'the imjin' magazine Summer 2019 | Page 16

What’s on DANCE WORLD PREMIERE 10 Soldiers Birmingham Hippodrome Tuesday 21 May Ever stood on a parade square and thought that military drill is just a form of choreography? In 2008, dance director Rosie Kay spent time at a British Army barracks on Salisbury Plain. What came of these observations was the award- winning, contemporary dance ‘5 SOLDIERS’. Ten years on, she has expanded the work for the large stage with ‘10 Soldiers’. Now a full Army squad, 10 Soldiers takes a fresh look at life in 2019’s British Army. It is billed as “a thrilling and humane portrait of army life”, telling the stories of men and women serving in the modern military. SUPER TROOPERS incredible inner strength – remains on the frontline of war. Charged with Kay’s trademark intense athletic dance theatre, 10 Soldiers explores how the human body – with both fragility and Building upon the groundwork that 5 SOLDIERS laid, Kay has returned to the Army, conducting new research, digging into SPORT current conversations about equality and diversity. She also looks at the growing number of women in the Army and asks how this shapes the community among female soldiers and how women are treated in a military unit. Birmingham Half Marathon Army v RAF Rugby Sutton Park, Birmingham Sunday 14 April The Birmingham Half Marathon is aimed at all abilities, and takes place within the stunning Sutton Park – the largest urban parkland in Europe. Gloucestershire Cricket The Brightside Ground, Bristol from 11 April What could be more quintessentially English 16 SUMMER 2019 the imjin than the start of the cricket season? Gloucestershire’s first 4-day County Championship match takes place in Bristol. Alternatively wait for the team to travel to Cheltenham for the town’s popular cricket festival in July. For tickets visit www.gloscricket.co.uk Covering 2,400 acres, the Park provides the perfect setting for the race. The event is on closed-to-traffic route on tarmac roads, through heathland and ancient woodland, and also includes a shorter 10k and 5k course. Entry costs £25 via 01270 842800. The new piece will premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome on Tuesday 21 May. Tickets (via www. birminghamhippodrome. com) will no doubt sell out fast. Quick march! Kingsholm, Gloucester Saturday 27 April Inter Services rugby comes to Gloucester as the Army take on the RAF at the Kingsholm Stadium. The 2018 Inter Services was won by the RAF, after the air force secured the narrowest of victories against the Army in the opening round of the tournament. This year, the much-fancied Army side will be looking to avenge that defeat – and will be counting on the vocal support of personnel from nearby Imjin Barracks. See the advert on page 15 for more details.