BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
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We are making great strides in our vision to enrich the cultural life of the region. When starting here in late 2015 I had a clear picture of how the Hippodrome could evolve to be an even greater asset for the city and region. Three years on, and we are starting to see the fruits of our endeavours to become more socially relevant and reach a larger number of people every year. 840,000 people in fact over the course of the year, with 590,000 seeing a show in one of our theatres, and nearly 250,000 reached through our schools programmes, daytime activities, events, free performances and festivals programme. Year on year our target of creating One Million Moments to engage with the Hippodrome is becoming more of a reality. We started the year with a bang, with our Festivals Team seconded to produce the Commonwealth Games handover. Whilst having a string of box office hits including Matilda the Musical, Warhorse and Wicked, we also saw the launch of Fresh Fridays – weekly free performances, the formation of our hip-hop, musical theatre and poetry youth companies, massive expansion of our education network to reach 18 schools, and the appointment of seven Hippodrome Associates, with whom we create and present new work. Our Chinese New Year, B-S IDE and Summer in Southside festival partnerships continue to grow, and we present festival activity monthly in the Bullring.
BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME HIPPODROME | ANNUAL | ANNUAL REVIEW REVIEW 2018 2018 – 2019 – 2019
To top this off, literally, we built an extension to the Hippodrome campus on top of the BRB studios. The new Dance Hub building will house national dance agency One Dance UK and be a base for Birmingham’s independent dance scene – making the Hippodrome the centre of the biggest dance cluster outside London. And now we are working on a building masterplan, with a view to developing our front of house spaces to support our wider ambitions over the next few years. I couldn’t be prouder of the Hippodrome team, and am grateful to both the Hippodrome Theatre Trust and Development Board for their continued support. I have a feeling that, with Glenn Howells as our new Chair, we will take another leap forward. We really are making great strides in our vision to enrich the cultural life of the region, and our corporate, cultural and community partnerships make it happen. I hope you enjoy a snapshot of our year’s work on the pages to follow. Fiona Allan Artistic Director & Chief Executive Officer May 2019
Having served on the Board of Trustees for six years before taking up the role of Chair of Birmingham Hippodrome in December I am honoured to have the opportunity to head this great national cultural enterprise at a pivotal point in its illustrious history. This year marks the Hippodrome’s 120th anniversary, and more importantly the start of its next chapter.
I am honoured to have the opportunity to head this great national cultural enterprise at a pivotal point in its illustrious history. The Hippodrome has built an incredible reputation for the quality and range of its performances on our main stage, making it the most successful theatre in the UK. Building on this strong foundation we have, with Fiona Allan at the helm, already broadened our cultural programme, fully using our second space, the Patrick Studio, and the streets and squares outside the building to connect with new and diverse audiences through a rich artistic programme.
The next chapter will see us be even more ambitious, reaching further to connect with wider audiences than ever before as we work towards our vision of One Million Moments, on and offstage. I am excited by the big strides being made in our learning networks around the city, and inspired that new funding partners share our vision. I want us to be a creative catalyst for even more growth, both physically here in our Southside neighbourhood, and more widely through developing long-lasting alliances. This excellent review shows we have sound foundations from which we can build – powered by you, our audiences and supporters. With my fellow Trustees and Development Board members I thank Fiona, all the staff, the producers, actors, dancers and musicians, the people who dedicate their time bringing this great machine to life every day for our enjoyment. I hope you will continue with us on our journey of change in the coming years. Glenn Howells Chair, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust May 2019
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APR BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL: THE TWISTED TALE OF HANSEL AND GRETEL This has been a great chance to do a professional show. I’ve been involved with Open Theatre before, doing workshops, and that was how I found out about it. Luke Greenwood, part of the Hansel and Gretel cast
1300 900+ The successful first run achieved excellent media coverage, met an ambitious financial target, and attracted over 1,300 ticket buyers
Our first co-production in the Patrick Studio saw us working with new Hippodrome associates Open Theatre Company, and MBD to create an inventive take on a well-known story, The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel. Actors with learning disabilities enjoyed their first paid employment and the successful first run achieved excellent media coverage, met an ambitious financial target, and attracted over 1,300 ticket buyers. The schedule included two Relaxed Performances, and over 900 children from across the region have taken part in special themed workshops, delivered by the cast. The production subsequently toured to The Belgrade Theatre (Coventry), Forest Arts Centre (Walsall), and Malvern Theatre, with plans to go back on the road later in in 2019.
Over 900 children from across the West Midlands took part in workshops linked to the show and its themes
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‘Jaw droppingly beautiful’ WICKED TURNS BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME GREEN The legendary cult Broadway musical Wicked took up residency for the month, and our strategic aim to ‘Fill Every Seat’ was literally achieved for every one of the 32 performances – that’s 57,478 seats! Our spectacular press night featured a ‘greenified Atrium’, Oz-inspired outfits, a host of emerald accessories and more than a touch of magic, leading to some great five star reviews.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
What’s On Magazine
32
Performances
57,478 Seats filled
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MUSICAL YOUTH The Hippodrome has always invested in learning and participation and this year, we established a new youth company specialising in musical theatre, meeting on Saturday mornings. There was so much demand, it was followed by the introduction of a dedicated summer school with support from Birmingham City University. And big plans for future growth are already bearing fruit.
A NEW VIEW OF SOUTHSIDE The Forum apartment block, a newcomer to our Southside neighbourhood, teamed up with us to launch an exhibition of new photographs chronicling life in and around the district. Birmingham photographer Ross Jukes spent a year taking atmospheric pictures in the area, telling local stories, and amassing a collection of more
than 2,000 images exhibited in our Thorp Street atrium. Together, Birmingham’s Hurst Street, Arcadian, China Town and Gay Village comprise one of the most diverse and vibrant parts of the city centre, functioning round the clock with one of the most successful night-time economies in the city.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
‘ON YOUR MARKS...’ HERE COME THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES The Commonwealth Games will come to Birmingham in 2022. So 2018 saw the huge handover ceremony from Australia’s Gold Coast with significant creative production from the Hippodrome’s Festivals Team, with Birminghambased Rosie Kay choreographing an astonishing live routine to The Electric Light Orchestra’s Mr Blue Sky.
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We were commissioned by Culture Central, on behalf of DCMS and Birmingham City Council, to be the creative producer and local delivery body for the Handover Ceremony. With just eight weeks’ preparation, the Festivals Team advised on local artists and content. And all for a global television audience estimated at one billion! It was the first live outside broadcast event beamed into a Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony and an industry first in terms of single-take camera work.
A mass cast including 400+ young people, community choirs, volunteers, a People’s Orchestra, parkour runners and drag queens
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0% TO LANDFILL Pioneering environmental waste management company, ACM Environmental PLC, presented a Greener Path Award to the Hippodrome recognising exceptional performance in waste and recycling. Thanks to our great facilities team, and suitably on time for #EarthDay18, we won for consistently achieving zero percent to landfill in 2017.
