Updated 1:17pm 12 February 2012:

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Diane Parkes

Diane Parkes

Exhibition is face of homelessness

PEOPLE are being offered a chance to see the face of homelessness with a photographic exhibition in the heart of Birmingham.Read

Student with dyslexia wins Brian Travers award

A UNIVERSITY student whose dyslexia was only diagnosed three years ago has won an award named after UB40 musician Brian Travers for coming top of the class.Read

Comedy night in Kings Heath for charity Sense

A COMEDY night with Birmingham’s Shazia Mirza is to raise cash for the charity Sense.Read

Theatre: EastEnders' Barry gets in line for Rhinestone Mondays at Wolverhampton

Shaun is best-known for playing the part of Barry in the television soap for a decade – but his first love has always been music and the stage.Read

Christian conference for women

CHRISTIAN conference Arise and Shine aims to motivate women and features speakers including online presenter Natalie Brown, author Robert G Allen and Secret Millionaire Dawn Gibbons.Read

Theatre: Actor Les Dennis in cancer musical

ACTOR Les Dennis is currently riding the crest of a wave, juggling a successful career and a young family. Which makes his role in the charity musical Survive! all the more poignant.Read

Dance: Sonia Sabri's Kathakbox tours Black Country

BIRMINGHAM-based Kathak dancer Sonia Sabri is embarking on an autumn tour taking in venues in the Black Country.Read

Johnny Depp backs Birmingham Alexandra Theatre show in aid of cancer charities

BIRMINGHAM cancer charities have received a blockbusting boost from Hollywood hearthrob Johnny Depp.Read

Droitwich mum aims to knock out breast cancer

MIDLAND mum Manuela Kemsies is helping a national charity find the knock-out punch for breast cancer.Read

Theatre: Emerald O'Hanrahan's tale of two Cecilys

AFTER playing the part of Emma Grundy in radio soap the Archers, Emerald O’Hanrahan was a regular visitor to Birmingham – but she admits she only saw a tiny sliver of the city.Read

Moseley literary festival for hopeful authors

FUTURE J K Rowlings and Ian Rankins are being offered the opportunity to pick up tips from experts in the publishing world with a one-day literary festival in Moseley.Read

Lara's struggle inspires her family to join Walk To Cure Diabetes

LARA Taylor was just four years old when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Her family are joining the Walk To Cure Diabetes in Birmingham in September.Read

Theatre: Tom prepares to don his top hat

TOM Chambers may be best known for his rumba and quickstep, but the actor says he was a dab hand at tap long before he competed in the television show Strictly Come Dancing.Read

Theatre: Stepping out for a line dance

A NEW line dancing musical is proving to be a mini-reunion for the pop band Steps with two of its former singers in the show.Read

Trainer wall at Bullring shopping centre

BIRMINGHAM Bullring is playing host to art of a different kind this week with a giant screen made of 500 moving trainers.Read

Families battle for younger dementia sufferers

An estimated 750,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia, 62 per cent of whom have Alzheimer’s disease. Some 16,000 of them are under the age of 65. It is often said that the relatives of the victims suffer more emotionally than those struck down by it. Diane Parkes meets the families of two victims, ahead of a special fund-raising event in Birmingham.Read

Theatre review: Swan Lake, Birmingham Hippodrome

WHAT would Tchaikovsky have made of this Guangdong Acrobatic Troupe of China’s interpretation of his classic ballet Swan Lake?Read

Quinton supergran takes on fresh challenges after cancer ordeal

WHEN Barbara Symonds was told she had breast cancer she feared it would kill her – but eight years on the action gran is living life to the full.Read

Theatre: Sarah Manners back in Birmingham for cancer drama

FOR actress Sarah Manners, a job in Birmingham is always a boon as it means she can stay in the best digs possible – her parents’ house.Read

Barbara Nice headlines comedy evening

BIRMINGHAM comedienne Barbara Nice headlines next month’s Laughing Cows comedy night.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.