Season Brochure Spring/Summer 2024

Now Open on Level 3

Join us pre-show for tempting small plates and lunch menus, carefully created by Chef Angelina Adamo Return to your seats in the interval for drinks and dessert, just a few steps away from the auditorium, complete with a dedicated service team and use of private toilet facilities

Menus and booking at birminghamhippodrome.com/thecirclelounge

2024 marks our 125th Birthdayan incredible one and a quarter centuries providing the region with (what we like to call) “goosebumps” moments.

We certainly started the year with plenty of those special moments. In February, we proudly produced workshop performances of our first in-house musical This Is A Love Story, with fantastic songs by the hugely talented Jack Godfrey and Ellie Coote We also welcomed local artists into our building to take part in our MT Rewrites and Playspace programmes - delivering on our commitment to growing opportunities for creatives in the Midlands

Looking ahead, our new season is packed with spectacular shows including the multiaward-winning blockbuster by Lin Manuel Miranda - Hamilton The show is a unique blend of musical theatre, jazz, blues, rap and R&B, all combining to tell the fascinating story of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton Make sure you have a ticket to be “in the room where it happens” this Summer

We are delighted to be a co-producer of Play On, a brand-new production by the brilliant Talawa Theatre Company and the Belgrade Theatre, coming to our stage this Autumn Set amidst the jazz scene of New York’s Cotton Club, Play On is a stylish retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night fusing the music of Duke Ellington with spectacular choreography

Alongside our birthday year line up, we already have a host of exciting productions on sale for 2025, including the return of Matthew Bourne’s iconic Swan Lake, family favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the hit West End musical Only Fools and Horses starring Paul Whitehouse as Grandad and the hilarious fresh new musical & Juliet to name a few.

2024 is already proving to be a phenomenal year and we cannot wait to share it with you

Jon Gilchrist Artistic Director & Chief Executive Officer

Front Cover: Hamilton p10, La Fille mal gardée p16, Come From Away p06 and Death in Venice p03

Jon Gilchrist (Artistic Director & Chief Executive Officer)

Carlos Acosta - On Before

Carlos Acosta is the world’s favourite dancer and On Before is his intensely personal evening of dance in homage to his late mother and the most personal work he has ever created.

It features choreography by world-renowned artists, including Russell Maliphant, Kim Brandstrup, and Will Tuckett, alongside Acosta’s choreography Acosta will perform as both a soloist and alongside Laura Rodríguez, a founding member of his Cuban dance company, Acosta Danza.

“ Sophisticated beautifully thought-out work”

The Observer

Age Guidance 5+

Discounts

Access Birmingham Hippodrome Friends Groups

Uncanny: I Know What I Saw

In 2023 Danny asked the questions - do ghosts exist? And if not, why do we see them?

25,000 people at theatres across the country came to find out the answers, in the biggest live investigation into the paranormal. Ever.

You now have another chance to join Danny and his team of experts for this terrifying and thought-provoking evening, featuring chilling real-life stories of the supernatural experienced by ordinary people from ordinary places, brought to life on stage through thrilling theatrical invention in a mix of projection, sound and spellbinding storytelling

As these stories of very modern hauntings are shared, Danny and the team will debate what they think actually happened in these strange encounters

Whether you are #TeamBeliever or #TeamSceptic, a long-term Uncanny fan or just interested in the paranormal, you ’ re welcome to Uncanny: I Know What I Saw

Age Guidance 10+

Discounts

Access

Così fan tutte Mozart

What does love teach you?

Welsh National Opera takes you back to school with a brand-new production of Mozart’s comic opera Così fan tutte aka The School for Lovers directed by Max Hoehn (The Consul) Set in the early 1970 s, four sixth formers discover that falling in love can be incredible, awkward, and complicated in this coming-of-age tale

The students are given a valuable lesson in love, life and liberty when their teacher involves them in a secret experiment Played out to some of Mozart’s most ravishing music, they are challenged to re-think their own identities and relationships with each other as they are confronted with a series of amusing scenarios designed to deceive

Death in Venice

In the search for beauty and meaning, the renowned author Gustav von Aschenbach travels to Venice on a whim In the sultry atmosphere of a cholera epidemic, with the scirocco blowing, he falls in love with Tadzio, a youthful aristocrat who is staying in the same hotel with his family As Aschenbach projects his loneliness and desire on him, fantasy and imagination intermingle with existence His obsession progresses to a fever pitch as he becomes increasingly divorced from reality.