HIT THE ODE April saw our first monthly night of Spoken Word, co-presented with the Midlands team from the national development agency Apples & Snakes. Though still early days, we are already seeing that the growing audiences are younger and more diverse than those for many of our other Hippodrome shows. And the performances are staggering.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
0% We achieved zero percent to landfill in 2017
Cheers! NEW LOOK QDOS LOUNGE
After a number of years it was time to revamp our Qdos lounge, named after our longterm partner Qdos Pantomimes. The plush new-look space offers visitors a chance to add some VIP sparkle to their Hippodrome experience, with its own host, facilities and top class food and drink. Cheers! 10 | 11
MAY BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
“TAKE THAT, SOCIAL MEDIA!” The Band, a poignant musical tribute from the writer of Calendar Girls, centred on the decadeslong relationship between five friends (and massive Take That fans), and was hugely popular with regulars and newcomers. It also delivered a smash-hit social media success with an in-house lip-synch video of Take That hits featuring Hippodrome staff, local people, audiences, broadcasters, athletes, the Leader of the Council plus a few other well-known faces. We don’t know what mattered more: the PR Award this won, or Gary Barlow’s Twitter congratulations.
‘ The show well and truly shines’ Birmingham What’s On
GETTING KINKY AT PRIDE For the first time ever we donned our heels and created a float for Birmingham Pride, in partnership with upcoming show Kinky Boots. Strutting their stuff in our ‘fab-ulous’ city, members of the Kinky Boots cast were joined by the Hippodrome team aboard the fabulous float complete with scarlet accessories and sassy show soundtrack on the Pride Parade, which was attended by over 40,000 people. Cast members also performed on the Cabaret Stage to rapturous applause – the talk of the town!
I never thought I’d see a @brumhippodrome float at Pride – go Hippodrome Team! Twitter
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THE RETURN OF B-SIDE
After two successful years, our growing Hip-Hop festival was extended to five days culminating in some spectacular main stage performances on the final Sunday. This was partly made possible through an Arts Council England festival grant and the event attracted a huge mix of national and international artists and performers across all skills: dance, graffiti, rapping, and DJ’ing. Highlights included a masterclass with Henry Link, and a brand new commission ‘Hip Hop Quiz Show’ with DJ Psykhomantus. The whole festival was a great example of real partnership working with Juice Aleem (AfroFlux), Panda (Graffitiartist.com), Loose and Silence (Break Mission) and new local producers, actively making a difference in their communities. BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
I’ve lived in Brum for five years and came to my first B-SIDE today. I just wanted to let you know that it was amazing and I love what you have built and what it’s doing for dance professionals and the future generation, and how it’s bringing different communities together. Thank you. Twitter
STOMPING AROUND TOWN A noisy Bullring flash-mob really got people interested in the classic hit Stomp on a welcome return to the Hippodrome, as well as signalling the beginnings of a future relationship with the popular shopping destination. It’s still amazing what can be done with some dustbin lids and brooms, and this cross–generational global hit generated great support from local media including a few workshops live on air, and behindthe-scenes interviews. Through half-term, hundreds enjoyed participation workshops to create junk instruments and learn Stomp-inspired drumming, with specially discounted tickets for the show.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX We created a new brand for our 200-seater adaptable studio space that reflected the flexibility of our popular ‘black box’ and sat alongside our main Hippodrome brand. Now renamed the Patrick Studio – supported by the Patrick Trust – the space offers state of the art technology and can be used for rehearsal and the creation of new artistic work, events, workshops and performances. A great space to create, inspire and nurture performance in all its forms.
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JUN BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
THE FANTASTIC TALE OF ‘OBR DOBR’*
As part of our continued efforts to ensure the building is ‘open all day’, we were delighted to launch our first visual arts exhibition over the summer in our new foyer galleries, ‘Cover-to-Cover: Roald Dahl Around The World’.
Dobr MAKING MISCHIEF IN THE PATRICK STUDIO Following the great success of The Play That Goes Wrong on our main stage last year, we were keen to sign up the same hilarious team for their Mischief Movie Night which we held in our 200-seat Patrick Studio for a sell-out audience over their run. Close-up laughs and different every night with lots of participation and improv – an ideal festival treat.
This specially-commissioned feature was to complement the RSC’s award-winning production of Matilda taking up residency for the whole of the summer. It showcased image reproductions of over 40 international book covers from the novels of Roald Dahl, kindly provided by the Roald Dahl Foundation. It was intriguing to see the different design styles and executions for well-known classic titles, and how these titles had been translated in different overseas territories. * that’s what Czech children call the ‘Big Friendly Giant’.
The Patrick Studio has been growing in popularity as more of our main stage audience, as well as newcomers attracted by riskier or smaller-scale work, are discovering this beautifully flexible space accessible both from our Thorp Street atrium and from our mid-circle foyer (level 3) just along from the Circle Restaurant. Dance, spoken word, drama, children’s shows, cabaret and comedy can all be sampled, plus it’s one of our most popular spaces for private events – whether conferences, or dinners and parties. 16 | 17
SPACE FOR A NEW ‘CREATIVE CONVERSATION’ We started a new series of conversations over lunch in June, the first being with Executive Director of the RSC Catherine Mallyon in conversation with BBC broadcaster Mishal Husain. Catherine and Mishal looked at the complexity of touring large shows such as Matilda, whilst delivering world-beating theatre in Stratford, and steering a global brand. Questions ranged from funding challenges, to making the most of Coventry’s City of Culture celebrations in 2021.
BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN To celebrate summer (although the weather may have disagreed) our Partnership & Events Team created a beautiful champagne summer garden in our atrium space as part of a wider Festival of Champagne. In partnership with Laurent Perrier, hundreds of guest enjoyed some bubbles in fragrant, floral surroundings before enjoying Birmingham Royal Ballet’s enchanting production of Romeo and Juliet.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
A TASTER OF THINGS TO COME...
Our popular Season Taster events – informal chats and mini performances with artists, producers and creative teams – are a chance to find out more about what’s coming soon. Our June taster hosted by radio presenter Ed James and our Artistic Director and Chief Executive Fiona Allan, was a night not to be missed, with the hotly anticipated Panto cast announcement, Q&As with the teams from Tall Stories’ Emily Brown and The Thing, the Rosie Kay Dance Company, and even Joey from National Theatre’s War Horse making an appearance. A raft of Friends and Patrons scheme members, group bookers, and media contacts attended, and of course there is literally a tasting of some sample dishes created by our own in-house team of restaurant chefs. Delicious!
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FREESTYLING INTO THE FESTIVAL This year’s International Dance Festival Birmingham brought something a little fresh as performers skateboarded, cycled and breaked onto the main stage! Our partners DanceXchange presented an explosion of sports, music, dance and theatre with Elements of Freestyle, which took an entirely fresh look at urban arts, bringing together breakdance, inline skating, skateboarding, freerunning, BMX, and even freestyle basketball in one high-octane physical performance.
