Taken at twilight this photograph shows the fourth face of the theatre. It was designed and built by Birmingham based Associated Architects and Scottish Law and Dunbar-Naismith. The building received a RIBA Award in the same year and was commended for helping the regeneration of Birmingham’s Southside.
The invitation to this world premier was given to Birmingham Hippodrome’s then Chief Executive Stuart Griffiths.
It was the first of choreographer David Bintley’s fairy tale ballets and one of the most successful.
Beauty and the Beast is a dark gothic ballet featuring 89 dancers.
This was the first year the smash hit musical appeared at Birmingham Hippodrome. It followed a string of blockbusters including The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.
It was one of the most technically complex musicals the theatre had ever staged, and featured the roaring of a helicopter.
This poster is signed by film, TV and stage star Joan Collins who first appeared on Birmingham Hippodrome’s stage in 1953.
Joan made her pantomime debut at Birmingham Hippodrome in the 2010 production of Dick Whittington, alongside Julian Clary, Keith Harris and Nigel Havers.
Full Circle is a romantic comedy written by Alan Melville.
A popular Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime, Aladdin has been staged many times. As part of a variety bill in 1907 John Tiller’s Christmas Extravaganza, included the pantomime sketch Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp.
John Tiller is best known for his high kicking dance troupe The Tiller Girls.
In this Qdos production, TV star John Barrowman performed in the title role. The show also featured the Daleks from Dr Who!
At the end of 1999 the theatre closed its doors for a £35million redevelopment, reopening on 11 November 2001. Improvements included a 206 seat studio theatre, new bars, dressing rooms and improved disabled access. Welcoming audiences averaging around 550,000 each year, Birmingham Hippodrome can lay claim to the highest regular annual attendance of any single theatre in the UK.
In 2013 625,732 tickets were sold, the most in 50 years!