Inspired by the original Thomas Mann novella, Britten’s magnificently atmospheric opera, Death in Venice, comes to life in this new production from WNO, creating images of ravishing beauty, as well as exploring the grotesque hidden beneath the search for the sublime. As poetic worlds of the imagination collide with reality, the early 20 th century acts as a mirror to our times.

wno.org.uk/così #WNOcosì

Sung in Italian, with surtitles in English Audio

wno.org.uk/venice #WNOvenice

Sung in English with surtitles in English

Each year Birmingham Hippodrome works with over 450,000 young people, vulnerable adults and families through free or low-cost education programmes, festival and theatre

As a registered charity with no regular funding, your support through donations, gifts in wills or through our popular Name A Seat Option is vital in ensuring the longevity of our work, providing those goosebump moments to ever more people across the region

1899 Club

Join our growing regular-giving ‘family’ From just £10 each month, you can help us pass on the magic of theatre and live performance for many more years to come.

birminghamhippodrome.com/1899Club

Gifts in wills

Leave a Gift to the theatre in your will to help create generations of joy. Watch our short film at birminghamhippodrome.com/legacy to find out how a special experience inspired one supporter to leave a Gift Your Gift, however small, will make a difference

Name a Seat

Take a seat in our magnificent auditorium and make it your own - perfect for a special occasion gift For a suggested minimum donation of £250 you can help support our transformational work because Arts Matter!

birminghamhippodrome com/nameaseat

Sister Act The Musical

Brace yourselves sisters - the habit is returning to Birmingham Hippodrome!

Don’t miss this second chance to see the brand new production of the Broadway and UK smash-hit musical Sister Act direct from London

All your prayers have been answered with a stunning cast, including Coronation Street legend Sue Cleaver as Mother Superior and West End star Landi Oshinowo as Deloris, everyone’s favourite nun on the run!

Disco diva Deloris’ life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found - a convent! Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she helps her fellow sisters find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted) and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this heavenly musical is joyous and uplifting in equal measures. A musical sent from above, Sister Act is the brilliant, must-see show which raises the spirits and warms the soul time after time.

“A heavenly revival” Independent

Come From Away

7,000 Stranded Passengers. One Small Town A Remarkable True Story

Winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway, this smash hit show shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives with open hearts

Experience this joyous story and soaring music as spirited locals and global passengers come together to forge friendships that will stay with

them forever. The first female American Airlines captain, the quickthinking town mayor, the mother of a New York firefighter and the eager local news reporter are among the many real characters caught at the start of the moment that changed the course of history and whose stories became a true celebration of hope, humanity and unity

Tony Award-winning director Christopher Ashley alongside Olivier Award-winning writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein bring this uplifting true story to the stage in a life-affirming production that has audiences on their feet night after night

The Wizard of Oz

Direct from The London Palladium, the sensational new production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals comes to Birmingham Hippodrome.

Starring Strictly Come Dancing judge

Craig Revel Horwood as The Wicked Witch of the West and JLS sensation

Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man, this spectacular production will be truly magical for all the family.

Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film including Over The Rainbow, Follow

The Yellow Brick Road and We’re Off To See The Wizard with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Join Dorothy, Toto, and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz.

There’s no place like Birmingham Hippodrome this summer.

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi awardwinning cultural phenomenon

Hamilton is touring the UK and Ireland for the very first time and is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome for a ten week season this summer

Hamilton is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and helped shape the very foundations of the America we know today. The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway - the story of America then, as told by America now

Hamilton has book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire and is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton.

Winner of 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, 7 Olivier Awards, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album

Bonnie & Clyde

READY TO RAISE A LITTLE HELL?

Two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere became the biggest folk heroes in all America. They craved adventure - and each other Their names were Bonnie and Clyde Winner of Best New Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2023, the West End cult-sensation is set to hold-up Birmingham Hippodrome following two hell-raising seasons in London’s West End

Starring Catherine Tyldesley (Coronation Street, Strictly Come Dancing) as Blanche, with Nate Landskroner (Waitress, Heathers) and Katie Tonkinson (Bat Out of Hell) as the notorious lovers and Sam Ferriday (The Cher Show, Rock of Ages) as Buck. Lauren Jones (Rebecca, Bonnie & Clyde West End) will be playing the role of Bonnie at Saturday matinees.

Fearless, shameless, and alluring, this award-winning production has garnered a mass following, much like the infamous pair themselves, and now they are set to take your city by storm Discover the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation

Featuring music by Tony® nominee Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde), lyrics by Tony® and Oscar® winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard), a book by Emmy® Award nominee Ivan Menchell, directed and choreographed by Nick Winston

Book now - it would be a crime to miss it!

A Chorus Line

New York City 1975 On an empty Broadway stage, seventeen performers are put through their paces in the final, grueling audition for a new Broadway musical. Only eight will make the cut.

A Chorus Line is a musical masterpiece that revolutionised Broadway, with creator Michael Bennett using real-life testimonies from late-night recording sessions with dancers Celebrate the lives of theatre’s unsung heroes, as they tell searing stories of ambition, shattered hopes, and what it really costs to follow your dreams.

Originally produced at Curve and Directed by Nikolai Foster, with a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line features iconic songs including One, I Hope I Get It, Nothing and the hit ballad What I Did For Love.