‘Sparkles with pleasure’ Theaterkrant
My productivity has hit new heights since I started using @brumhippodrome’s Coffee Bar. The mixture of calming music, great green tea and food is a winning formula! Umar Hassan BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
RAISING THE BAR After months of planning we were very excited to open our all-new Coffee Bar in June – an integral part of our commitment to extending our daytime offer. Situated on the Front Circle Foyer and offering a great selection of drinks and food, as well as our bespoke coffee from local Birmingham roasters Quarter Horse, it’s a cosy spot to relax or work, whether you’re here for a show or just passing through.
HIPPODROME ASSOCIATES ANNOUNCED At our Season Taster we proudly announced our first cohort of Hippodrome Associates, including Motionhouse, Rosie Kay Dance Company, Sonia Sabri Company and Zoo Nation (The Kate Prince Company) and our exciting plans to share artistic ambitions such as the creation of new work, touring, reaching new audiences, joint learning programmes, and inclusion in Hippodrome Festivals. We commissioned 10 Soldiers with Rosie Kay for presentation in 2019 and developed a new outdoor work with Motionhouse and a piece for our main stage. Sonia Sabri’s Same Same But Different was also announced as part of the 2019 Patrick Studio programme, and ZooNation projects include both a youth company and a new work from Kate Prince herself created to the famous songs of Sting (developed via The Movement consortium, alongside Sadler’s Wells and The Lowry). 20 | 21
JUL BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
PLACING TRUST IN FUNDRAISING
ACCESS ALL AREAS
This summer we were delighted to be awarded a substantial £200,000 investment from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, who have been past Hippodrome supporters. Where their previous investment was in infrastructure projects, this new grant is to underpin our expanding Artistic work, enabling new projects on our main stage and in our Patrick Studio, and expansion of our Visual Arts and Hippodrome Associates programmes.
Now led by our Head of Visitor Services, our valued Access Forum was re-focused with new members and objectives this year. Made up of a number of specialist volunteers and chaired by Trustee and ITV Diversity Consultant Vidar Hjardeng, the group provides invaluable advice of how to ensure everyone is welcome at Birmingham Hippodrome.
KIDDING AROUND AT SUMMER IN SOUTHSIDE
Lovely couple of hours wandering around #SummerinSouthside @brumhippodrome today – some great things going on and great family vibe! The cardboard pagoda was amazing! #loveBrum #FreeFamilyFun Rachel on Twitter
One of Birmingham’s biggest and most popular summer celebrations is our free outdoor family festival, kindly supported by Arts Council England. This year Summer in Southside offered a compelling mash-up of childhood fun as the streets of Southside were transformed into a summer playground with a range of pop-up performances, craft workshops, retro games, face-painting, street food, family activities and more. Crowds enjoyed dancing Stormtroopers, a giant reality arcade, outdoor cinema, Fun DMC, drag queen story-time, and The People’s Tower – a giant cardboard Chinese arch created by world renowned artist Olivier Grossetête and built and spectacularly demolished in two days! 22 | 23
A ‘REVOLTING’ SUCCESS! The RSC’s award-winning international hit Matilda The Musical dominated the Hippodrome summer, a regional homecoming for this heartwarming show which began life in Stratford back in 2010. A Relaxed Performance played to large numbers of newcomers, and significant learning and participation projects ran alongside including several local ‘champion’ schools. The Matilda character posed for a ‘face-off’ alongside the Bullring’s bronze bull (echoing Wall Street’s ‘Fearless Girl’ statue) and over 120 media, celebrities, VIPs and their families attended press night. Weekly Facebook live broadcasts with the cast reached nearly 50k viewers, and we took the cast all over Brum including Legoland and local schools. BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
50k
Weekly Facebook live broadcasts with the cast reached nearly 50k viewers
On a high after watching Matilda at @brumhippodrome – what an amazing performance! Highly recommend eating the Matilda menu in the Circle Restaurant too, beautiful evening spent in one of my favourite places. Amelia on Instagram
‘ Hilarious, captivating and uplifting’ Birmingham Mail 24 | 25
AUG BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
Hip SCHOOL’S NOT OUT FOR SUMMER!
Hop
Summer offered the opportunity for us to build on our young companies’ development with specially designed programmes for the school holidays. While ZooNation led a hip-hop Summer School with 15 young people, a further 27 young people participated in a Roald Dahl inspired Musical Theatre Summer School supported by Birmingham City University, with two of their new graduates forming part of the creative team. Both summer schools culminated in celebratory sharings for families and friends in our Patrick Studio.
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MELA MOMENTS Members of the Marketing and Visitor Services teams attended Big John’s Birmingham Mela and Leicester Mela during August, huge events organised to celebrate the diversity and culture of the South Asian community in both cities. Shiamak UK dancers performed in front of large crowds including many families who attended the event together. The performances highlighted the upcoming production of Taj Express and announced Shiamak UK’s return to the Hippodrome with Spirit of Bollywood following their sell-out production earlier in the year.
PAINTING THE TOWN PURPLE Drum roll! We took advantage of a slightly quieter month to announce our first ever co-production with Leicester Curve of the Broadway musical The Color Purple, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. The production, the first to be created outside of London in the UK, will be directed by Tinuke Craig, winner of the 2014 Genesis Future Directors Award. The announcement came as both theatres prepared to celebrate significant milestones, with Curve turning 10 this year while we mark our 120th birthday in 2019. BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
EDUCATING MATILDA
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Roald Dahl summer school project which saw 15 schools involved across the region
120k By the end of the run over 120k people saw the show
The Matilda fun continued with more of an educational slant across August. A partnership with the Library of Birmingham and Aston Library saw free afternoon workshops with our cast and Learning Team colleagues including storytelling with the librarian character, Mrs Phelps, and was well supported on social and by local media. In addition we were part of the Roald Dahl summer school project which saw 15 schools involved across the region. Other work with our HEN network schools saw one school perform at our Matilda gala! An exciting partnership with Birmingham City University also led to a community visual arts project with Matildainspired exhibitions on the concourse at New Street station. By the end of the run, over 120k people saw the show.
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SEP BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
BACK TO SCHOOL: BIG INVESTMENTS IN CREATIVE LEARNING Being a HEN school has really helped staff develop new strategies for teaching and learning through working with a highly skilled practitioner. It’s resulted in barriers being broken for children and freely allows opportunity for all to succeed and excel whilst highly motivated. They enjoy every session and ask for more! Raddlebarn Primary and Nursery School
With sparkling shoes and hair nicely brushed, our new Hippodrome Education Network (HEN) proudly started its first full academic year. Increased from 10, now 18 partner schools (including primary, secondary and schools for children with disabilities) welcomed a dedicated Hippodrome Learning Officer to work with pupils once a week. On top of the core Hippodrome investment, the contribution from the schools is matched by Arts Connect, Arts Council England’s bridge organisation, and it’s all set to grow with ambitions to more than double the numbers in the next two years. And outside of school, weekends are just the coolest with a new Musical Theatre group for 11 to 14 year olds, plus a new Zoo Nation youth hip-hop company. Members will receive high quality pre-professional training and performance opportunities, including performing as part of B-SIDE Festival.
