulfruna Building of the university on June 30 and is entitled Back to Skool which offers an adult audience the chance to go back to school for a night of bizarre teachers and deranged lessons, ending with a proper disco.

Youngsters can discover dinosaurs at Bilston Craft Gallery from June 8-30 while there is Lego galore at Wolverhampton Art Gallery during the same period with Brick Wonders.

For more details about these and the many other events taking place over the festival visit wlv.ac.uk/artsfest

Also the Artsfest 2017 launch party takes place in the Lower Mall of the Mander Centre from 12pm until 4pm when there will be free performances and family fun.