Should I Stay or Should I Go?
FunHouse Comedy are hosting an event which gives twelve comedians a right good crack at making us mardeh lot laugh our bottoms off. The Maze is playing host to compere, Spiky Mike and his motley crew of laugh deliverers – or at least, we hope they deliver the laughs, else they shall be unceremoniously booed off stage. Well, not quite, but you do get the chance to vote ‘em off in an orderly fashion. The surviving comics are allowed to remain on stage, where they will battle it out in the ultimate joke-off in a bid to be crowned champion by you, the punter. Sound like summat you’d enjoy? We thought so. Best be buying your tickets then, youth, so you don’t miss out.
Monday 26 September, 7.45pm, £4, The Maze
Outdoor Cinema: Grease
“We’ll get some overhead lifters, and four barrel quads oh yeah” Keep talkin’, oh keep talkin’. “Fuel injection cut offs and chrome plated rods, oh yeah” We’ll get it ready, I’ll kill to get it ready! “With a four-speed on the floor they’ll be waiting at the door. You know that ain’t no shit, we’ll be gettin’ lots of tit.” The average conversation between two Clifton youths discussing how they’re gonna pimp up their brand new Corsa? Nope. The lyrics to family-friendly musical, Grease. Catch it in all it’s dirty-worded glory outside at Highfields Park this week, courtesy of Nottingham Lakeside Arts and the University of Nottingham Film Society. Remember to take your cagoules and a warm blanket, we don’t reckon you can count on the weather to hold out for Danny and Sandy.
Wednesday 28 September, 7.30pm, £8, Highfields Park
NORFOLK screening + Q&A
Thursday evenings can be a bit of an odd one to fill. It’s not quite the weekend, and there’s still a full day in the office to be had before a proper boozy session can be allowed, but, you’re revving up and almost raring to go, so a night in front of the tele just ain’t gonna cut it. Somewhere smack bang in the middle of your two options is Broadway’s Norfolk film screening, followed by a question and answer session with producer, Rachel Dargavel. Set in Norfolk, obviously, the film depicts the relationship between a tough-love father and his son, whose relationship is tested when the lad becomes pally with a girl. There’s no ads to be watched prior to the film, so make sure you arrive sharpish to avoid that embarrassing late entry.
Thursday 29 September, 7.45pm, £8.40, Broadway
The Chapel Opening Party
The walls of this pub have seen some things: it’s been home to both a chapel and a brothel, and witnessed the murders of a policeman and a prostitute – the ghost of the latter reputedly still haunts it to this day. In recent years it was one of the city’s best-loved dives, packed full of alternative character. It’s been given a good scrub and a lick of paint in the last year, maintaining its charm and its place as a great music venue, and this week, they’re opening The Chapel to prove it. That’s right, upstairs is back. Opening the venue with an almighty bang is ex-Portishead member, DJ Andy Smith. He’s set to tear up the decks from midnight, with the ones and twos properly warmed up by Angel resident DJs and Paul Walker. You best get booking them tickets to avoid disappointment. Don’t say we didn’t warn yer.
Friday 30 September, 9pm, £8.80, The Angel
Darkness, Darkness
Running until Saturday 15 October, the incredible adaptation of John Harvey’s bestselling novel is coming to the Playhouse, this month, as part of their Sweet Vengeance season. Charlie Resnick is on the verge of retirement, when his old pal, DI Catherine Njoroge convinces him to open one more case. Following the discovery of Jenny Hardwick’s body – a young woman who disappeared during the miners’ strike thirty-odd years ago – the pair must re-open old wounds from the Nottinghamshire picket lines. It’s written about and set in good owd Notts, so there’ll no doubt be plenty of local references to nudge your mates about while you watch. Plus, if you’re a fan of the novel, the adaptation has been written by Harvey himsen, so it definitely won’t have lost its flavour.
Friday 30 September, various times, £8-£32, Nottingham Playhouse
Scorzayzee Gangsta Wraps Launch
The biggest name in the game is well and truly back in business. Scorzayzee himsen and his hooder-than-hood GM Unit are storming the stage at Rough Trade this week, to show their love for the launch of the massive Gangsta Wraps. Telling the Colonel, Ronald McDonald and the King (of the burger variety) what’s what with their hip-hop inspired healthy fast food, Scorz and his team have decided to take matters into their own hands. Plus, there’ll be copies of Mr Zayzee’s Take The Throne 12” available for you to get your filthy paws on. You don’t need to book a ticket or owt, but you’re strongly advised to get there early. Ain’t nothin’ better than a gangsta wrap, of course.
Saturday 1 October, 7pm, free, Rough Trade
Nottingham Independents Festival
We love the fact that Hoodtown is fit to burst with independent shops, restaurants and businesses. There’s no end of local enterprise cracking off, and there’s summat to do on every corner. It’s probably high time we celebrate this fact, with a little bit of a shindig. Winner. This month, a heap of independent businesses are hosting a full days worth of events for you to get stuck into, with live music, food offers and activities coming out yer tabs. Head over to Dukki in Broado for their Dukki Dialect Treasure Hunt, and pop your head in to the National Videogame Arcade to catch Mario in a musical performance. Intruiging. There’s death by pizza to be found at Suede, and a free fudge tasting session up at The Treat Kitchen – count us in. There’s so much more cracking off on the day, so make sure you’re out and about to soak up all the fun, and support your local independents.
Saturday 1 October, 10am, various locations
Spiegeltent
The traveling gypsy dance hall is back to transform Market Square into a bohemian paradise once again this month. Not your average plastic-sheet-and-pole job, this tent is a proper Harry Potter at the Quidditch World Cup affair, with ornate mirrors, a wooden floor and the ability to stage circus performers. Having set up shop in Sydney and New York, having Marlene Dietrich perform in it and boasting Marilyn Monroe as one of it’s greatest fans, Hoodtown gets to call the Spiegeltent home for a whole week. And we’re buzzing about it. It’s free to pop in for a nibble or cocktail daily between 12-1pm and 5-6pm, otherwise, you should book tickets online for some of the incredible events they’ve got lined up. Kicking this off on the first is a prohibition themed night, with the likes of Unknown Era, Bendigo and Fat Digester performing. The second sees an almighty Burlesque performance, with the Electric Swing Circus taking over on the fourth. Maniere des Bohemiens are doing things their way with an epic gypsy folk night that’s not to be missed on the Wednesday, and on Friday 7, you have to get over to the biggest Bamalamasingsong you’ll see all year. We can’t bleddy wait.
Saturday 1 - Sunday 8 October, various times and prices, book tickets online, Market Square
For the full motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.
Promoters: Want your event featured in one of our upcoming Pick of the Weeks? If so then you can start by adding your event details into our magazine and website database.
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