Birmingham Hippodrome Organisational Plan 2023-2028

THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

INTRODUCTION

Birmingham Hippodrome is very much part of my life. Since my first visit in 1986 I have seen the theatre continue to develop and improve…we are extremely lucky to have Birmingham Hippodrome on our doorstep.

Audience member

INTRODUCTION

Birmingham Hippodrome has always been a centre of creativity and change, constantly evolving over its almost 125-year history alongside the city we call home.

This five-year organisational plan marks the beginning of a new chapter for Birmingham Hippodrome. It is a time for throwing open our doors to communities and artists, reaching even greater audiences and reimagining our building and our place in this ever-changing city. I know the talent, commitment and loyalty of our staff, volunteers, stakeholders and supporters will ensure the success of this plan in firming up our relevance well into the future.

In 2024 we will celebrate our 125th birthday – an incredible one and a quarter centuries providing the region with (what we like to call) ‘goosebump’ moments. With a bold vision, a strong platform and a vibrant history to build from, we fundamentally believe this could be the most exciting era yet, and I can’t wait to see how we grow together over this next phase.

Jon Gilchrist Artistic Director & CEO

You can feel the pride, energy and passion coming from our people, our audiences, our artists and our participants – they are the cultural fabric of the Hippodrome. The last five years in particular have seen a steady shift in our approach, as we have developed our wider role and responsibility to the region and to the arts and culture sector. With a rich history, regional strength and national influence, we are now moving forward with an ambitious vision to build an even more dynamic Hippodrome for the future.

Harj Millington Trustee, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust

Goldilocks and the Three Bears 2021/2022

OUR ORGANISATIONAL PLAN 2023–2028

Birmingham is a city in a cultural renaissance. The Commonwealth Games in 2022 put a spotlight on the region, showcasing a vibrant cultural ecology reflective of the youngest, most diverse city in Europe.

Birmingham Hippodrome plays a proud role in this creative landscape, providing stages for everything from world-class opera, ballet, West End musicals, comedy, dance and family shows. Our off-stage work through festivals, with young people, and partnerships with our creative community has grown exponentially, with our Hippodrome Education Network delivering creative activities in 44 partner schools, 36 of which we work with every week. In 2022/23:

40,000+

192,000

We have been on a journey over the last six years, with our commitment to inclusion and anti-racism at the heart of our decision making. As we continue to move from a post-Covid world into a new

chapter in our history, it is more important than ever that we focus on the ways in which the Hippodrome remains relevant to the audiences, artists and producers of the future and how, as a progressive organisation, we ensure our work is accessible to people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds.

We acknowledge the current context: a volatile international financial climate, a changing post-Covid theatrical ecology and the need for a building that is sustainable, open and accessible beyond our programme of shows.

We are working within a five-year period, to allow for managed growth over the length of the strategy.

Year 1: Building resilience

Year 2: Building capacity

Years 3 & 4: Building momentum

Year 5: Achieving the vision for the Hippodrome

This five-year plan will embrace these opportunities and acknowledge these challenges. From a solid foundation we will go through a period of transformation, and by 2028 we will have achieved the vision of “a distinctive, world-class Birmingham cultural scene with the Hippodrome at its heart”.

532,000 people watched a show on our main stage and Patrick Studio.

young people took part in our Hippodrome Education Network creative activities.

people engaged with our festivals.

MISSION VISION & VALUES

Our mission and vision state our purpose and who we want to be in the future. Our values are all about who we are, what we believe in and what sits at the very heart of a Hippodrome experience.

OUR MISSION OUR VISION

“Providing that ‘goosebumps’ feeling through memorable and extraordinary experiences.”

“A distinctive, world-class Birmingham cultural scene with the Hippodrome at its heart.”

People Focused

We care deeply for our staff, audiences, volunteers, partners, participants and artists and are dedicated to ensuring that any Hippodrome experience is a positive one. Our people are the beating heart of Birmingham Hippodrome.

Inclusive

We provide a safe and inclusive space for expression and creativity, priding ourselves on being collaborative and reflective of our city region. Inclusion is integral to everything that we do and is central to our decision-making.

Inspiring

We bring individuals, groups and communities together to share those wonderful ‘goosebumps’ moments: emotive, world-class, cultural experiences that ignite imaginations and inspire future generations.

Progressive

We are ambitious for ourselves, our partners and our city and region. We aim to be the best at what we do, always looking for new ways to advance, improve and evolve whilst being mindful of our rich and vibrant history.

Sustainable

We take care with our actions, safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Birmingham Hippodrome through our work, environmental responsibilities and business practices.

We will provide unprecedented access to all the work on our stages, reflecting the youngest, most diverse city in Europe in everything we do.