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A SECOND YEAR OF CULINARY EXCELLENCE
We were overjoyed to retain our AA rosette for our Circle Restaurant in September as Head Chef Melissa Menns continues to take our food offering from strength to strength. Mel was also nominated for Head Chef of the Year at the Sports and Leisure Catering Awards 2018.
The Circle Restaurant was a great choice, fabulous food and wine, plus our table was also available during the interval. First class staff, friendly and helpful. You really should try this theatre and its restaurant. Trip Advisor
‘WEEK’ WITH LAUGHTER
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
The Hippodrome comedy programme grows stronger every year and, unlike the big arenas, is the perfect scale for intimacy whilst retaining the atmosphere of a good crowd. Following cancellations in the spring due to snow, we were relieved to able to reschedule an extra date with Dara Ó Briain just before well-loved Glaswegian comic Kevin Bridges packed out consecutive nights with his oneman dissection of the quirks of modern Britain. During the year we also welcomed Bake-Off and QI star Sandi Toksvig and young Irish YouTube cult show Foil, Arms and Hog to our main stage.
REMEMBER WE ARE A CHARITY
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS SATHNAM SANGHERA
Taking part in Remember a Charity week gave us the opportunity to remind audiences that we are an independent charity that receives no public revenue subsidy, as well as encouraging individuals to leave us a legacy in their will. The week saw us gain considerable profile from the national website, social media and regional press. We also secured a number of legacy pledges and a Trust donation.
In the second of our Creative Conversations business lunches in partnership with WMGC, bestselling author (The Boy with the Top Knot), journalist (The Times), and Wolverhampton native, Sathnam Sanghera, hosted a Q&A with a panel of esteemed speakers looking at how education is viewed in different communities and how this affects contributions to this diverse city.
Creative Conversations provides an opportunity to consider the value of culture to a range of different sectors. There isn’t a region better placed to lead this discussion, and I encourage people from across all industries to join us and find out more. Nicola Hewitt, WMGC
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This is the second show my mother has seen in her 20+ years of living in the UK. The show incorporates Hindi music (Bollywood) and English which Mom can understand I think! I would sincerely like to say how impressed I am by the diversity of the audience currently sitting in the @brumhippodrome. To TRULY see a diverse audience in a theatre amazes me. Mariam on Twitter BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
‘ In a city as wonderfully multicultural as Birmingham, the celebration of Bollywood culture feels right at home’ Style Birmingham
ALL ABOARD FOR THE TAJ EXPRESS This thrilling international Bollywood tour arrived on our platform with a huge cast, colourful sets and costumes, a clever plot, witty musicians, and some lovable characters – and they blew us all away with their energy and pure joy. Taj Express came back to the UK after some sensational London dates in 2017 for a short regional tour before heading back to the West End. Birmingham box office was ‘best on tour’ and the company were thrilled with the reception from so many newcomers to the Hippodrome. 34 | 35
THE YEAR IN NUMBERS
840,869 Hippodrome moments engaging with audiences on and offstage
76,243 engaged through festivals with over
200
Over
544 performances
406 588,473 138 artists supported
Theatre attendances:
in the auditorium
in the Patrick Studio
Total ticket sales:
£23,850,187 BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
AWARDS
Over
20,000
Woman of the Year – Woman with Edge award: Fiona Allan Birmingham Future Faces Awards – Culture Category: Charles Pette finalist
people welcomed through our events and conferences
EMCEE National Arts Fundraising School Award: Best Supporter Scheme finalist CIPR Midlands PRide Awards 2018 – Outstanding In-House Public Relations Team: Communications Team Silver
Nearly
60,000
Birmingham Awards – Best Use of a Social Media Marketing Campaign: Winners Birmingham Awards – Arts and Culture: Winners
young people engaged through our education work and over
The Sports & Leisure Catering Awards – Chef of the Year: Melissa Menns finalist
50,000
Hippodrome Headliners Scott Whitehouse Katerina Safronova Sam Magson Eleanor Walker
through our participation projects
Programme breakdown: MUSICALS PANTOMIME BALLET COMEDY OTHER DANCE OPERA OTHER EVENTS
1% 2%
6%
Alan Mills Amy Morris Brian Tonks
51%
4%
17%
19%
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OCT BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
Poetry GETTING FRESH ON A FRIDAY
Continuing our mission to open up our spaces and welcome new audiences we launched Fresh Fridays – our new programme of free pop up performances in our around the foyers. From string quartets and poetry to fringe theatre and jazz, we’ve seen a lively and eclectic mix of acts all inspired by what’s going on at the Hippodrome.
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‘ A masterpiece of our time and one that will forever be remembered’ Birmingham What’s On
WAR HORSE The thundering National Theatre masterpiece War Horse made a very welcome return to the Hippodrome stage five years after its sell-out debut. Approaching the autumn run, several local schools enjoyed visits by Joey, the extraordinary lead puppet horse, including a heritage visit to Birmingham’s Roundhouse in Ladywood as a reminder of all the working horses who found themselves transported to France during WW1 for very different duties in our defence. As an independent and unsubsidised arts organisation, the Hippodrome is honoured to be able to offer a major regional stage for the National Theatre to fulfil its wider remit, and in doing so help deliver a major financial boost through strong box office performance. This entire period was been yet another great example of the Hippodrome’s fulfilling its unique role as an artistic and educational charitable trust, connecting communities through culture and heritage, and bringing the past to life in relevant and remarkable ways.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
Thorns’ performing arts students enjoyed an insightful visit to @BrumHippodrome, which included a private workshop with their Learning Officer, a ‘behind the scenes’ tour, and the opportunity to watch an inspiring performance of the acclaimed @NationalTheatre production War Horse. Thorns Colliegate Academy
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100 YEARS ON: A SACRIFICE REMEMBERED Through the autumn across the world, political and military leaders joined with the smallest communities to pause and reflect on the loss and sacrifice of World War One, which reached Armistice Day on 11 November 1918. The Hippodrome is very proud to have made its contribution in several 14-18 NOW initiatives including Minimum Monument in 2014 (commemorating the start of the war), and again with BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
Furious Folly in Sutton Park on the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in 2016, both free events experienced by thousands. Throughout October, in readiness for the 11 November commemorations, we worked with hundreds of local school children on our Homecomings project performing a series of inspired and reflective pieces on the New Street station concourse, with young men in uniform recreating the return from the front.
‘ Barking-Barbara is in her prime’ The Reviews Hub
NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU BARBARA NICE As part of the Birmingham Comedy Festival, Kings Heath housewife superstar and Radio 2 favourite Barbara Nice had everyone laughing when she brought her raffle special to our Patrick Studio. Another comedy show later on in the year saw star of Harry Potter, Jessie Cave, sell-out our Studio space.