The legendary Adam Cooper (Singin’ in the Rain, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake) and Carly Mercedes Dyer (The Drifters Girl Tour, Anything Goes, Barbican Theatre, Dreamgirls, Savoy Theatre) are reprising their roles as Zach and Cassie which they played to great critical acclaim at Curve in 2021

Join us this year for sensational choreography, heart-wrenching personal stories and musical theatre’s most unforgettable finale

‘Genius’ The Times

‘ Irresistible’ The Observer

There are lots of different ways you can get involved at Birmingham Hippodrome

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Young Advocates (Ages 14-23)

Launched in 2021, this programme selects a group of young people from the West Midlands each year to help shape the Hippodrome’s work with, and for, young people

Young Advocates work closely with us to programme and produce events for young people including the Young Community Drop-Ins and a young people’s stage at Birmingham Weekender They also receive training, mentoring and access to a range of different opportunities within the arts industry

Young Community Drop-In Sessions (Ages 14+)

These free sessions have been designed to be creative outlets for young people and offer spaces to relax, connect with others and feel welcome. Each drop-in session invites some of the best people currently working in the creative industries to host workshops looking at a range of art forms, skills and careers, and are open to all levels and abilities

Musicals

Youth

Theatre (Juniors aged 7-11, Seniors aged 12-16)

£100 per term (bursaries available)

Our popular Musicals Youth Theatre meets every Saturday and is led by industry professionals. Inspired by both popular classics and contemporary musicals, the groups are open to all abilities, developing skills in singing, dancing and acting and working towards public performances in our Patrick Studio. Participants also get opportunities to work with our Associate Artists and visiting companies

Hairspray

You can’t stop the beat - HAIRSPRAY is BACK ON TOUR!

Starring Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton (Shrek the Musical, The Addams Family) as the fierce yet fabulous Velma von Tussle Making her directorial debut is Hairspray royalty

Brenda Edwards (Hairspray, We Will Rock You) who will bring new energy and excitement this time from behind the scenes.

Featuring some of musical theatre’s biggest and best hit songs, including Welcome to the 60 s, You Can’t Stop the Beat, Good Morning Baltimore and so many more Hairspray is the hilarious, joyous, and inspiring musical for all!

Enter big hearted Tracy Turnblad and her friends as they dance their way into history in their quest to fight intolerance and racism.

From the spirited Seaweed and his sister Little Inez to the charming Link Larkin and the resolute Motormouth Maybelle, witness a cast of characters who refuse to be silenced in the face of prejudice and discrimination, instead gaining acceptance and equality.

This fun-filled, feel-good show is bursting with show-stopping numbers and dizzying dance-routines that you can’t help not to shimmy too!

BOOK NOW!

La Fille mal gardée

Lise has a choice to make Loaded country bumpkin or penniless, hunky farmhand? Of course, there’s no contest, but her mum has other ideas. Heels are dug in and sparks fly, as a mother-daughter battle ensues

Mixing spectacular classical ballet with slick comedy, a clog-dancing dame, and a super-cute pony, as well as live music by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, this is sure to be fantastic entertainment for you, your friends, and all your family!

“Light-hearted brilliance” Birmingham Post “Sweet and funny”

Luna

A new work inspired by the pioneering women of Birmingham and exploring contemporary universal themes.

With an all-female, international creative team, including choreographers Iratxe Ansa (Spain), Wubkje Kuindersma (Netherlands), Seeta Patel (UK), Arielle Smith (UK), Thais Suárez (Cuba) and music composed by Kate Whitley (UK), Luna is the final part of Carlos Acosta’s Birmingham trilogy (City of a Thousand Trades, Black Sabbath).

“A triumphant world premiere that celebrates Birmingham’s local heroes”

The Times on Black Sabbath (2023), the second work in Carlos Acosta’s Birmingham trilogy

“Carlos Acosta is taking risks with his new artistic approach at Birmingham

Royal Ballet but if this evening, and Altunaga’s ballet in particular, is anything to go by, he is already on the way to making the company a vibrant, creative hotbed once more ”

Seeing Dance on City of a Thousand Trades (2020), the first work in Carlos Acosta’s Birmingham trilogy

Disney’s Aladdin

One lamp, three wishes and infinite possibilities Disney’s spectacular Broadway and West End musical Aladdin is flying into Birmingham this October!

Escape to a whole new world and experience this extraordinary theatrical event already seen by over 14 million people worldwide

Featuring the iconic music by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice - this exuberant production is filled with unforgettable magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle!

“Sheer-Genie-us”

Evening Standard

Join us for our relaxed performance of Disney’s Aladdin Our relaxed performances are open to all but created for people who may find the theatre daunting This includes nuerodiverse

people, those with learning differences or sensory and communication needs

Visit birminghamhippodrome com/relaxedperformances to find out more.

