5 days, 125 killings

Richard Lutz ponders Obama’s post-White House life following his final State of the Union speech

David Bowie 1947-2016

Steve Beauchampé pays tribute

By the book

Richard Lutz ends each year with his booklist compiled over the past 12 months.

When the Christmas turkey comes home to roost

Richard Lutz rubs his hands with glee at the latest news from the world of grubby greedy people

That was the week that was

RIchard Lutz looks back on the seven day run-up to Christmas

Screengrab: Butch, Randolph and Joel

Richard Lutz rides the range in search of buddy movies.

I am Donald Trump’s neighbour

Richard Lutz peers over the garden fence to watch a new resident move in.

My life behind chocolate bars

In the weeks before Christmas, chocolate producers work flat out to meet delivery deadlines. But for Sheilagh Matheson, packing chocolates means life has come full circle.

Review: Queen Anne at Stratford on Avon

Richard Lutz takes his pew for the RSC’s new production about Queen Anne.

Finding the bones of England

Richard Lutz wanders down a Cotswold path to stumble upon a bit of hidden history

Dance Review: Yama

Richard Lutz takes his pew for a mesmerising piece at Birmingham’s Dancexchange.

Review: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Richard Lutz tags along with eight year old Finn to find out how the CS Lewis classic takes to the stage.

My life in TV: Sliding towards mediocrity

Richard Lutz continues his tales from the newsroom as he moves from newspapers to TV.

Cameron: Drones On Alert

Prime Minister triumphant as opponent of “ALL THAT WE HOLD DEAR IN BRITAIN” is neutralised.

Screengrab: Of Malick and Men

Richard Lutz reaches into the TV schedules to find the hidden movie gem in the weekly listings

Ask Howard: The new doping scandal

Sir Howard Elston (DOA) fields another question from the great British public…and steals a cheap joke off the net

Sorry, No Questions

Were the West Midlands Labour Party asleep all last summer asks Steve Beauchampé?

Love for Love review: witty, elegant, sharp

Richard Lutz takes his pew at The Swan in Stratford for a Restoration romp that hits the bullseye for farce and wit

Shine on Silvershine

There’s a little jazz club hidden away in the quiet Bearwood suburb of Birmingham that is superb, writes Richard Lutz.

Review: Lord of the Flies

Richard Lutz is at The Birmingham Rep for the William Golding classic.

Review: Jesus Christ Superstar

Richard Lutz takes a pew for the rock opera that changed musical theatre.

Howard exclusive: Business World Shocker

Sir Howard Elston, scourge of the right, sworn enemy of the left and not too keen on the centrists, reports on a new macro industrial tie-up that will help everyone…especially him.

Review: Rambert struts and swaggers to Stones classics

The dance troupe Rambert takes to the dance floor of the sixties, writes Richard Lutz, and it’s all rock and roll.

Bookshelves and other stories

It’s been a varied week for Richard Lutz, from emptying the house of books via walking in the woods to dealing with British Gas.

Hippodrome to host Jesus Christ Superstar

Epic production returns to Birmingham.

Screengrab: Elementary my dear reader

Richard Lutz snoops around the TV listings to find the gem of the week.

Review: Anita and Me

Richard Lutz reviews a play about culture clash and coming of age in the time of Enoch Powell.

An uncanny likeness?

Blatter and Bore. A reader asks the question

Dance the night away

Birmingham-based DanceXchange has announced its programme for the season right through the New Year.

Apple to the core

Autumn means apples and orchards to Richard Lutz.