Meanwhile in our Patrick Studio, Bravo 22 Company, made up of former service personnel, presented its touring production Unspoken, a poignant and moving piece reminding us of the continued sacrifices made in the conflicts that sadly still rage today. We will continue to work with this company on a project with local returned service personnel in 2019.
Visitors were able to experience MBD’s virtual reality installation Empire Soldier, which told the story of the experiences of Caribbean and South Asian soldiers during WW1, as participants were transported into the trenches and onto trains whilst hearing about the soldiers’ experiences. 42 | 43
NOV BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
SHOUT IT OUT! Past, present & potential futures exploring the pros & cons of samesex parenthood in @TheatreAdInf show #NoKids @brumhippodrome @shoutfestival. Energetic & beautifully timed performances by George & Nir; & post-show talk with @MrMatthewTodd was a real treat #lgbtq #mentalhealth. Ranjit Khutan
Over the last few years, in addition to our growing partnership with Birmingham Pride and our Gay Village neighbours, we are delighted to have expanded our links with Birmingham’s acclaimed SHOUT festival of queer arts and culture. No Kids from Theatre ad Infinitum, co-commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome and first seen at Edinburgh Fringe, was a Patrick Studio hit, and joined a return of the deviously provocative Jinkx Monsoon following last year’s sell-outs.
RADICAL BELIEFS EXAMINED In the Patrick Studio, we were very proud to present The Believers Are But Brothers, a dark and thoughtprovoking interactive piece from writer and performer Javaad Alipoor, following its Fringe First award-winning Edinburgh premiere. With the audience contributing live via WhatsApp, the online world of fantasy and violence was explored. The performance has also been broadcast on BBC4 as part of the season exploring ‘30 Years of the World Wide Web’. 44 | 45
Relaxed Performances are a wonderful thing for people with autism. The staff at @brumhippodrome go above and beyond to make them accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
HOW THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE HELPS EVERYONE RELAX…
Amy on Twitter
This year nearly £25,000 was raised in under three days to expand our increasingly popular Relaxed Performances thanks to the Reed Foundation and other generous individuals.
These performances are specially designed for audiences with Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and complex disabilities helping them to experience the magic of live theatre. Since starting with pantomime five years ago, we now regularly offer Performances with access provision for a number of main stage and Patrick Studio shows, with demand growing all the time. We are so grateful to the many volunteers, including staff from some of our corporate supporters, and Trustees, who supplement our core team with a sparkling foyer welcome.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
WELSH NATIONAL OPERA SUCCESS
‘ Welsh National Opera’s welcome revival of this seldom-seen Tolstoy adaptation is sung with distinction amid chilling present-day echoes’ The Guardian
The Hippodrome’s artistic alliance with Welsh National Opera dates back nearly 50 years, and we are proud to have presented many memorable events together. This year, as part of a packed programme, David Pountney’s new War and Peace, set to Prokofiev’s score, made a big impact in November with Tolstoy’s epic novel brought to life at a spectacular scale. We are thrilled to be working closely with WNO on even more local initiatives with schools concerts, and performances at the MAC in Cannon Hill Park for families.
THE FACE OF SUFFRAGE
One hundred years since some women were first given the vote in the UK is certainly something to celebrate. So as well as hosting the launch for the huge floorbased, 200 metre square The People’s Picture photo mosaic located in Birmingham New Street Station by GRAIN, we also showcased a sister exhibition in our own gallery spaces. While the large-scale station installation composed of more than 3,500 images of women from across the West Midlands and original suffragettes, our beautiful black and white photographic exhibition of suffragettes was slightly more modest, yet equally fascinating to visitors passing through our gallery corridors. 46 | 47
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET’S RECORDBREAKING NUTCRACKER
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
For nearly 30 years, since BRB made their way to the city from London, Sir Peter Wright’s defining version of The Nutcracker with its famous Tchaikovsky score has been a regular Christmas essential for families across the Midlands. It was particularly satisfying then to see such continued popular demand for this timeless classic when in the 2018 Hippodrome season it broke all previous box office records. Recently BRB have extended the run with an adapted version performed at the Royal Albert Hall further expanding the numbers of people able to experience what is often a first taste of ballet at the biggest possible scale.
‘ Delivers the wow-factor year on year’ Birmingham Post
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DEC BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
MORE PATRICK STUDIO CHRISTMAS FUN
Following the initial success of The Snow Dragon in 2017, we signed up the excellent Tall Stories company to bring their adventure Emily Brown and the Thing – a heartwarming fable adapted from the famous Cressida Cowell books. The 200-seat Patrick Studio is the ideal space for more informal performance especially for young children from primary schools.
LEADING THE WAY At a special VIP night at OKA Edgbaston with catering by Michelin starred restaurant Simpsons, our Leading Ladies network celebrated raising over 10k towards Hippodrome Projects over the year. The fabulous networking group boasts members from various sectors across the city, and met to conclude another fantastic year of star-studded events both at our theatre and other exciting locations in Birmingham.
10k+ Our Leading Ladies network celebrated raising over 10k towards Hippodrome Projects over the year
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PETER PAN FLIES INTO TOWN
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The show opened with a spectacular press night which saw over 120 VIPs and media attend with #BrumPanto trending as no1 on twitter
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
With The Nutcracker underway, Birmingham always turns that corner into the Christmas period, and as excitement builds with late-night shopping and festivities, the Hippodrome’s worldfamous Pantomime gets its sparkle on – oh, yes it does! Peter Pan was back with an astonishingly talented cast headlined by Meera Syal, Jimmy Osmond (and later Darren Day), Jaymi Hensley and perennial favourite Matt Slack, who also received a dedicated seat in his honour (naming a seat is just one of the ways of supporting Birmingham Hippodrome and its charitable work). The cast hotfooted it around town to the Christmas Market, Bear Grylls Adventure, Sealife Centre and Heartlands and Children’s Hospital, while the show itself received sparkling reviews that Tinkerbell would be proud of. And ‘Qdos’ to our amazing Technical Team as once the Peter Pan set arrived in Birmingham it took a total of 58 hours to unload, rig and assemble the individual components in time for the show opening. That involved 18 of our crew working around the clock along with 15 Qdos Pantomime staff to get the show ready in time. That meant our stage crew had to unload between 25-30 full wagons of scenery & props. The largest of these props are unloaded via lorry lift, which can hold 40 tonnes which is the same weight as 15 elephants!
