Birmingham Weekender is back this summer, Friday 23 - Monday 26 August, with FREE amazing performances, fantastical installations, pop up experiences and new commissions from regional, national and international artists. Produced by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Bullring and Grand Central, Birmingham Weekender spreads across the whole city centre on streets, in squares and shopping centres and in the sky above the city.
Join us this bank holiday weekend to make some magical memories that will last a lifetime.
We want everyone to enjoy Birmingham Weekender. At the festival we will have the following…
• Access hosts wearing yellow T-Shirts
• British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on selected performances and roaming at the festival
• Live Audio Description on selected performances
• Relaxed and reduced capacity sessions on selected performances
• Accessible Viewing Points on selected performances
• Access hubs and chill out spaces
• Access packs including ear defenders, colour therapy glasses and fidget toys
• Pre-visit information on the website including easy read information and Audio and BSL introductions to the festival and our access and inclusion provision. We will be providing large print and braille information at the festival in our access hubs.
You can find out more and plan your visit at birminghamweekender.com
Festival Programme
THE CITY THAT SPOKE TO ME
NEW STREET, MOOR STREET, SNOW HILL STATIONS
FRI 23 - MON 26 AUG
An exhibition of portraits celebrating Birmingham’s internationally significant poetry scene.
DAS BRASS
STARTS NEAR ROTUNDA SQUARE
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG
12.45pm, 2.30pm & 4.15pm
Das Brass play your favourite pop and funk favourites remixed with energy and pazazz.
URBAN GLIDERS
STARTS NEAR ROTUNDA SQUARE
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG
1.45pm, 3.45pm & 5.30pm
A trailblazing skate dance troupe, high-skilled tricks, fluid moves and electrifying performances.
DINOTOPIA
STARTS NEAR ROTUNDA SQUARE
SUN 25 & MON 26 AUG
1.15pm, 3pm & 4.45pm
We invite you to discover the last living dinosaur, Odysseia the Parasaurolophus.
BORNEO AGAIN
STARTS NEAR 1000 TRADES
MON 26 AUG, 12.45pm, 2.30pm & 4.15pm
Encounter an Orangutan stowed away amongst the vegetation in Captain John Voyage’s tropical tricycle.
MUGHAL MINIATURES
1000 TRADES SQUARE
SAT 24 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
Be immersed as 1000 Trades Square is transformed into a pop-up Indian garden. Experience vibrant Mughal Miniatures performances throughout the day from Sonia Sabri Company.
BAMBOO
1000 TRADES SQUARE
SUN 25 AUG, 2pm & 4.15pm
A spectacular new high-impact, high-skill outdoor circus production using only bamboo and human bodies - revealing the fragility and beauty of our interconnected and interdependent life on this planet.
BUBBLE EXTRAVAGANZA
ST MARTIN’S SQUARE
SAT 24 AUG, 1.15pm & 3.15pm
1000 TRADES SQUARE
SUN 25 & MON 26 AUG 1.15pm, 3.15pm & 5.15pm
Experience giant bubbles, clouds of billions of bubbles, people inside bubbles, bubble haircuts and mind-boggling bubble tricks from bubbleologists.
TAPE THAT
NEW STREET STATION CONCOURSE
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 1pm & 5pm
A non-verbal acrobatic duet show. Two performers construct a visual world using colourful tape, object manipulation and partner acrobatics and a fun soundtrack.
DANCE FLASHMOB
NEW STREET STATION CONCOURSE
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 2.30pm
Marshon Dance Company is bringing electrifying flash mobs to the city centre. Through high-energy street dance and powerful choreography, Marshon embodies community and empowerment. Watch out for other surprise performances in the city!
FACEPAINTING
1000 TRADES SQUARE, VICTORIA SQUARE & CHAOPHRAYA SQUARE
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
Be part of the colourful celebrations with FREE facepainting throughout the weekend!