8 May

11 May

Wed – Sat 7 45pm, Thu & Sat 2pm

From £12 Age Guidance 12+

Our second stage, the Patrick Studio, is our 200 It’s the place to go for hilarious improv, stunning dance, t little ones. The Patrick Studio is also home to our New M

It’s the 1980s Black police officer and gospel guitarist Trevor Prince struggles to bring harmony to conflict he finds at work, on the streets and in church Community Service is an uplifting show full of live music and wit Created by Stan’s Cafe with Reisz Amos and Paul Steadman

25 May

Sat 7 45pm

£5 in advance £8 on the door Age Guidance 16+

16 May

Thu 7 45pm From £10

Sonia Sabri Company presents Roshni

Roshni is an intimate crafting of dance and live music, inspired by the stories and experiences of everyday people The audience are taken on an emotional journey, through wordless storytelling, percussive dance and warm, humorous and upbeat audience interaction

Roshni is deeply moving, wonderfully uplifting and gloriously entertaining

31 May

Fri 7pm

£22 Age Guidance 16+

Always & Forever

Looking for something exciting to do in Birmingham?! Well, grab a ticket and join Jumprov, the UK’s first Black and Brown Improv group for a night of fun featuring live sketch comedy which is completely made up on the spot using suggestions from you, the audience

6 Jun & 7 Jun

Thu & Fri 8pm

From £10 Age Guidance 14+

In a world where music transcends boundaries and captures hearts, the names of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar stand as immortal pillars of melody Their voices have echoed through generations with every note they sang As we pay homage to these icons, we invite you to join us on a musical journey through the timeless melodies that defined an era

Tones

A man in a battle with his identity, and on a journey through the depths of Black-British culture, class, and belonging What happens if you're not black enough for the ends, but too black for the rest of the world?

Tones combines the gritty underground sounds of Hip-Hop, Grime and Drill with the melodrama of Opera to present a piece of gig theatre like no other, as Jerome, aka The Professor, navigates his way through a treacherous path to self-discovery

seat flexible studio theatre space. hought-provoking drama and spoken word and a first visit to the theatre for your Musical Theatre department producing new musicals for the first time this year.

13 Jun

15 Jun

Thu – Sat 7pm, Fri 1pm, Sat 2pm

From £10 Age Guidance 8+

Windrush, The Journey

A concert and exhibition

For more than 30 years, Pegasus Opera Company has fearlessly paved the way for diverse talent in opera Today, we ’ re paying tribute to Windrush, showcasing a rich tapestry of music and storytelling, and celebrating Black classical composers: past, present and future Through the outstanding music of Chevalier de Saint Georges, Richard Thompson and Des Oliver - three composers who represent different eras of Black history - we’ll honour the legacy of the Windrush generation with an exciting fusion of classical music, jazz and blues

22 Jun

Sat 3pm & 7pm, 30-minute new ballet, followed by 45 minute Q&A

£10 Age Guidance 7+

British Black BalletIsland Movements

Island Movements: An epic tale of a Windrush family Join us for a short, moving ballet that tells the story of a young soldier in WW2 and follows him and his family through their life in the UK

5 Jul & 6 Jul

Fri & Sat 7pm

£8 Age Guidance 6+

BSL Interpreted Sat 6 Jul 7pm

Audio Described Sat 6 Jul 7pm

A free exhibition showcasing the work of Black classical composers through music, photographs and local Windrush testimony will accompany this concert at Birmingham Hippodrome in the week of the concert

16 Aug

18 Aug

Fri & Sat 715pm, Sat & Sun 2 15pm

£18 Age Guidance 7+

Unbound is a bewitching new musical by British Youth Music Theatre in partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome with an 80’s fuelled pop-rock score Home-schooled Iris has finally convinced her mother to let her attend Black Lake High Ready for an ‘ordinary’ life of friends, parties and school spirit, Iris’ world is turned upside down when she unknowingly frees an ancient witch and finds herself part of the coven Will Iris’ newfound powers help her win over her new classmates, or spell disaster?

Dreamland (or a musical riff on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream set during the declassification of Area 51) is exactly what the title says it is, or is it? Hippodrome Musicals Youth Theatre is a group of incredible young people aged between 7-16 years

21 Sep

Sat 7pm

£22 Age Guidance 16+

Prepare to be dazzled and entranced as Botown transport you to a realm where the spirit of Bollywood meets the soul of funk, creating an unforgettable fusion of music, culture, and pure entertainment Acclaimed by The Daily Express, “Botown infuses Bollywood’s classics with a ‘Shaft’ treatment” and seamlessly blends the allure of Bollywood with the irresistible charm of soul music

Four Felons and a Funeral

Ever thought of stealing someone ’ s ashes? Neither had Millie Now she’s barrelling down the M6 in a Fiat Punto with three accomplices, forty-five packets of crisps and a large decorative urn

Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, GOYA Theatre Company presents Four Felons and a Funeral, a brand-new musical about four dysfunctional friends going on a road trip to scatter their best mate’s ashes What could go wrong?

11 Oct

Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz

Trim? Fresh Skin? Glowing Vibes? Immaculate

Nathaniel is a serious romantic who sees love as a fine art He’s looking for the Mona Lisa to his da Vinci, and tonight is the night: his date with Destiny ’ s Child Winner of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2022, Nathan Queeley-Dennis’ debut play is a love letter to Birmingham, exploring Black masculinity through Beyoncé lyrics, techno raves and the deeply intimate relationship between a man and his barber Directed by Dermot Daly

The Ladies Of Laughter are flexing their female funny muscles especially for you!

