This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour is invited to share about experience and review both touring homegrown and touring productions at Birmingham Hippodrome throughout the year.
Compiled by Dave Massey twitter.com/brumhour
Season Preview: Autumn 2023 and Winter 2024 at Birmingham Hippodrome
It is time for the season previews, beginning with Birmingham Hippodrome’s Autumn and Winter mainstage touring production programme. As well as appearances from Welsh National Opera and Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome has begun developing its own productions with The Good Enough Mums Club coming in October: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/the-good-enough-mums-club-two.
This week saw the media and press day for Birmingham Hippodrome’s 2023 Brum Panto which this year is Jack and the Beanstalk. Listen out on Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre for interviews with cast and production over the next few months.
Here’s a photo from the media day which partly took place at Birmingham Botanical Gardens:
Black Sabbath – The Ballet (23rd to 30th September)
Words you wouldn’t have put together yourself, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Black Sabbath, both iconic in Birmingham and beyond as Black Sabbath’s music becomes the soundscape for this brand new ballet.
Find out more at brb.org.uk and look out for tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/brb-black-sabbath.
Ailey 2 (3rd and 4th October)
Birmingham Hippodrome website says:
For their return to the UK, Ailey 2 brings an exciting repertory featuring Francesca Harper’s futuristic Freedom Series (excerpt), Robert Battle’s thrilling The Hunt, the incredible energy of William Forsythe’s Enemy in the Figure (excerpt), and Alvin Ailey’s beloved masterpiece Revelations.
Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/ailey-2.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (10th to 14th October)
Based on the true story which became a BBC Three documentary, Jamie dreams of being a drag queen in his small town and doesn’t quite know where to begin.
Get tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/everybodys-talking-about-jamie.
Jumprov! (14th October)
Homegrown humour with the Midlands-based Jumprov crew. Part of Birmingham Comedy Festival 2023.
Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/jumprov-oct-23.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – The Musical (17th October to 5th November)
You knew that Roald Dahl came to Birmingham’s Bournville and the Cadbury factory in his youth and was inspired to create Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Didn’t you?
Golden tickets and a mysterious factory owner bring magic to the Hippodrome stage.
Get your own magical ticket here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory.
Welsh National Opera – Ainadamar (7th November), La traviata (9th and 11th November) and Play Opera Live (11th November)
Welsh National Opera says about La traviata:
Sir David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Verdi’s much-loved opera La traviata returns to WNO with Sarah Crisp directing. Based on Alexandre Dumas fils’ novel, La Dame aux Camélias, the story is a classic tale of thwarted love, scandal and self-sacrifice.”
Find out more about Welsh National Opera here: wno.org.uk. And book tickets for Welsh National Opera at Birmingham Hippodrome here: birminghamhippodrome.com/whats-on/
The Nutcracker 2023 (17th November to 9th December)
Clara receives a nutcracker doll as a gift on Christmas Eve and enters a magical world in this stunning Birmingham Royal Ballet production.
See Birmingham Royal Ballet’s website here: brb.org.uk, and book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/brb-nutcracker-23.
Dear Santa (11th to 24th December)
Birmingham Hippodrome’s website says:
Santa is determined to deliver the most fantastic Christmas present to Sarah, but he doesn’t get it right straight away!
With the help of his cheeky Elf, he finally settles on something ‘perfect’, just in time for Christmas Eve.
Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/dear-santa-two.
Jack and the Beanstalk (16th December to 28th January)
The BrumPanto is an institution and Matt Slack delivers fantastic set pieces annually, this year he’s joined by Dame Alison Hammond off of mid-morning television whilst regulars Andrew Ryan and Doreen Tipton return for what is sure to be two hours and something minutes of solid chaos. Oh, and its Jack and the Beanstalk as this year’s pantomime.
Samantha Womack has been recently announced as the Giant’s wife, Mrs Blunderbore and Jack himself will be played by Birmingham actor Alexanda O’Reilly.
Get tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/jack-and-the-beanstalk.
Edward Scissorhands (6th to 10th February)
Based on the 1990 Tim Burton classic story, this dance production of the bittersweet story comes with a great reputation. Think Pinocchio as a love story??
Book tickets: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/mbs-edward-scissorhands.
Life of Pi (12th to 17th February 2024)
Yann Martel’s best-selling novel about a boy stranded on a boat with a tiger, an orangutan, a zebra and a hyena is now a hit touring show featuring projection and stunning puppeteering.
Get tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/life-of-pi.
Birmingham Royal Ballet – The Sleeping Beauty (21st February to 2nd March 2024)
Expect stunning costumes, enchanting music and a beautifully performed ballet from the company based right here in central Birmingham, in Sir Peter Wright’s The Sleeping Beauty.
Tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/brb-the-sleeping-beauty.
Wicked (5th March to 7th April 2024)
Imagine if the Wizard of Oz was just one point of view and the narrative was flipped over to the side of the Wicked Witch. Welcome to Wicked which returns to Birmingham Hippodrome for what is sure to be a sell out visit.
Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/wicked-2.
Birmingham Hippodrome is based at Hurst Street, B5 4TB and is less than ten minutes walk from Birmingham New Street Station, and ten minutes walk from Birmingham Moor Street Station.