OUR STRATEGIC

We will have three stages offering year-round world-class programmes, each reflecting the diversity of the region.

Hippodrome Unlocked Hippodrome Stages

Growing our Profile

Developing our Workforce

OUR AMBITIONS

We will open our studio and rehearsal spaces in order to develop and amplify the creative potential of the region, originating new work which will be seen on our stages and across the world.

STRATEGIC CORE

We will start a transformational capital project created for and with the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands: the cornerstone of an extraordinary new era for the organisation and the region.

Due to my daughter’s needs it can be difficult for us... but the staff are amazing, very switched on and make us feel extremely welcome and comfortable.

Audience member

AMBITION 1: Hippodrome Unlocked ACTIONS:

We will provide unprecedented access to all the work on our stages, reflecting the youngest, most diverse city in Europe in everything we do.

OPEN TO ALL

We will remove or reduce barriers to audiences, increasing Black, Black British and South Asian audiences, family audiences and audiences aged 18-30.

ACCESS FOR ALL

We will become the most accessible venue of its scale in the UK, with a greater number of performances meeting the needs of different audiences.

ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL

We will expand the biggest bespoke theatre education programme in the region, linking to work in our venue and harnessing our community connections to build new audiences.

Each time I visit, I feel like I’m visiting an old friend that makes me smile when I think of them, that welcomes me into the city and helps me to walk and dance on stage. Birmingham Hippodrome’s support has helped me to create my present, which I hope continues far into the future as I can’t imagine taking a single step forward without the Hippodrome family.

Aakash Odedra Hippodrome Associate

02

AMBITION 2: Hippodrome Studios ACTIONS:

We will open our studio and rehearsal spaces in order to develop and amplify the creative potential of the region, originating new work which will be seen on our stages and across the world.

CREATIVE HEART OF THE CITY

We will establish a new artistic hub in Southside as a centre for West Midlands artistic excellence, with cemented partnerships with our resident partners BRB, FABRIC and One Dance UK.

HIPPODROME CREATIVES

We will offer a complete pipeline of creative development, prioritising extraordinary artists from the West Midlands, especially those under-represented in our programme, which will feed all our stages.

HOME OF NEW MUSICALS

We will create original productions with a focus on new musicals, commissioned and developed by the Hippodrome’s new musicals department.

Birmingham Hippodrome has always held a special place in my heart. Since we first visited in 1996 with Swan Lake, I’ve seen the city transform into a cultural hub for the Midlands, and Birmingham Hippodrome has played a significant role in that. The venue’s connections to the local community and outreach programme align perfectly with our own commitment to reaching new audiences and engaging them in our work.

Sir Matthew Bourne OBE Artistic Director, New Adventures

AMBITION 3: Hippodrome Stages

We will have three stages offering yearround world-class programmes, each reflecting the diversity of the region.

ACTIONS:

03 MAIN STAGE

We will be the busiest regional theatre with landmark productions, the best audience experience and the most important date in the UK touring calendar for producers.

PATRICK STUDIO

We will offer a new home for new work, celebrating original musicals, family work and exciting voices from the region.

HIPPODROME SITES

We will see the streets of Birmingham as a stage, with programmes, productions and events in collaboration with partners across the city.

HIPPODROME: THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Visiting the Hippodrome is always a treat...there’s a buzz about the place. I have been visiting for years since a child, now I share performances with my daughter.

Audience member

04

AMBITION 4: Hippodrome

Tomorrow

We will start a transformational capital project created for and with the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands: the cornerstone of an extraordinary new era for the organisation and the region.

ACTIONS:

AUDIENCE EXPERIENCE

We will redevelop this iconic venue as a centrepiece for the regeneration of the Southside area of the city.

WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES

We will develop a new cultural hub as the beating heart of a growing creative community, with the best working environment for all staff.

SUSTAINABILITY

We will think beyond the immediate future and invest in sustainable practices to meet our environmental responsibilities, ensuring our venue is fit for the many years to come.

DEVELOPING OUR WORKFORCE

We will be an employer of choice in our sector and for our region: a place where our people are engaged, inspired and motivated to create a world-class cultural experience.

GROWING OUR PROFILE

We will build a Hippodrome brand synonymous with our values, and use our strategic position to inform and impact policy to support the West Midlands’ cultural sector.

DIVERSIFYING INCOME

We will link ambition to income growth: increasing trading, launching innovative marketing campaigns, finding new income models and igniting a new fundraising strategy.

OUR STRATEGIC CORE

At the heart of our plan sits a solid base from which we can work.

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd

Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB

birminghamhippodrome.com

Registered Charity No. 510842