Ladies of Laughter

Join Noreen Khan (BBC AN, BBC 1, BBC Radio 5 Live), Shazia Mirza (BBC, ITV, CH4), Kyrah Gray (Netflix, Comedy Central Live) and Sukh Ojla (Mock The Week, Life Sukhs, BBC) for a night made for everybody (whatever your pronoun) so round up your friends & family and join us for a guaranteed night of hilarity!

13 Dec

4 Jan

Refer to performance diary page 40 From £15

A Birmingham Hippodrome Production: The Jingleclaw In a cosy village nestled in the snowy mountains, the Shnootnoot Winter Festival is fast approaching Astrid is busy practising to play with her school band Everyone wants her to keep in time, but Astrid just wants to march to the beat of her own drum Meanwhile, deep in the Winter wood, The Jingleclaw awakes, a mischievous monster who can’t STAND festive cheer and music Can Astrid find a way to keep the village safe? With original songs, festive magic (and a little bit of naughtiness!), The Jingleclaw is the perfect first musical for ages 3+

Prices and discounts subject to change (see p38)

Play On!

What does it take for a woman to make it in a man’s world?

Meet Vy, a talented songwriter looking to make it big in the 1940 s Harlem scene. She quickly learns from her uncle Jester that women will never be taken seriously in a man’s world But, like many a strong hero, she refuses to accept defeat. Through her gender fluid cunning, she meets club owner The Duke and sensational nightclub singer Lady Liv and is swept up in a syncopated symphony of melodies, mistaken identities and romance. Who will come out on top?

Play On! is set in the jazz scene of New York’s Cotton Club. This stylish retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Talawa’s Artistic Director Michael Buffong (A Kind of People, Royal Court; All My Sons, Talawa and Royal Exchange) fuses the thrilling music of Duke Ellington with street dance choreography. Prepare to be wowed by this musical spectacular that will have your toes tapping and hands clapping along with the timeless soundtrack.

Russell Kane: HyperActive

Whirlwind, FitBit-breaking comedian, presenter, actor and author Russell Kane is out on the road again, setting it on fire with his unique recipe of sharp wit and “storming physical comedy” (Mail on Sunday)

The brand-new tour for 2024 and 2025 comes with a safety warning: wear strong underwearpants will be spoiled Russell is high-energy, high-octane, and hyper-active!

“Fierce, funny and heartfelt a thrilling reminder of what comedy can do”

The Guardian

“An evening-long fix of stand-up espresso one of the quickest, most stimulating stand-ups in the land”

The Times

“Russell Kane has made his name with verbose, hyperactive comedy - and he shows no sign of slowing down”

The i

Rob Beckett: Giraffe

Yes! Bobby Beckles is back on tour Smashing the life out of the M25, M1, M5 and any other road that’s in my way From Bromley to Brisbane, my new show Giraffe is going worldwide

Expectations on me: put on 3 stone from takeaways and post-show drinking Expectations of you: leave the gig happier than when you arrived

My wife thinks it’s going to be tough for me to be away from the family and don’t get me wrong, I do love my children/podcast content providers but I also enjoy a lie-in and a hotel buffet breakfast I think I’ll cope

What else is there to do? Sit next to your partner on the sofa scrolling TikTok in silence again? You did that the last three nights. See you there!

Host of Sky’s Rob Beckett’s Smart TV and Rob & Romesh Vs He’s also the unmistakable voice of Channel 4’s Celebs Go Dating and the smashhit podcast Parenting Hell

At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Clara tiptoes downstairs and is swept away on an unforgettable magical journey

At her parents’ lavish Christmas party, Clara is given a mysterious Nutcracker Doll. Once all the guests have left, she sneaks downstairs to find her present and comes face-to-face with the fearsome King Rat, ready to do battle with the Nutcracker and his band of toy soldiers

Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, performed live by the 60-strong Royal Ballet Sinfonia, provides the captivating soundtrack to this festive classic.

This sumptuous and timeless production boasts daring swordfights, falling snow, magic, and a 30-foot Christmas tree Whether you’re yearning for a hint of nostalgia or looking to start a whole new tradition for your family and friends, plan ahead ready to start your festive season in style.

Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker

Peter Pan

Join Peter Pan and the characters you know and love this Christmas in this high-flying swashbuckling adventure

Starring Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack as Smee, this family treat will include all your favourites from Neverland including Tinker Bell, Wendy, John and Michael Darling.

With amazing special effects, stunning sets and beautiful costumes direct from The London Palladium, Peter Pan will take your whole family on a magical trip to Neverland like never before!

Be part of the panto magic! Hook your tickets today...

“ The greatest pantomime I have ever seen”

Birmingham Mail

“This panto is just the best-of-the best It’s funny, cheeky, charming and clever - and it’s for all the family.”

Express and Star

“A panto masterpiece”

What’s On Live

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

Matthew Bourne’s audacious, rulebreaking reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece caused a sensation when it premiered almost 30 years ago It has now become the most successful dance theatre production of all time, creating new audiences and inspiring generations of young dancers In celebration of that ongoing impact, Swan Lake will take flight once more in a major new revival for the next generation of dancers, and for audiences who will experience it for the very first time.

