What’s now known as The Rep was once named The Pilgrim Players and The Old Rep. This theatre began its life in 1907 in Station Street where talents such as Paul Schofield, Elizabeth Spriggs and Albert Dinney delighted theatre-goers and then the company moved onto Broad Street. The ground-breaking concept of a theatre with no balconies, pillars or boxes shocked many people. A revolution in acting soon got underway in this controversial auditorium as unique genres of drama were revealed. The theatre's centenary approaches in 2013 and major improvements, including a purpose-built 300-seat theatre and a 140-seat training studio, are currently being undertaken. It will begin hosting shows in autumn next year; Centenary Square will see the exciting merger of the new Library of Birmingham and The Birmingham Repertory Theatre. During the renovations, the theatrical family of The Rep will be performing back at The Old Rep and other renowned institutions such as The Crescent Theatre and the ICC.
With a history spanning 80 years, the cast and crew at The Crescent Theatre, Brindley Place, puts on around 15 shows a year and plays host to a variety of other dramatic societies. The versatile layout of the Main House can be utilised in the traditional proscenium design or convert to a traverse style. Part of the unique charm of this auditorium is that with much thought to the formation of the orchestra pit, generous wing space and other such intricacies, large-scale productions can be performed within an audience and stage-friendly ambiance. With a multi-storey car park next door, parking should not be a problem in its safe, well-lit environs. A Youth Theatre Group meet every Saturday evening during term-time and workshops along with Theatre Days fill the calendar.
When contemplating your theatrical weekend, consider a <a href="http://www.premierinn.com/en/birmingham-hotels.html">Birmingham hotel</a> within less than a mile radius of the ICC. This a popular venue for conferences, concerts and a wonderful meeting place due to its central city location. The Mall connects the halls to the retail centre of Birmingham and the convention centre.
The Birmingham Hippodrome stages a modern ballet performance by members of the Birmingham Royal Ballet; ‘Opposites Attract’ from 26th to 29th September. There are a number of pre-theatre venues for wining and dining such as The Circle, Deli Bar and Stageside and visitors to this amazing building may be awestruck by the spiralling glass structure revolving around the staircase. The Hippodrome is also the first theatre in the UK to be awarded the ISO 14001 certification. With around 500 000 visitors a year, they are committed to adhering to sound environmental practices.
Jesse Wallace writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