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‘ A razzamatazz, high-kicking, glitzy extravaganza’ Birmingham Mail
hours
The Peter Pan set took a total of 58 hours to unload, rig and assemble
15
elephants
The largest props are unloaded via lorry lift, which can hold 40 tonnes which is the same weight as 15 elephants 52 | 53
Our vision for the Hippodrome is to build on its huge successes, to widen our artistic programme and to connect to the largest possible audiences. Glenn Howells
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
NEW CHAIR TAKES TO THE STAGE We were incredibly proud to announce Glenn Howells, a Hippodrome Trustee since 2012, as our new Chair. A well-known figure in the region through Glenn Howells Architects (GHA), he has been particularly influential in shaping Birmingham’s regeneration over the last three decades with successful projects in Brindley Place, Digbeth, in the Jewellery Quarter, and most recently Paradise. Glenn has served on a number of Creative Industries boards and it’s inspiring to have him leading our Board as we shape exciting new developments and ambitions for the future.
150k We were thrilled to be awarded a £150k grant from Garfield Weston
MORE One Million FUNDRAISING Moments... SUCCESS
I love volunteering at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Relaxed Performances. They have always been impressed with my enthusiasm and passion for theatre and let me help out with their Access Forum and Relaxed Performances. Katie Fraser
We were thrilled to be awarded a £150k grant from Garfield Weston, deployed over three years to help deliver our Artistic Programme and our vision for One Million Moments – our ambition to deliver another half a million opportunities for audiences to engage with us offstage over three years.
WE NEED YOU! To celebrate International Volunteers Day we highlighted some of the incredible volunteering opportunities we have to offer through a series of blogs on our website. From working in the auditorium to one of our outdoor festivals there is something for everyone. We couldn’t do what we do without them, so a big thanks to the 60 volunteers who currently support our work. 54 | 55
JAN BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
I feel so privileged to be Patron of such a wonderful theatre that embraces its community, supports young local performers and offers such a diverse range of shows! May it be around for the next 120 yrs! @brumhippodrome #seasontaster. Emma Rowley
ANOTHER TASTE OF OUR SEASON Friends, media, group bookers and other supporters attended our January taster where Fiona Allan and Ed James introduced highlights and special guests including Sam Hiller (Les Misérables), Associate Sonia Sabri and Tinuke Craig (directing our co-production of The Color Purple). Guests were also treated to a special performance from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast, and a talk with BRB Artistic Director David Bintley.
HERE COME THE GIRLS!
MANAGING A NEW APPROACH
A new partnership with the Women’s Institute was forged as we held a day-long event for their members with families and friends alongside our start-studded panto, Peter Pan. Guests were invited to participate in themed craft activities led by a professional practitioner and heritage tours and talks about the history of panto were led by our team of Heritage Volunteers. Interval ice creams and show programmes provided the finishing touches to a memorable day at the theatre which was hosted by the Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.
This January we embarked upon a new management development programme to ensure a consistent and effective approach to management at the Hippodrome. Three cohorts of attendees are planned over the next year.
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HIPP HIPP HOORAY!
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
The Season Taster also saw the launch of our 120th birthday celebrations with our anniversary theme “then, now, always” and specially designed birthday identity and H logo and short film, as we revealed some of our activity highlights or 2019. Watch this space!
YOUTH BLOGGERS SCHEME LAUNCHED New year, new ideas as we launched our Hippodrome Youth Bloggers and Vloggers programme. Having advertised for young people with a passion for arts and culture to represent Birmingham Hippodrome online, we selected four people to work with across the year. So far they have reviewed a number of shows and events to raise the profile of our young ticket schemes and create a young online voice for our theatre.
We can so easily under-estimate the effect of music on small children. The music formed a bond between us all – including many from very diverse cultures and some who spoke no English at all, as we all moved in time with the music and received the sounds. Thank you, B’opera, for having the vision and courage to do this! Sara Cletheroa
OPEN DOORS Launched formally in January, our term-time foyer arts programme Open Doors has gone from strength to strength. With a range of activities from Baby Opera to Baby Ballet with BRB, you never know what you might stumble across in our foyers during the daytime!
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FEB BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
HAPPY NEW YEAR OF THE PIG
Here in our Southside district, we’re delighted to team up with our neighbouring communities whenever the opportunity arises, Chinese New Year is always a huge party for families from across the region, with an estimated 30,000 participating over three days of events. This year we were proud to support and produce the festival in Southside and elsewhere in the city centre with a mix of performances, participatory workshops, and the essential dragon dancing.
30,000 An estimated 30,000 people participated over three days of events
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SWANNING INTO A DECADE OF CURTAIN RAISER SUCCESS In a packed dance month, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company returned with their renowned all-time favourite Swan Lake. It was an opportunity to mark the 10th anniversary of the Hippodrome’s ground-breaking Curtain Raiser project which sees the presentation of a short newly choreographed piece inspired by the Bourne style and performed by local dance students. Some of the alumni returned to tell their stories of how this had helped their careers with many now dancing professionally, running their own companies or working in technical and administrative support roles for arts organisations across the country. The production also supported our fabulous gala evening raising vital funds for our Hippodrome Projects work.
‘ This spectacular show is firmly at the top of the pecking order in the world of dance’ Express and Star BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
10th
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Hippodrome’s ground-breaking Curtain Raiser project.
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DANCING ON THE CEILING
Visitors to the Hippodrome’s Thorp Street entrance may have noticed the shiny extra storey housing the new Dance Hub above the BRB studios. This fully-funded project will open on time in summer 2019 as a new home for One Dance UK, the national dance agency and sector support organisation moving from their London home, and provide much needed studio space for the independent dance sector. At a chilly topping-out ceremony dancers from Key Infinity gathered with Fabrite construction and Austin Smith Lord architects plus representatives from the Hippodrome, BRB, DanceXchange and others, alongside the GBSLEP and Arts Council England.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
FAREWELL AND ‘HOLA’ AT BRB Swiftly following BRB’s Christmas success, February saw their Beauty and the Beast break records at the box office with an additional Relaxed Performance, schools performances, and popular First Steps shows for younger audiences. Additionally, following the announcement of David Bintley’s departure as Artistic Director in the summer, Carlos Acosta was introduced to BRB supporters and friends, and to regional arts investors at a special reception in the Patrick Studio.
‘ It was elegant, beautiful, and masterful’ Shropshire Star
A SLAM DUNK FOR POETRY We were excited to host over 200 young people as part of Uni Slam – a national university and youth poetry platform event. This also set the bar for another new Hippodrome Young Company – Hippodrome Young Poets – in partnership with England’s leading spoken word development organisation Apples and Snakes. Launched later on in the year it has already seen one of the cohort feature on a national TV advert!
I’m still clicking my fingers on the train thinking of the lines of poetry I heard at @Uni_Slam’s Youth Poetry Showcase @brumhippodrome. Yes Slam Jam, Slambassadors, @RoundhouseLDN @freakspeakpoet, @GlobePoets @YoungIDmcr, @Beatfreaks ! #UniSlam2019. Gabriella on Twitter 64 | 65
MAR BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE SHOW...
