New acts for Artrix

Bromsgrove’s arts centre is showcasing some up and coming talent.

To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, Artrix is presenting a selection of some of the best female stand-ups around.

Besides being a fine comedian, Jo Enright has appeared in TV shows such as Phoenix Nights, I’m Alan Partridge and as Angela in The Job Lot. Also performing will be up-and-coming Birmingham comedian Lindsey Santoro who has been active on the Midlands comedy circuit since 2014. The compere for this feast of female talent is Maureen Younger.

Stand Up for Women is at Artrix on Wednesday 8th March at 8.00 pm. Tickets cost £14.00 (£12.00)

A love letter to the sleepless, 2am Facebookers and shift workers, writer and performer Francesca Millican-Slater DJs her own late night radio show, channelling the rambling raconteurs of presenters from the wee hours to spin a noirish stack of stories, odd, familiar, funny, true and stolen. Stories To Tell In The Middle Of The Night which is being presented by Birmingham Rep at Artrix next month is Francesca’s dark, amusing and gripping collection of short, quirky tales that are reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s stories for adults.

Stories To Tell In the Middle of the Night is at Artrix Studio on Friday 10th March at 1.00 pm. Ages 12+ Tickets cost £10.00 or £8.00 for over 60s and students

This Spring, Artrix’ programme features some theatre, dance and comedy shows by artists who are just starting out in their careers. The majority of these shows will be staged in the intimate setting of Artrix’s Studio.

On 14th March you can Meet Fred, a two foot tall cloth puppet that fights prejudice every day. He just wants to be a regular guy, get a job and meet a girl but his Puppetry Living Allowance is under threat.

On 16th March, Northern School of Contemporary Dance present Verve, an exhilarating programme of four distinct dance works choreographed by international artists. Performed by a company of eleven dancers, this work is physically daring and thought-provoking.

In The Eulogy of Toby Peach Toby enters the exclusive Cancer Club and tells the story of a young man’s battle and recovery from cancer. Described as “heartfelt and buoyant” by The Stage this is a celebration of life and all its foibles and you can see it on 9th March.

Natalie Cutler could be one to look out for. Her Not Yet Suffragette show which is on 19th March premiered at the Brighton Fringe Festival last year and it won 5 star reviews. The show is an eclectic mix of Feminist theatre and stands up theatre.

Stephen Bailey tackles the art of conversation in his debut tour. With so much social media have we forgotten how to talk to each other? And are we limited to 140 characters? Fresh from Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On the Side you can see Stephen on 24th March.

Ferocious clubber and party girl Eleanor Conway has always been a woman of extremes. In her stand up debut she tackles sex, sobriety and sambucca and the modern addict that lies within us all. She plays Artrix on 7th April.

Seann McLoughlin is definitely on the one to watch list. His 2015 show at Edinburgh played to packed houses and Seann brings his latest show Kamikaze to Artrix on 28th April.

Finally on 12th May there’s a chance to see 20B in which Jane English unearths the stories of a demolished building on a council estate in East London. Part autobiography, part oral-history, 20B is a moving exploration of what home and community really mean.

Tickets for all shows are available from the Box Office on 01527 577330 or www.artrix.co.uk.