Thrilling, bold, witty and emotive, this genre-defining event is still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered convention, turning tradition on its head

First staged at Sadler’s Wells in London in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake took the dance theatre world by storm

becoming the longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway. It has since been performed across the globe, collecting over thirty international accolades including the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and three Tony Awards for Best Director of a Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume Design

The Evening Standard

“ Still THRILLING new generations. TERRIFIC”

Sunday Times

“ SEE IT! Or live to regret it”

The Independent

If you have a passion for unforgettable performance and want to enjoy exclusive perks and discounts we ’ ve got just the ticket.

Hippodrome Patrons

from £27.50 per month

Hippodrome Patrons play a vital role in sustaining our charitable commitments, helping us to create opportunities for everyone to access the arts Get behind-the-scenes, be a part of special events, be the first to know about and book premium seats for sell-out shows, enjoy discounts and make use of our luxury VIP Proscenium Lounge. You’ll become part of the Hippodrome ‘family’ and help us achieve our ambitions because Arts Matter!

Hippodrome Friends

from £50 per year

If you’re passionate about theatre and want to enjoy a host of exclusive benefits such as priority booking, great savings on tickets and discounts on food and drinks - become our Friend today!

Hippodrome Creatives Card

Are you an artist, producer or creative living or working in Birmingham and the West Midlands? We want to make sure that the creative talent of our region is able to develop, thrive, and make careers from a base at Birmingham Hippodrome. You can benefit from free rehearsal space, space to work and meet in, ticket offers and masterclasses!

Cinderella

Step into the magical world of Cinderella, where Fairy Godmothers triumph over cruel stepmothers, pumpkins turn into sparkling carriages and a jewelled slipper changes one young woman’s life forever. This timeless story of love, courage and kindness reminds us all to have faith in our wildest dreams; one day they might just come true.

Praised by audiences and critics alike, former Company Director David Bintley’s Cinderella is a sure-fire mix of wonderful dance, spectacular scenery, and a cast of characters that include mice, lizards and even a dancing frogsomething to capture every imagination

From £26

This brand-new production of the much-loved family favourite stars Liam Fox (Emmerdale) as Grandpa Potts, and is bursting with unforgettable songs by the Sherman Brothers including Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain, Truly Scrumptious and of course the Academy Award-nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The Potts family’s adventures to far off lands in their magical motor car makes CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG a fun-filled hit for all the family DON’T LET IT TAKE OFF WITHOUT YOU!

1 Apr

11 Apr

From £25

Stick a pony in your pocket - The Trotters are back and coming to Birmingham Hippodrome! The smash hit show Only Fools and Horses the Musical - direct from a record-breaking four-year sold-out run-in London’s West Endfeaturing Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad, Cassandra, Raquel, Boycie, Marlene, Trigger, Denzil, Mickey Pearce.

Starring comedy legend Paul Whitehouse reprising his role as Grandad and based on John Sullivan’s legendary television show, this critically acclaimed home-grown musical spectacular features cherished material from Britain’s best loved TV series

15 Apr 19 Apr

Tue Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Thu 2pm, Sat 2.30pm

From £26

The Broadway and West End sensation, Kinky Boots the Musical, is strutting back to Birmingham in a brand-new production! This heart-warming and joy-filled sensation based on a true story and the movie, features a Tony® and Grammy®-winning score by Cyndi Lauper, a book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein and is directed by Nikolai Foster (Grease, Sister Act and An Officer and a Gentleman)

Starring Strictly Come Dancing’ s sensation and international champion Johannes Radebe* as Lola and West End actor Dan Partridge as Charlie Price.

*Johannes Radebe will not perform on Wed 16 April.

22 Apr 3 May Mon Sat 7 30pm, Wed & Thu 24 2pm, Sat 2 30pm

From £25

Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as Juliet ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love-her way

After a phenomenal run in London’s West End, & JULIET is heading to Birmingham having scooped three Olivier Awards and six WhatsOnStage Awards

From the writer of multi awardwinning Schitt’s Creek, & JULIET is fabulously fresh and riotously funny exploding with dozens of pop anthems by legendary songwriter Max Martin and his collaborators, including Britney Spear’s Baby One More Time and Katy Perry’s Roar This hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told and proves there’s life after Romeo.

From £22

The smash-hit London Palladium production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns to Birmingham Hippodrome! The multi award-winning show has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international tours in over 80 countries worldwide and has become one of the world’s most beloved family musicals

8 May & 10 May

From £28

The Marriage of Figaro

8 May

Mozart

Peter Grimes

10 May

Britten

Love, laughter, and tangled affairs crash with a sea of struggle and tragedy in WNO’s Spring Season.

In The Marriage of Figaro it is supposed to be the happiest day of Figaro and Susanna’s lives but will their wedding go ahead? Get ready for a whirlwind of clever schemes played out against Mozart’s melodic brilliance

Peter Grimes is a tale of isolation and prejudice

Haunted by rumours and suspicion, a fisherman finds himself grappling with inner demons as the local community turns against him Britten’s iconic opera comes to life as tragedy unfolds against the ominous backdrop of melodic waves

TICKETS ONSALE

FRIENDS & PATRONS - Wed 26 Jun, 11am

GROUPS 10+ - Thu 27 Jun, 11am

GENERAL - Fri 28 Jun, 11am

Our gift vouchers make the perfect gift for the theatre lovers in your life (especially when you ’ re not sure what they’d like to see, or when they can go).

