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Diane Parkes

Diane Parkes

How To Tell The Monsters From The Misfits

Clueless cops hunting killer

NEW play at Birmingham Repertory Theatre aims to turn the crime thriller on its head. Read

Bierton Road Community Centre

Sporting chance

ON A cold Monday morning the last thing many of us would feel enthusiastic about is donning our tracksuits for a session of keep fit, but a group of women meet each week to do just that at a community centre in Yardley. Read

Australia is the land of milk and honey for some but a huge disappointment for other migrants

For thousands of Brits, Australia has become the promised land - but are its streets paved with gold? DIANE PARKES speaks to two families with very different stories. Read

Fashion News

BLOOMING Marvellous proves that pregnancy does not have to be frumpy. Its new range includes spring dresses, office wear and casual such as this linen tunic for £39.99 and cropped linen trousers for £32.99. www.blooming marvellous.co.uk Read

Supergrass, Birmingham Carling Academy

WHEN a band is touring a new album they have a tough choice to make - do they play new songs and promote the album or give the audience all their old favourites? Read

Wedded bliss for Jonathan!

WHEN Jonathan Wilkes saw the Broadway show The Wedding Singer he knew immediately that the lead role of Robbie was perfect for him. Read

In the footsteps of reggae royalty

WHEN actor Rolan Bell met legendary singer Jimmy Cliff he was so starstruck he missed the opportunity to grab an autograph. Read

Nederlands Dans Theater 1, Birmingham Hippodrome

I didn't expect to see the day when bubble wrap formed an integral part of a dance piece but that day has arrived nonetheless. Read

The Bartons Arms, 144 High St, Aston, Birmingham. 0121 333 5988

THE BARTONS Arms is one of Birmingham's landmark pubs. Read

We're doing extra maths and loving it

TEENAGER Amy Moore has her sights firmly set on college where she is hoping to study art, statistics and information technology. Read

News Fashion

* BIRMINGHAM jeweller Kiran Chohan's Verve range of magnetic jewellery features more than 40 designs for guys and girls. Based in the Custard Factory at Digbeth, Verve is available at Selfridges or online at the www.verveuk.com website. Included in the range is this £70 bracelet. Read

Elephant, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre

THIS South African blend of story-telling, song and dance is a strange choice for a commercial theatre the size of the Hippodrome as it was never likely to be a big seller. Read

Josie Lawrence to play a Cold War spymaster in Birmingham

BLACK Country actress Josie Lawrence returns to Birmingham next week when she takes the role of a woman spymaster during the Cold War. Read

Josie Lawrence

Josie Lawrence: My surprise as Amy Booth-Steel got the boot from TV's Nancy search

BLACK Country actress Josie Lawrence has come out in support of Birmingham singer Amy Booth-Steel who was the first finalist to be booted out of the television talent show I'd Do Anything on Sunday. Read

Trying for a baby was like buying a lottery ticket for £3,000... and we won

WHEN Lisa O'Brien was a teenager, she suffered painful periods. Read

A smile shines out when Celine sings

LITTLE Celine Smith is suddenly all smiles. Surrounded by people, she was a bit unsure of what was going on. But as the adults around her burst into song and encourage her to join in, her face changes from uncertainty to laughter. Read

Fiddler On The Roof, Alexandra Theatre

IT would be hard to go wrong with this classic musical set in a Jewish community in Russia 100 years ago. Read

Achieve lifelong fitness through stretches

YOGA is for all - that's the message from one of the great leaders of the exercise, the Indian yoga teacher BKS Iyengar. Read

Tracey Adams

Creative way to engage parents

TRACEY Adams spent days in the schoolroom creating a series of art projects. Read

Matthew Bourne

Ballet's Bourne to run!

CHOREOGRAPHER Matthew Bourne is this year celebrating 20 years heading up his own dance company and as part of the party his Nutcracker! returns to Birmingham. Read

Author Profile

Diane Parkes has worked in journalism for 14 years and has been with the Birmingham Mail for ten. She is Women's Editor covering health, fitness, education, fashion and beauty features. As Dance and Theatre Editor she is also responsible for professional arts coverage across the region.

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