Hello Patchers — Welcome to your Tuesday briefing.
Following on from last week’s good news about The Crown, we have some more uplifting cultural notes. There’s a new show about Birmingham and Coventry, that was even filmed in the area, and a new mural celebrating our city. There’s even some Tom Cruise-adjacent news, too. Plus: details on how Wolverhampton city council plans to tackle high unemployment.
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Brum in Brief
📽️Next steps for Peaky Blinders creator: Later today the launch of Steven Knight’s next project will take place at Birmingham Town Hall. This Town tells the story of the growth of ska and 2-Tone music in Coventry and Birmingham. Filming even took place in the areas. Speaking to the Mail, Knight said: “It's about an era I lived through and know well and it involves characters who I feel I grew up with. It's a love letter to Birmingham and Coventry.” The show airs at the end of the month.
🧑💼Wolves at work: A new employment hub has opened in Wolverhampton’s i10 building as part of the Wolves at Work programme run by the city council. Services include dedicated work coaches and interview practice sessions with the council claiming it will help build on the 700 they have helped into work over the last year. According to ONS numbers, 6.2% of people are unemployed in Wolverhampton — higher than the West Midlands rate of 3.8%.
🎨Brummie legends in paint: Benjamin Zephaniah and Ozzy Osbourne are among the famous faces depicted in a new Birmingham Airport mural. Designed to capture the Brummie spirit, it was created by local artist Gent 48, real name Josh Billingham. The piece also showcases the arts scene, the food culture, and the city’s manufacturing past. Billingham said he hopes visitors use his mural to understand more about the city. “I hope that my latest work inspires visitors to look more closely at the incredible people and culture the city has to offer,” he said.
☪️WBA x Open Iftar: Cementing the status of football clubs as community hubs, West Bromwich Albion is hosting an open Iftar this Friday at The Hawthorns. Iftar is the meal that Muslims break their daily Ramadan fast with and the open version is designed to bring communities together, share food, and learn more from each other. This Friday’s is the Birmingham-based iteration in a series of events that has brought over a million together across the country. All the details here.
🎭Sci-fi on stage: Us Brummies know that Tom Cruise loves our city. And we love him. And while he might not be returning to Birmingham any time soon (that we know of) Minority Report, the 2002 film he starred in, is premiering as a play at The Rep this weekend. Pre-reviews have all been positive, with the play described as “stunning”, “seamless”, and “one of the most astonishing pieces of theatre I’ve seen in a long time”. Tickets on The Rep’s website.
Excellent update with a lift or two, all good news, keeping us engaged connected and optimistic. It’s the way forward, many thanks.