‘ Delightful tribute to the Beatles and the spirit of the 1960s’ The Times
The 50th Anniversary of The Beatles’ seminal Sergeant Pepper album inspired award-winning Brooklyn choreographer Mark Morris to create Pepperland. Presented by Dance Consortium, of which we are a member, this amazing dance piece toured the UK with the Hippodrome recording best average sales outside London.
RETURN OF TEDXYOUTH @BRUM From Malala to Greta Thunberg, the rise of teenage activists across climate change, online safety, and international disputes is very much the story of the decade. We want to do all we can to encourage and facilitate the important debates, and once again partnered with TEDxYouth@Brum in our Patrick Studio for a day of heated discussion and shared opinions from some vocal and inspiring speakers, including some of our own young staff.
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PUTTING THE BOOT IN… BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
The final month of the financial year encompassed the perfect mix of the Hippodrome’s unique magic. The West End sensation Kinky Boots told the empowering story of a dying Northampton shoe factory brought back to life by embracing difference.
Wow! @BrumHippodrome certainly know how to throw a Press Night party! Thank you so much for all your attention to detail and love! Top dollar! @KinkyBootsUK #BirminghamGetsKinky. Cast member Adam Price
‘ This show is simply life changing. One of the best new musicals in existence’ Black Country Radio 68 | 69
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TAKING OUR EVENTS OUT AND ABOUT
Never daunted by an off-site event management challenge, our Partnerships & Events Team transformed an empty office space at a prestigious Colmore Row address into an urban lounge to help corporate partner Savills celebrate its new office opening with 200 guests. With signature G&Ts, a bespoke menu and live music from Birmingham Conservatoire and a DJ, the brief was fulfilled to rave feedback from the client.
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
For the first time we hosted a programme of events and performances to celebrate women’s lives and experiences and mark International Women’s Day. Highlights included a visit from New York Times and Amazon UK bestselling author Angie Thomas, in conversation with Rakeem Omar alongside live performances from Lady Sanity and Afro Queen; a Makers’ Market in our foyers displaying the work of Birminghambased female artists; a free
Extraordinary Women Heritage Talk; and the launch of exhibition Once Upon A Time: Women who Dared to Dream, an exhibition that features 30 illustrations of some of Birmingham’s most awe-inspiring women. Performances included the Edinburgh smash-hit NOVAE’s Theatre’s It’s Not A Sprint, a Hit The Ode International Women’s Day Special and WNO’s Roberto Devereux, a dramatic opera focusing on the fierce Elizabeth I.
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OUR STAFF BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME THEATRE TRUST LTD Trustees: Martin Guest, Vidar Hjardeng, Glenn Howells (Chair), Immy Kaur, Michael Laverty, Harj Millington, Prof. David Roberts, Mark Smith (to 12/18) , Ann Tonks, Rt. Rev David Urquhart (to 12/18) Special Adviser: John Crabtree OBE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME DEVELOPMENT BOARD Board Members: Sajida Carr, Steve Clarke, Sarah Siena Edwards, Nicola Fleet-Milne, Martin Guest (Chair), Andy Hammond, Dr Mahnaz Hashmi, Martin King, Amelia Ladbrook, Michael Luckman, Joanne Malin, Sara Middleton, Ruth Pipkin, Rupert Young, Matthew Hansell (to 09/18) CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S DEPARTMENT Artistic Director & Chief Executive: Fiona Allan Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director and Chief Executive: Bayley Pielow Assistant to the Directors: Hayleah Thresher (to 31/1/19) ARTISTIC Associate Director (Community Engagement & Festivals): Graham Callister Associate Director (Programming & Artist Development): Chris Sudworth Associate Director (Creative Learning): Steve Ball (to 16/10/18) Head of Learning & Participation: Zaylie Wilson Producer: Kerry Andrews Artistic Administrator: Lashana Charles-Queely Participation Producer: Samina Beckford Learning Producer: Rachel Smith Artistic Production Manager: Thomas Reilly Projects Producer: Faith Whenham (Maternity) Temporary Community & Festivals Producer: Rebecca Phillips Creative Programmes Co-Ordinator: Zara Harris (to 15/4/18) Production Co-Ordinator: Izzy Archer Visual Arts Producer: Jonathon Harris Learning Officers: Ben Hallworth, Rachel McNamee, Ryan Pritchard, Izzy Taylor Learning Practitioner: Stefanie Freeman
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
FINANCE Finance & Planning Director: Tim Maycock Head of Finance: Kenny Lock Head of HR: Glen Ivison Business Analyst: Diana Nickless Temporary Business Analyst: Saba Janjva Management Accountant: Erica O’Brien Finance Officers: Charlotte McGann, Mohammed Nadim, Sarah Wilkinson Payroll Officer: Brian Tonks COMMERCIAL Commercial Director: Peter Evans Head of Partnerships & Events: Judith Greenburgh Head Of Visitor Services: Jonathan Thompson Partnerships & Events Executive: Charles Pette Events Co-Ordinator: Clare Armstrong Partnerships & Events Administrator: Bethany Whitehead Senior Visitor Services Managers: Andrew Hogarth, Jenny Wood Visitor Services Managers: Rebecca Challoner, Ryan Mason, Amy Philpott, Terry Spong Visitor Experience Manger: Andrew Hannon Cash Office Supervisor: David Hartland Visitor Services Team Leader: Mark Brooks Bars Team Leader: Joao Cotta Senior Visitor Services Assistants: Davaine Lubban-Whyte, Karl Robbins, Ella Stephenson Visitor Sercices Assistants: Sarah-Jane Baragwnath, Stuart Boland, Anthony Casserly, Sofia Catalono, Matthew Fitzgerald, Catherine Harris, Elizabeth Hope, Elyse Jinks, Aimee Matthews, Lydia Ward (to 14/12/18), Ruth White, Charmaine Worth Stock Controller: Alex Thacker Stock Co-Ordinator: Douglas Pearson Head Chef: Melissa Menns Sous Chef: Brian Smith Junior Sous Chef: Ricai Williams Chef de Partie: Marion Bryan, Winston Campbell Green Room Team Leader: Alan Mills Restaurant Team Leader: Emily Lloyd Porter: Neville Ellis