Vouchers can be bought for any amount, and are quick, convenient, and flexible - ideal for those last-minute gifts!

Buy online at birminghamhippodrome.com/giftvouchers

Image: Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker © Bill Cooper

Birmingham Hippodrome strives to provide Access for all.

• Please ask our Ticket Sales team for a copy of our access brochure for full details of our access provision.

• We are pleased to have recently launched our new Access Registration scheme in partnership with Nimbus Disability allowing online booking for the first time alongside our phone service.

Find out more and register at birminghamhippodrome.com/accessregistration

• Our Access Forum, made up of audiences, staff, volunteers and partners, meets quarterly and are committed to improving the experience for all visitors.

• If you have any questions, our friendly Access Advisors are available at 0121 689 1060 or hippodromeaccess@birminghamhippodrome.com

Upcoming Accessible Performances... T RP

thank you

...to all our supporters - major donors, patrons, sponsors, corporate patrons, and Trusts & Foundations - for helping us to create opportunities for everyone to access the arts.

We hope you share our belief in the value of arts and culture for communities here in the West Midlands and will help us bring our charitable ambitions to life.

Because Arts Matter!

Charles Holloway, Founding Supporter - New Musical Theatre Department

Mrs A Cole • Kirsty Davies-Chinnock • Racheal & Adrian Jessop

The late Thelma Justham • Pritpal Sagoo • Mark & Amanda Smith • Peter Tod • The late Mr J Weston • Anonymous Donors

Hippodrome Circle Patrons

Mark Hopton • Maureen & Roy Kirby • Graham & Heidi Mosedale •

Mark & Amanda Smith • Paul Twose

Leading Role Patrons

Curtain Raiser Circle 2023-24

Angelina Adamo • Kirsty Davies-Chinnock • Daphne Hall

Chris Handy • Ian Harris • Deborah Horton • Angela Irvine Lynne Myers • Katie Newbon

Headline Act Patrons

Teresa & Sarah Cook • The Dickens Foundation • Janette Rutter • Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation • Helen Thompson

Mark, Liz & Holly Abrol • John & Heather Clemson • Nicola Fleet-Milne • Davinia Gransbury • Andy & Rebecca Hammond •

Rachel & Graham Hill • Alison & Jamie Justham • Debbie & Mark Lilburne • Chris and Jane Loughran • Michael & Cerys Luckman

Jeremy & Harjinder Millington • John & Sandra Phenix • Tony & Julie Phillips • Nigel & Margaret Plumley • Paul Puttergill

David Renton & Mark Lattimore • Steve & Suzie Whittern • Neil & Polly Wilson • Phillip Wright

Anonymous Patrons

Supporting Cast Patrons

Christine Bachelor • Simon Bashford • Kelly Beckett • Simon & Amanda Boardman-Weston • Colleen & Kevin Budge •

Richard Burke • Andrew & Sarah Connors • Adrian Cox • Marcus & Linda Daly

Lyse Edwards

Patricia Etchells

Mark Forty

Katie Fraser

Pauline Hancock & Simon Derby • Deborah Install

Ros & Trevor Davies

Mick & Sue Gower

David & Wendy Jackson

Gareth & Jane Edwards

Martin & Roni Guest

Victoria J T Jenkins & Jan Inglis

John Jeremy & Pamela Buckley • Jan Johnson • Martin & Joanne King • Andy LeMarr • Maureen Levermore

Anne McKee & Pat Alsop • Lynne Myers • Emma & Peter Neads • Katie Newbon

Tony & Judy Pickard

John & Jill Queenan

Dr Gavin Ralston

Janine Nicholls • Mrs Jill Parker •

Dr and Mrs Reynolds

David & Jane Richardson

Emma Rowley

Mary Shaw

Sukhvinder Singh

Wendy Smith & Family

Christine Spittle

Mrs Ann Wailing & Mrs Vanessa Ottley • Joel Wata • Anonymous Patrons

1899 Club Founder Members

Maureen Booth • James Clews • Kirsty Davies-Chinnock • Mr & Mrs P Davies

Rosie Milsom

Margaret Plumley

John & Teresa Purser

Roger Rivett

Name A Seat 2023

Dawn Beddard

Marie Bushell and Connor Sherry

Gifts in Wills

Gwen Stephens

Glynis Troth

Alaine Fendek

Ann Tonks

Norma and Jeannie Cable

James Fox

Rob Macpherson

Rachael Magson

The late Mr J Weston

Our other generous donors

The Family of Donald and Pauline Campbell

Special thanks to our legacy pledgers, and other donors who prefer to remain anonymous, who have left a gift to the theatre in their will. Paul Callas

• Terry & Yvonne Gateley • Lara Ratnaraja • Janette Rutter • The late Mr J Weston

