This isn’t a sponsored post.
This post is made up from attractions and venues which follow and share BrumHour on Twitter.
Please note the deadline for things to do in November is Friday 22nd October.
Compiled by Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Seventeen things to do in Birmingham and beyond in October 2021
Theatre, Comedy, Literature, Art, Theatre, Improv, Tech, Ballet, The Horse of the Year Show and Theatre.
Bill Woodrow Richard Deacon (15th September to 21st November)
Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Birmingham B1 2HS
“We Thought About It A Lot, and other shared drawings” Sometimes working in a shared space sometimes processing Bill Woodrow and Richard Deacon have been working in this way since 1990 according to Ikon. This is their first time presenting their shared drawings.

Details here: ikon-gallery.org/event/woodrow-deacon
Birmingham Comedy Festival (1st to 10th October)
Locations across Birmingham
From large gigs at B:Music Symphony Hall with Russell Brand, Tailenders or Chris Ramsey, to intimate gigs at 1000 Trades. Birmingham Comedy Festival is back with a bang.
See the full dates here: bhamcomfest.co.uk
The Wicked Lady (1st to 16th October)
Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham B18 6AD
A World Premiere of this adult spooky ghost story at the Blue Orange Theatre with their own producing company, JW Theatres.
Book tickets: blueorangetheatre.co.uk/project/wickedladylive
Birmingham Literature Festival (October)
Black Country Living Museum and Bramall Music Building and also online
The annual festival is back with both online and in person event, featuring poetry, talks, children’s fiction and performance.
See the full programme here: birminghamliteraturefestival.org/all-events
Box of Frogs (3rd October)
The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TD
The Glee Club website says:
The multi-talented and quick-witted Box Of Frogs players return once more with their their high-octane improvised silliness to The Glee Club.
Tickets: glee.co.uk/performer/box-of-frogs/?location=1
The Cat and the Canary (4th to 9th October)
The Alexandra, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS
Nearly 100 years after it first premiered on Broadway, The Cat and the Canary is back on tour with an all-star cast including Britt Ekland with a visit to The Alexandra in central Birmingham which is also turning 120 years old.
Book tickets here: atgtickets.com/shows/the-cat-and-the-canary/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/
The Incident Room/The Grand Gesture (6th to 9th October) and The Sweet Science of Bruising (13th to 16th October)
Crescent Theatre, 20 Sheepcote Street, Birmingham B16 8AE
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Theatre Company brings three plays to the Crescent Theatre.
Book tickets here: crescent-theatre.co.uk/whats-on
Horse of the Year Show (6th to 10th October)
The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
“The Ultimate Celebration of the Horse” and a staple of the equestrian calendar returns to The NEC.
Find out more here: hoys.co.uk
What’s New Pussycat? (8th October to 14th November)
Birmingham Rep, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP
The music of Sir Tom Jones and The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling converge with this new musical as part of Birmingham Rep’s 50th Anniversary at Broad Street.
Book here: birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/whats-new-pussycat
The Ruff Tuff Cream Puff Estate Agency (9th to 16th October)
Belgrade Theatre, Corporation Street, Coventry CV1 1GS
Belgrade Theatre website says:
The world premiere of the brand-new musical from the critically-acclaimed Cardboard Citizens comes to Coventry this October, in co-production with the Belgrade Theatre and Coventry City of Culture Trust.
Get tickets here: belgrade.co.uk/events/the-ruff-tuff-cream-puff-estate-agency
COBO: Comedy Shutdown: Black History Month Special (10th October)
The Glee Club, The Arcadian, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TD
Join Robbie Gee, Eddie Nestor, Kat Boyce, Kane Brown and Aurie Styla as they mark Black History Month with laughter and more.
Book tickets here: booking.glee.co.uk/18074
Birmingham Tech week (11th to 15th October)
Across central Birmingham
Celebrating digital, technology and innovation across Birmingham and the West Midlands, exploring what is expected in the next 12 months, digital skills and awarding the achievers from the past year.
Details here: birmingham.tech/tech-week-2021
Birmingham Royal Ballet – Carlos Curates: R&J Reimagined (14th to 16th October)
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TB
Three ballet works all alike in dignity, yet such is the difference in their visage they appear at different times, Birmingham Royal Ballet returns to Birmingham Hippodrome with Romeo and Juliet and then from 14th to 16th October presents Radio and Juliet a version with music from Radiohead. This is performed with Rosie Kay’s Romeo + Juliet set in the Summer of Birmingham 2021.
Get tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/brb-carlos-curates-rj-reim
Ex Cathedra 2021/22: Beethoven’s Funeral, Mozart’s Requiem (17 October)
B: Music, Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA
About this concert Ex Cathedra says:
That Mozart’s last work was a Requiem for the dead is remarkable: that he should die whilst composing it has made it the stuff of legends. It is powerful music – sometimes full of dread, always humanity.
Just 36 years after Mozart was buried in an unmarked grave 20,000 people lined the streets of Vienna for Beethoven’s funeral procession. We reconstruct this event – in the comfort of Symphony Hall – with a rare performance of the music heard that day.”
Tickets: bmusic.co.uk/events/ex-cathedra-2021-22-beethovens-funeral-mozarts-requiem
The Magician’s Elephant (18th October until 1st January 2022)
The RSC, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BB
About this adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s award winning novel, The RSC website says:
This brand new musical for all the family reminds us all that even the impossible can be possible when we open our eyes and hearts to those around us.
Get tickets here: rsc.org.uk/the-magicians-elephant
Motionhouse – Nobody (22nd to 25th October)
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Queen’s Ride, Birmingham B12 9QH
MAC’s website says:
Fast-moving and highly physical, Nobody explores the tension between our inner lives and how we make sense of the world around us.
Motionhouse’s renowned dance-circus style combines with mesmerising choreography to tell this emotional and ultimately uplifting story, full of twists and turns.”
Details: macbirmingham.co.uk/event/motionhouse-nobody
Dad’s Army Radio Show (23rd October)
Lichfield Garrick, Castle Dyke, Lichfield WS13 6HR
David Benson and Jack Lane perform all the characters for three episodes of the radio series of the classic sitcom.
Book here: lichfieldgarrick.com/whats-on/all-shows/dads-army-radio-show/2795
Chicago (25th to 30th October)
Wolverhampton Grand, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DE
A cast worthy of the West End comes to Wolverhampton on the UK Tour of Chicago featuring Darren Day, Faye Brookes with Sinitta and Divina De Campo.
Get tickets here: grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/chicago-2/