COMMUNICATIONS, FUNDRAISING, MARKETING & SALES Marketing & Development Director: Rob Macpherson Head of Communications: Laura Smith Head of Fundraising: Rachael Magson (Maternity) Temporary Head of Fundraising: Eleni Paschou Head of Marketing & Sales: Chilina Madon (Maternity) Acting Head of Marketing: Jacky Barron Acting Head of Sales: Donna Scott Communications Manager (Productions): Ben Wooldridge Communications Executive: Kate Evans (to 3/8/18) Communications Executive (Projects): Nichole Cooper Digital Content Officer: Amy Stutz Trusts & Grants Manafer: Steffi Earle Fundraising Executive – Individual Giving: Gurpreet Madan Fundraising Officer: Rosie Milsom (to 2/11/18 Fundraising Administrator: Felicity Brown Marketing Executive (Projects): Hannah Carroll Marketing Executive (Projects): Rachel Williams Temporary Marketing Executive (Productions): Stevie-Leigh Longmore Marketing Officer (Productions): Chris Cooper Marketing Administrator: Matthew Neuenhaus Deputy Information & Sales Manager: Rob Taylor Information & Sales Supervisors: Ryan Allen-Rose, Declan Carroll, Marina Gilmore, Debbie Sangha Systems Co-Ordinator: Donald Graham Senior Information & Sales Assistant: Kirsty Tyler-McTighe Group Sales Assistant: Audrey Guest Information & Sales Assistants: Deborah Bradley, Sandra Daniels, Dale Johnson, Joe Parker, Richard Wood
OPERATIONS Operations Director: Mike Bradford Head of Technical Services: Barry Hope Head of IT: Mike O’Dwyer Facilities Manager: Mike Croke Facilities Supervisor: Kevin Bow IT Manager: Stephen O’Hare IT Analyst: Sam Magson Business Systems Support Manager: Ryan Spencer Business Systems Support Analyst: Sanjay Parmar Business Systems Project Manager: Scott Whitehouse Events Productions Manager: Christopher Ball Technical Supervisor – Electrics: Ian Wallace Technical Supervisor – Production: Eleanor Morgan Technical Supervisor – Stage: Marc Keogh Technical Co-Ordinator: Paul Keogh (to 28/5/18) Senior Technician: Martin Pickard (to 3/7/18) Senior Technician: Paul Hinde (to 6/7/18) Technicians: James Berger, Jamie Crosswell, Alex Duggan, Neil Hateley, Ellie May Jones, Bryan Moore, Joshua Ollerton, Melissa Peet, Frank Spencer, Jonathan Thornhill (to 27/1/19) Maintenance Assistant: Kevin Green Facilities Operative: Fazle Munna Production Assistant: Olivia Barnes Stage Door Co-Ordinator: Tom Phipps Stage Door Supervisor: Brian Taylor Thorp Street Receptionist: Carol Crathorne Stage Door Assistants: Julie Carey, Alyce Leivers, Rachel Martin, Kerrie Slevin With thanks to all our Casual Staff and Volunteers.
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THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone that has supported us over the last financial year 2018–2019. Without you our Hippodrome charitable work would not be possible; bringing more people together to experience the benefits of unforgettable performance, arts and culture.
Major Gifts Racheal & Adrian Jessop • Mr & Mrs Mosedale • Mark & Amanda Smith • Mr J. Weston Hippodrome Circle Patrons from £3,000+ The Dickens Foundation • Mark Hopton • Maureen & Roy Kirby • Chris & Jane Loughran • Mrs & Mrs Mosedale Mark & Amanda Smith • Simon & Kath Winner Headline Act Patrons from £1,400 Matthew & Jennie Hammond • Dr & Mrs George Harrison • Marc & Michelle Messer • Emma & Peter Neads Mr & Mrs J Quinn • Janette Rutter • Paul Twose Leading Role Patrons from £700 Jim & Birdie Ceaser • John & Heather Clemson • Sara & Tim Fowler • Anthony & Daisy Great Wyrley • Averil Green Andy & Rebecca Hammond • Steve & Laura Kearney • Debbie & Mark Lilburne • Michael & Cerys Luckman Jeremy & Harjinder Millington • Tony & Julie Phillips • Helen Thompson • Steve & Suzie Whittern • Neil & Polly Wilson Phillip Wright • David & Janine Young Supporting Cast Patrons from £250 Mark, Liz & Holly Abrol • Fiona Allan • Christine Bachelor • Simon Bashford • Bridget Blow • Simon & Amanda Boardman-Weston Beverley & Wade Bostock • Richard Burke • Andrew & Sarah Connors • Teresa Cook • Adrian Cox • John & Diana Crabtree Marcus & Linda Daly • Eileen Doyle • Anna & Nick East • Patricia Edwards • Patricia & Ronald Etchells • Nicola Fleet-Milne Mark Forty • Katie Fraser • Neil & Jackie Frettsome • David & Beryl Glanfield • Jennifer & Roger Gould • Jill & Jeremy Griffin Martin & Roni Guest • Claire & Mark Hales • Pauline Hancock & Simon Derby • Joseph Hassett • Ivan Heard Dorothy Hobson Brian & Diana Hughes • Justine & Paul Irish • David Jackson • Victoria J T Jenkins & George Constance John Jeremy & Pamela Buckley • Rodney & Alyson Kettel • Martin & Joanne King • Andy Le Marr Martin Levermore & Michele Taylor • Maureen Levermore • Lynne Myers • Janine Nicholls • Ralph & Linden Osborn Win Palmer & Lola Ralph • Mrs Jill Parker • John & Sandra Phenix • John & Jill Queenan• Clare & Neil Ralley Dr & Mrs Reynolds • David & Jane Richardson • Emma Rowley • Don & Diane Scriven • Mary Shaw • Sukhvinder Singh Wendy Smith & Family • Dr N & Mrs C Speak • Christine Spittle • Gwen Stephens • Glynis Troth Mrs Ann Wailing & Mrs Vanessa Ottley • Richard & Maggie Waller 1899 Club Frederick Anderson • Wendy Barnard • Maureen Booth • James Clews • Kirsty Davies • Mr & Mrs P Davies • David & Beryl Glanfield Colette Jones • Rob Macpherson • Rachael Magson • Rosie Milsom • Jackie Newport • John & Teresa Purser • Roger Rivett Alistair M Smith • Ann Tonks • Mr J Weston • Adam T Wilkinson • Anonymous donors Trusts & Foundations Arts Connect WM • Bernard Piggott Trust • Birmingham Bodenham Trust • Children and the Arts • The Dumbreck Charity Esmée Fairbairn Foundation • Garfield Weston Foundation • GJW Turner Trust • Grimmit Trust • HSBC Community Fund National Lottery Heritage Fund • Quayle Trust • Sir Robert Gooch Charitable Trust • The Eveson Charitable Trust The Roger & Douglas Turner Charitable Trust • Thousandth Man Trust • Uncle Bill Trust • The W E Dunn Trust William A Cadbury Trust
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019
Development Partners
Performance Partners
Associated Partners
Good Company Club The Edgbaston • EY • GM Treble Ltd • Lambert Smith Hampton • Lorica Insurance Brokers Professional Polishing Services Ltd • Squire Patton Boggs Hippodrome Project Partners One of a Kind
Welcome to our World, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and St Bernadette’s Primary School
Chinese New Year 2019
Curtain Raiser 2019
Assisted Performances
Relaxed Performance
Summer in Southside
Print Partner
Event Partners
Thank you 74 | 75
UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE, POWERED BY YOU
Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB Tickets & Information: 0844 338 5000* Administration: 0844 338 5010* *Calls cost you 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
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BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME | ANNUAL REVIEW 2018 – 2019