To find out how you or your business can play your part, please get in touch with Judith Greenburgh, Head of Fundraising and Development on 0121 689 3082 or email fundraising@birminghamhippodrome.com We look forward to welcoming you to the Hippodrome ‘family’ - together we can make a real difference.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you…

How To Book

You can book or reserve tickets, become a Friend, reserve a table in our lounges, make a donation or ask us a question:

Online

birminghamhippdrome.com

Phone

Mon-Fri 10am-6pm (closed on weekends and bank holidays)

Information & Sales 0844 338 5000*

Groups 10+ 0844 338 7000*

Access Bookings 0121 689 1060

Post-purchase Enquiries 0121 689 1070

In Person

Our reception on Thorp Street Mon-Fri 10am-5pm Pre-show sales counter 1 hour before a performance, until 30 minutes after the show starts.

Payment & Tickets

We accept most major credit and debit cards (excluding American Express) as well as Birmingham Hippodrome vouchers.

Following payment, we’ll send e-tickets no later than 2 weeks before a performance date unless booked within that period.

Refund Protection

We offer refund protection on your booking through our partners Booking Protect. Protection covers injury, illness, travel trouble and unexpected events. Full details can be found in the terms and conditions on our website.

Conditions of Sales

Full terms and conditions are available at birminghamhippodrome.com or you can call us on 0844 338 5000* and ask one of our friendly team.

Your Visit

Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB.

What3Words ///smiles.tolls.origin

We are easy to find and centrally located with easy access from New Street and Moor Street stations, the West Midlands Metro and many bus routes. For further details, see tfwm.org.uk.

For full details on parking, travel, The Circle Lounge, bars and facilities, please go to birminghamhippodrome.com/yourvisit.

Birmingham Hippodrome is now a cashless venue.

Children

As very young children can get bored or easily upset by special effects, we do not admit children under 3 into the majority of our main house performances. Please check individual show age guidance on our website.

We welcome young children for our family shows and indicate terms or prices for babes in arms (18 months and under). Please book babes in arms in advance. Everyone admitted to the theatre needs a ticket.

Under 13s must be accompanied by an adult so we know they are safe.

Access Registration & Information

For listings of access performances, information on our registration scheme and for details of our facilities please visit birminghamhippodrome.com/access

We are pleased to have launched our brand-new Access Registration scheme in partnership with Nimbus Disability, now allowing online booking alongside our phone and in-person service.

Visually-impaired

Guide dogs are very welcome in the theatre and can be looked after by staff during performances. Should you require a seat close to entrances, please ask when booking. Please book your guide dog in with Ticket Sales in advance of your visit.

Touch Tours take place alongside audio-described performances. Times are confirmed 2-3 weeks in advance.

Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing

If you’d like a receiver, just ask at the Access Assistance Desk, located at our main entrance.

Impaired mobility

Automatic doors and lifts are available and we have wheelchair positions in our main auditorium and Patrick Studio. We have accessible unisex and ambulant disabled toilets on all levels and in The Circle Lounge, plus low-level counter service. Please let us know when booking your ticket if you need any additional help with your visit.

Enjoy your next visit!

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this brochure, changes may occur.

A note on ticket prices, discounts and charges

• All ticket prices listed in this brochure and elsewhere are subject to change at any time.

• In response to demand we may adapt prices, seating areas and discounting, and availability of concessions or discounts may be limited at our discretion.

• Check online at birminghamhippodrome.com or call us on 0844 338 5000* for current prices.

• Tickets for selected events may include a levy retained by Birmingham Hippodrome.

• We will always endeavour to keep discounts as generous as possible so that no bookers are at a disadvantage.

• Discounts vary, cannot be combined nor applied retrospectively, and may be restricted or limited and are generally available on presentation of valid ID.

• On occasion ticket agents may sell on our behalf. Please check their charges when booking.

• We have several 0844 telephone numbers. *Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Artistic Director & Chief Executive Officer: Jon Gilchrist

Catherine Mallyon (Chair)

• Harj Millington (Deputy Chair)

• Andrew Connors

• Martin Guest

• Andrew Hammond

•

Vidar Hjardeng MBE

• Immy Kaur

• Elizabeth Lawal

Special Adviser: Sir John Crabtree OBE

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Limited

Registered Charity No. 510842

• Suzie Norton

• Dr Tru Powell

•

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Dec

Nov

Jan

Please note: These diagrams are a guide and not an accurate representation of seating positions. Stalls Rows A - D are not used for Opera and Ballet performances. Other variations may apply due to technical reasons.

Due to potentially restricted views of the stage and the technical requirements of specific productions, boxes may be unavailable to purchase. They are often made available for sale closer to the time over the phone only.

If you would like to enquire about a box for a specific performance, please contact us on 0844 338 5000*.

If undelivered, please return to Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB

This mailing was sent to you as an existing customer of Birmingham Hippodrome (registered charity 510842) under the Legitimate Interests lawful basis. For further information please see our privacy policy online. To opt-out from future mailings, please contact info@birminghamhippodrome.com

birminghamhippodrome.com

Registered Charity Number 510842 Tickets

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