Guide to entertainment in Cornwall 2013: May

2013 is shaping up to be an exciting year for entertainment in Cornwall.

Here is Lee Trewhela's guide to the year ahead.

Download and print out the guide here

MAY

THEATRE

Friday, May 17 – Mark Thomas, Minack Sessions, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno. After walking the wall in the West Bank, becoming Guinness World Record holder for political protests and chasing arms dealers around the country, comedian Mark Thomas turns his attention to matters closer to home with a show about his father. First commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Bravo Figaro is the true tale of a self-employed builder’s love of opera, degenerative illness and how to put opera on in a bungalow in Bournemouth. www.minack.com

Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 – Birmingham Royal Ballet, Hall for Cornwall. Gilbert and Sullivan and Grieg are the soundtrack to more world-class dance. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Monday, May 20 to Saturday, May 25 – The Mousetrap, Hall for Cornwall. The show no one will admit to seeing in the West End despite the fact it’s celebrated 60 years there. It’s Agatha Christie by numbers, but with a good cast and its own legend, The Mousetrap is worth a night at the theatre. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Monday, May 20 to Friday, May 24 – BishBashBosh Productions’ Poldark, The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno. Yes, the Cornish theatre company tackle Winston Graham’s Cornwall-based novels. www.minack.com

Thursday, May 23 – Robin Ince: The Importance of Being Interested, The Acorn, Penzance. The last time I saw Robin Ince he was playing an arena supporting his mate Ricky Gervais, whose bubble was finally pricked in 2012. Now Ince is playing the tiny Acorn. The ups and downs of being a comedian, eh? It doesn’t matter where you see him, Robin Ince is always brilliant. www.theacornpenzance.com

Friday, May 24 – Kepow Theatre Company: Seven Ages of Man, CAVE – Callington Town Hall (and May 25, Carleen Village Hall). A comedy from one the UK’s leading touring theatre companies. Kepow’s comedy theatre show explores the seven stages of life that Shakespeare says we go through. www.carntocove.co.uk

Tuesday, May 28 to Saturday, June 1 – James and the Giant Peach, Hall for Cornwall. The Roald Dahl favourite gets a stage makeover. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

MUSIC

Friday, May 3 – The Zombies, Hall for Cornwall. Odessey and Oracle is now viewed as one of the best albums of the Sixties. Expect tracks from that and other evergreens such as She’s Not There when the band, featuring original members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, return to the Hall. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Saturday, May 4 to Monday, May 6 – International Male Voice Choir Festival, Hall for Cornwall. The sixth annual event will see more than 60 choirs from across the world and closer to home. Here’s hoping none get lost this year. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Tuesday, May 7 – Shakatak, Princess Pavilion, Falmouth. The 1980s jazz-funkers, famed for smooth hits such as Night Birds and Down On The Street ride the never-ending wave of love for the decade that taste forgot. www.princesspavilion.co.uk

Wednesday, May 8 to Saturday, May 18 – du Maurier Festival, Fowey. Among the musical highlights at this established arts festival are an intimate evening with musical theatre star Ruthie Henshall and Duchy Opera presents Baron Herzog’s Box Of Operatic Delights, which will also be touring the county. www.dumaurierfestival.co.uk

Tuesday, May 14 – Fisherman’s Friends, Minack Sessions, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno. www.minack.com

Wednesday, May 15 – Nerina Pallot, Minack Sessions, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno. The series of concerts on the cliffs continues with one of the UK’s greatest if largely unsung songwriting talents. As well as her own fine canon of work, Nerina has written hits for the likes of Kylie. www.minack.com

Wednesday May 15 – Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Hall for Cornwall. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Thursday, May 16 – Midge Ure, Minack Sessions, Minack Theatre, Porthcurno. Midge will no doubt be coining in the royalties from a new generation roused into downloading on discovering last week that Ultravox’s Vienna is the most popular No 2 single in the country. He may or may not play that, but the nicest man in pop is worth seeing live anyway. www.minack.com

Saturday, May 18 – Leona Lewis, Plymouth Pavilions. She’s sold 20 million records worldwide since winning Series 3 of The X Factor. Her tours are renowned for their spectacle so fans should be in for a treat. www.plymouthpavilions.com

Tuesday, May 23 – Spiers and Boden, Tolmen Centre, Constantine. Founder members of modern folk icons Bellowhead, Spiers and Boden are described by The Guardian as “the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene”. Together they have made the genre of punky English folk very much their own stomping ground. www.tolmencentre.co.uk

Friday, May 31 – Thomas Bowes: Bach Pilgrimage, St Bartholomews Church, Warleggan (and June 1, Tresmeer Church). Thomas Bowes has led many of the UK’s finest orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, London Sinfonietta, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but it is as a solo violinist, both as recitalist and concerto player, that he has made the greatest impression. www.carntocove.co.uk

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall in January

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall in February

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall in March

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall in April

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall in May

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall in June

See What's On's guide to entertainment in Cornwall from July to December