Michael Mansfield QC announced as New Patron for the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Monday, August 05, 2013

Michael Mansfield QC joins Wolverhampton-born jazz legend Dave Holland and British/Bengali musician Zoe Rahman as patrons of the city?s Arena Theatre and its jazz programme.

We have received the following press release from the Arena Theatre;

Michael Mansfield QC announced as New Patron for the Arena Theatre

Wolverhampton’s Arena Theatre has announced that renowned barrister, Michael Mansfield QC, will be a Patron of the theatre’s prestigious new jazz programme to be launched this autumn.

Mr. Mansfield is pleased to support the development of a jazz performance and education programme at the Arena, and said: ?For me, jazz instills freedom of spirit and freedom of thought, both vital at this time of global political, economic and environmental meltdown caused by oppressive forces. The Arena Theatre’s jazz programme in Wolverhampton is a fine example of how to capture the imagination of a diverse community. Vibrant, stimulating and inclusive.’’

Michael was born in 1941 and called to the Bar in 1967. He established Tooks Chambers in 1984 and achieved the status of Queen’s Counsel in 1989. He has represented defendants in criminal trials, appeals and inquiries in some of the most controversial legal cases the country has seen, particularly where issues of civil liberty have arisen. He has represented the Birmingham Six, and the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence. He participated in the inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed, and Jean Charles de Menezes, and will be representing families in the Hillsborough inquest next year, seeking to establish the truth behind the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

The Arena’s new jazz programme will bring high profile national and international jazz artists to Wolverhampton and offer educational and participation opportunities to young people in the city. The season begins on Saturday October 5th with the Zoe Rahman Quartet. Zoe won the 2012 MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act.

In 2010, Mr. Mansfield was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Wolverhampton. He now joins Wolverhampton-born jazz legend Dave Holland and British/Bengali musician Zoe Rahman as patrons of the city’s Arena Theatre and its jazz programme.

For information and tickets, call the Arena Theatre 01902 321321, or visit http://www.arenatheatre.info

Jazz@Wolverhampton
c/o Arena Theatre
Wulfruna Street
Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 4SE