UNITY
ROTUNDA SQUARE
Sat 24 & Sun 25 Aug, 12pm & 5pm
MON 26 AUG, 2pm
UNITY is a large-scale spectacular production that merges immersive theatre, circus, and community stories in a powerful but intimate way.
UNBOSI
MARBLE AWARENESS ROADSHOW
CENTRAL STREET
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
Join the United Nations Board of Significant Inspiration’s elite team of Marblologists to harness local inspiration, build giant exposure machines, and a send marble to a world leader who might have lost theirs.
ISLAND OF FOAM
ST MARTIN’S SQUARE
MON 26 AUG, 12pm & 4pm
Island of Foam invites audiences of all ages to play and move within a magical world of coloured foam, creating a sensory spectacle as the festival finale.
Festival Programme
BIG FISH LITTLE
FISH FAMILY RAVE
ST MARTIN’S SQUARE
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG, 2pm & 4pm
A fantastic mix of amazing dance music, creative crafts and dancefloor effects for a fun-filled family rave! Don your festival gear and party with your kids amidst the bubbles, foam, confetti and balloons.
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS SHOW
ST MARTIN’S SQUARE
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG, 12.15pm & 5.15pm
Stand-up comics and sketch acts aimed at a family audience, performing for kids of 6+ telling jokes without any rude words!
SWAN BREAK
BLANKO
ST MARTIN’S SQUARE
SUN 25 & MON 26 AUG, 1.15PM & 3.15PM
Living artwork Blanko invites audiences to be the artists, pick up a paintbrush and cover him in colour.
OAKMOBILE
CHAOPHRAYA SQUARE
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG
12pm - 2.30pm & 3.30pm - 6pm
Come inside The OakMobile with shows every seven minutes. Sit in a woodland glade beneath the stars for a story that takes you back to a time before time.
WEEKENDER SELFIE STUDIO
LOWER MALL EAST
(OUTSIDE SELFRIDGES)
FRI 23 - MON 26 AUG
Commissioned for Birmingham Weekender 2024 - place yourself into fun and colourful visuals inside a layered selfie studio. Snap a picture with the Birmingham skyline or within a car navigating Spaghetti Junction!
SYNERGY
BULLRING DANCE STAGE:
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG, 1.15pm & 5pm
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG, 1.40pm & 4.35pm
Break Mission presents a modern-day version of a classic with a switch of dynamics, merging street dance styles with classical. Get ready for this twist on
PERFORMERS COLLEGE & BRB LUNA INSPIRED DANCE
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
SAT 24 AUG, 1pm & 3.20pm
Birmingham Royal Ballet have been working with students from Performers College to create a new dance inspired by LUNA and ‘Once Upon a Time in Birmingham: Women Who Dared to Dream’ Book.
CLOSER TO MY DREAMS
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
Experience the premiere of high-profile new work SYNERGY from a UK D/deaf & disabled dance company, choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Mark Smith
TREAD
BULLRING DANCE STAGE:
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG, 12pm & 3.35pm
TREAD intertwines stunt performance techniques, contemporary dance, and minimalist development practices to create a hypnotic exploration of the Black moving body.
12.35pm, 2.55pm & 5.40pm
The journey of two young, Black brothers from inner-city Hulme, describing their trials and tribulations to pursue their
TORCH OF EXCELLENCE
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S) 2.30pm & 5.25pm Eloquent Dance’s celebration, statement and mesmerising piece of art that’ll leave you feeling inspired, energised, and connected to something bigger than
BULLRING DANCE STAGE:
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
SAT 24 & SUN 25 AUG, 2.05pm & 4.10pm Linden Dance Company’s Keep Moving FABRIC’s Future Shift dancers join for a collaborative piece that features co-created chroreography. Offering inclusive dance opportunities for young people in Birmingham.
CBSO IN THE CITY
LOWER MALL WEST (OUTSIDE M&S)
MON 26 AUG, 1pm & 3pm
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) led by Chief Conductor Kazuki Yamada takes over with two full orchestral performances featuring up to seventy musicians!
