Diane Parkes
@dianeparkes.bsky.social
Freelance writer and journalist based in Brum writing largely about the arts. Love theatre, dance, great books and fab friends.
I caught BRB's Nutcracker this evening. I've seen it so many times yet it's still wonderful.
November 25, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I caught BRB's Nutcracker this evening. I've seen it so many times yet it's still wonderful.
'So many aspects of the show are brimming with imagination and fun that you could watch it again and again and see something new each time.'
Review of #Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas @therepbirmingham
www.weekendnotes.co.uk/sherlock-hol...
What did you think?
Review of #Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas @therepbirmingham
www.weekendnotes.co.uk/sherlock-hol...
What did you think?
Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas at Birmingham Rep
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:47 AM
'So many aspects of the show are brimming with imagination and fun that you could watch it again and again and see something new each time.'
Review of #Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas @therepbirmingham
www.weekendnotes.co.uk/sherlock-hol...
What did you think?
Review of #Sherlock Holmes and The 12 Days of Christmas @therepbirmingham
www.weekendnotes.co.uk/sherlock-hol...
What did you think?
I was at Miss Saigon at the Alex last night. Such wonderful songs and some great performances all round.
November 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I was at Miss Saigon at the Alex last night. Such wonderful songs and some great performances all round.
A Birmingham gem - BRB's Nutcracker opens this weekend: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/the-nutcrack...
November 18, 2025 at 9:55 AM
A Birmingham gem - BRB's Nutcracker opens this weekend: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/the-nutcrack...
Brilliant Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Wolverhampton Museum and Art Gallery: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/wildlife-pho...
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Brilliant Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at Wolverhampton Museum and Art Gallery: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/wildlife-pho...
The clowns have come to town with Slava's Snow Show at Birmingham Alex.
November 12, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The clowns have come to town with Slava's Snow Show at Birmingham Alex.
Lots of festive cheer and it's only November! Elf The Musical comes to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre:
Full review here: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/elf-the-musi...
Full review here: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/elf-the-musi...
Elf The Musical at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre - Review
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Lots of festive cheer and it's only November! Elf The Musical comes to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre:
Full review here: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/elf-the-musi...
Full review here: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/elf-the-musi...
Looking forward to Slava's Snowshow which returns to Birmingham this week. I interviewed Slava earlier this year at his home outside Paris and found out how the show takes us all back to childhood: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/slavas-snows...
Slava's Snowshow - Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Looking forward to Slava's Snowshow which returns to Birmingham this week. I interviewed Slava earlier this year at his home outside Paris and found out how the show takes us all back to childhood: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/slavas-snows...
Calling all theatre fans - you can vote in the WhatsOnStage annual awards so let's support our local theatres to gain national recognition: www.whatsonstage.com/news/nominat...
Nominations open for the 26th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards
The process begins now – who will you pick?
www.whatsonstage.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Calling all theatre fans - you can vote in the WhatsOnStage annual awards so let's support our local theatres to gain national recognition: www.whatsonstage.com/news/nominat...
Brum Hippodrome turned into Paris' famous club - Moulin Rouge.
November 5, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Brum Hippodrome turned into Paris' famous club - Moulin Rouge.
Local actors take to the stage in the hit musical Fiddler on the Roof when it opens at Birmingham Alex for Christmas: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/fiddler-on-t...
Fiddler on the Roof at Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Local actors take to the stage in the hit musical Fiddler on the Roof when it opens at Birmingham Alex for Christmas: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/fiddler-on-t...
It's daft and fun - Starter for Ten at Birmingham Rep: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/starter-for-...
Starter for Ten at Birmingham Rep - Review
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 9:44 AM
It's daft and fun - Starter for Ten at Birmingham Rep: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/starter-for-...
Lots of Kinks hits at Sunny Afternoon at the Alex.
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Lots of Kinks hits at Sunny Afternoon at the Alex.
Fans of Ben Elton and/or Stuart Maconie might want to check out this event organised by The Heath Bookshop: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/what-have-i-...
What Have I Done? An Evening with Ben Elton (In Conversation with Stuart Maconie)
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Fans of Ben Elton and/or Stuart Maconie might want to check out this event organised by The Heath Bookshop: www.weekendnotes.co.uk/what-have-i-...
A bit disappointed with The Party Girls. Currently at Birmingham Rep, it tells the story of the Mitford Sisters but it feels like it could be so much stronger - www.weekendnotes.co.uk/the-party-gi...
The Party Girls at Birmingham Rep - Review
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A bit disappointed with The Party Girls. Currently at Birmingham Rep, it tells the story of the Mitford Sisters but it feels like it could be so much stronger - www.weekendnotes.co.uk/the-party-gi...
Don't try this at home! Cirque Eloize bring their show iD Reloaded to Wolves Grand this evening - www.weekendnotes.co.uk/cirque-eloiz...
October 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Don't try this at home! Cirque Eloize bring their show iD Reloaded to Wolves Grand this evening - www.weekendnotes.co.uk/cirque-eloiz...
Technology and art combine for a free performance from the Water Bots later this month - www.weekendnotes.co.uk/water-bots-a...
Water Bots - Appearing at Birmingham Tech Week Launch + Warren's Hall Nature Reserve
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Technology and art combine for a free performance from the Water Bots later this month - www.weekendnotes.co.uk/water-bots-a...
I've loved Brian Patten's poetry for decades. Literature has lost a really great voice with his death. I could share so many of his poems but this one, which talks about how we hold people in our hearts after they die, feels the most relevant today.
October 1, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I've loved Brian Patten's poetry for decades. Literature has lost a really great voice with his death. I could share so many of his poems but this one, which talks about how we hold people in our hearts after they die, feels the most relevant today.
Loving Emma at The Rep at the moment - a great reminder of why Jane Austen is a classic!
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Loving Emma at The Rep at the moment - a great reminder of why Jane Austen is a classic!
Very enjoyable adaptation of Jane Austen's wonderful Emma currently at The Rep.
September 29, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Very enjoyable adaptation of Jane Austen's wonderful Emma currently at The Rep.
Caught up with this chap while on holiday in Tarragona!
September 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Caught up with this chap while on holiday in Tarragona!
A bit more of the Tarragona Santa Tecla Festival.
September 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
A bit more of the Tarragona Santa Tecla Festival.
Had a brilliant time in Tarragona where the Santa Tecla Festival is in full swing. Here are the amazing Castells.
September 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Had a brilliant time in Tarragona where the Santa Tecla Festival is in full swing. Here are the amazing Castells.
Amazed to see our local fox having a midday groom and snooze on the doorstep of one of our neighbours. Cars drove past, people walked past but it was totally unconcerned.
September 10, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Amazed to see our local fox having a midday groom and snooze on the doorstep of one of our neighbours. Cars drove past, people walked past but it was totally unconcerned.
Calamity Jane is 'a warm-hearted tale of frivolity with the central message that ultimately it doesn't matter who you are, love can come to us all'. www.weekendnotes.co.uk/calamity-jan...
Calamity Jane at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre - Review
www.weekendnotes.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Calamity Jane is 'a warm-hearted tale of frivolity with the central message that ultimately it doesn't matter who you are, love can come to us all'. www.weekendnotes.co.uk/calamity-jan...