SPRING SEASON at Woolwich Works

Showbiz royalty in the form of Britain’s Queen of Soul Mica Paris and king of the one-liners Milton Jones are set to reign supreme in this year’s spring season at Woolwich Works.

And they are by no means the only jewels in the crown because the Royal Arsenal complex is also playing host to cabaret sensations The Grotteaux and legendary saxophonist Snake Davis as well as a string of other brilliant musicians and comedians.

What’s more, there are baby-friendly family shows, a new version of Macbeth and, across the road at Woolwich Public Market, an extraordinary, immersive, consciousness-expanding, trippy experience called Dreamachine which runs into the summer.

Mica Paris (top), who brought the house down with her stomping turn at Woolwich Works’ launch party last year, will be returning to the stage of the venue’s Fireworks Factory on 23 April. It’s a gig that is truly unmissable.

In May, Awale Jant will be belting out their mix of Senegalese, Latin American, funk and soul sounds on the 7th and composer Jonny Enser will be unveiling his debut solo project Matters Unknown with the help of some of London’s finest jazz musicians on the 21st.

And the following month Grupo Lokita will be giving us their fabulous blend of Congolese and Cuban vibes on the 4th and Snake Davis will be joined by trumpeter Johnny Thirkell and guitarist Mark Cresswell on the 24th.

If Cabaret’s your bag, the long-awaited Shotgun Carousel show The Grotteaux finally makes it to Woolwich Works on 18 May after having to be postponed in the winter. This cocktail of international circus, comedy, burlesque, drag, live music and dance, hosted by Lilly Snatchdragon, runs till 4 June.

Family shows this spring include Baby Broadway on 23 April when you and your little ‘uns can dance and sing along to hits from great American musicals and six days later, on the 29th, stressed-out new parents can have a welcome laugh with Bring Your Own Baby Comedy.

Speaking of comedy, it’s a heck of a season for merriment in Woolwich. Mirthmeister Milton Jones (above) tops the bill on 7 May, supported by Thanyia Moore and John Robins. And on 20 May you can find out why Arabs Are Not Funny has been Winn ing rave reviews.

Woolwich Works is also hosting a series of work-in-progress for comics to try out new material. The spring roster is made up of Jordan Brookes and Leo Reich (22 April), Olga Koch and Micky Overman (5 May), Erika Ehler and Priya Hall (27 May), Hannah Platt and Micky Overman (9 June) and Priya Hall and Jodie Mitchell (10 June).

A fascinating new version of Shakespeare’s magnificent tragedy Macbeth is being staged by acclaimed company Flabbergast. The show features puppetry, clowning, masks and live music as well as traditional acting and is on from 30 June 2 July.

Meanwhile, Woolwich Works in association with Collective Act are presenting Dreamachine (below) at Woolwich Public Market, a free but ticketed event that runs from 10 May to 24 July as is part of Unboxed: Creativity In The UK, a nationwide festival of ground-breaking arts projects.

Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble have joined forces with Grammy-nominated composer Jon Hopkins and a team of pioneering scientists and tech aces to create a mind-expanding experience using immersive lightscape and 360-degree spatial sound. Audiences are limited to 32 adults at each performance, which will last between 90 and 120 minutes. Tickets up to 19 June are now on sale and those for 20 June to 24 July will be released in May.

Further details and ticket info for all events at https://www.woolwich.works/whats-on