WEEKENDER GREEN HUB
EDGBASTON STREET
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
Take time to think about what can be done to make a difference and positive impact on our city. Learn about local green spaces and be inspired by urban gardening, food growing and composting.
SPARK ACTIVITY ZONE
EDGBASTON STREET
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
SPARK garden activity zone, supporting artistic and playful participation for all ages and abilities. Populated with natural and upcycled materials and four new large commissioned art pieces.
ORCHESTRA OF OBJECTS
EDGBASTON STREET
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
Orchestra of Objects is set in a sound garden: an installation of 10 uniquely invented musical instruments, tooting, whistling, plinking and parping gizmos inspired by a wasteland of unwanted industrial objects.
SOUTHSIDE STAGE
HIPPODROME SQUARE
SAT 24 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
Showcasing the very best of Birmingham and West Midlands talent - a celebratory & representative programme of music, dance, spoken word and more - showcasing local artists with a packed programme.
HIPPODROME LIVE!
HIPPODROME SQUARE
SUN 25 AUG, 1pm & 3.30pm
Festival Programme
VICTORIA SQUARE
FRI 23 - MON 26 AUG, 12pm - 6pm
A large scale, inflatable installation which uses the beauty of light and colour to amaze. Explore the structure, walking, resting and playing in tunnels, chambers and pods. Booking advised at birminghamweekender.com
VICTORIA SQUARE
Inspired by West End Live, showcasing performances from top West End musicals and more, live and free from Hippodrome Square, right outside the front doors of Birmingham Hippodrome.
HIPPODROME OPEN DAY
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
SUN 25 AUG, 12pm - 5.30pm
Discover the Hippodrome’s 125-year history with free activities, talks and taster workshops. Step on the stage and get to see behind the scenes of the Hippodrome stages with backstaage tours.
12pm, 1.30pm, 3.45pm & 5.15pm* (*No 5.15pm show on Mon 26)
Freshly brewed tea is served from Trigger’s Tuk Tuk, offering you the opportunity to enjoy a cup of tea, companionship and an interactive performance exploring our shared cultural history.
NEW STREET STATION
SAT 24 & SUN 25, 12pm & 5.30pm MOOR STREET STATION
SAT 24 & SUN 25, 1pm, 1.45pm,
SAT 24 & SUN 25, 1pm, 1.45pm,
Commissioned performances from poets featured within The City That Spoke To Me exhibition - providing a welcome to
Facepainting
VICTORIA
SAT 24 - MON 26 AUG, 12PM - 6PM
Be part of the colourful celebrations with FREE facepainting throughout the weekend!
Access Hubs
At our Access Hubs, you can meet our access hosts, find out about the programme, borrow ear defenders, fidget toys, audio description headsets and take a break in our chillout zone.
Locations:
Access Hub - Bullring
Rotunda Square, Near Next & Arket Fri 23 - Mon 26 Aug, 12 - 6pm
Access & Info PointVictoria Square Near the Queen Victoria Statue and Council House Fri 23 - Mon 26 Aug, 12 - 6pm Access & Info PointHippodrome Square Just outside of Birmingham Hippodrome’s front doors Sat 24 - Sun 25 Aug, 12 - 6pm
– 1pm & 3pm –
FESTIVAL MAP
Toilets Located across the festival site. Cycle Parking / Hire Station West Midlands Cycledownload the Beryl App to find your nearest station. Car Parking Numerous car parks within easy walking distance to Birmingham Weekender. Tram / Metro Stop Use the MyMetro App or the West Midlands Metro website to plan your journey. Train Station New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street are within easy walking distance. The city centre is well served by buses from across the West Midlands Use the National Express Journey Planner to find your closest stops and route information. Visit our website for exclusive discounts on travel.
BID: Were Going On A Bear Hunt Trail
beautifully designed bears are on display across the city centre for families to enjoy. Find out more at
