Stages - issue five

Autumn/Winter 2018

issue five

s t a g e s

War Horse leads the charge WIN

TICKETS TO

WAR HORSE

ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FESTIVE FUN Emily Brown and The Thing

MATT SLACK Matt and partner in ‘mime’ Michael talk panto

DISCOVER THE PATRICK STUDIO Top picks from new season

AND CLAYTON HOTEL STAY SEE P22

@brumhippodrome

UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE, POWERED BY YOU

Dates for your diary 2018 THU 6 SEP

Leading Ladies at Matilda The Musical

THU 6 SEP

Free Charitable Giving Seminar with Mills & Reeve

TUE 11 SEP

Get Your Bollywood On! A Gala Evening at Taj Express

MON 17 SEP

Creative Conversations with Sathnam Sanghera

THU 20 SEP

Street Food at Kevin Bridges

THU 11 & FRI 12 OCT

Gala Evenings at War Horse

THU 25 OCT

Leading Ladies at War Horse sponsored by West Midlands Growth Company

THU 8 NOV

Champagne Tasting Dinner with Laurent-Perrier

2019 THU 7 & FRI 8 FEB

Gala Evenings at Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

THU 14 FEB

Café Valentine at Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

THU 21 MAR

Gala Evening at Kinky Boots

THU 4 APR

Cure Leukaemia Takeover at Les Misérables

THU 2 MAY

Gala Evening at Les Misérables

THU 6 JUN

Leading Ladies at Calendar Girls sponsored by Cure Leukaemia

SAT 29 JUN

**On Stage Gala Dinner** Our flagship fundraiser on our main stage NOW BOOKING

Our calendar of events is growing all the time!

Visit birminghamhippodrome.com/specialevents for the most up to date information

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB Tickets & Information 0844 338 5000* Group Bookings 0844 338 7000* Administration 0844 338 5010* Events 0844 338 6500* *Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge

birminghamhippodrome.com Registered Charity Number 510842

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@brumhippodrome

Welcome to the fifth issue of

s t a g e s

4/5 NEWS HIPPODROME ASSOCIATE COMPANIES

18 WAR HORSE’S JOEY AT SEASON TASTER

8/9 FOOD & DRINK GET COOKING WITH MEL

18-21 OFF STAGE FESTIVAL OF FIZZ

As I write this during our stunning summer it’s hard to believe that in just five months the Christmas season will be upon us, and this year’s pantomime Peter Pan looks set to be a cracker! We talk to producer/guru Michael Harrison and beloved panto star Matt Slack about what we can look forward to on p12.

Of course Christmas isn’t just about panto, (oh no it’s not!) you can book your work party here as well and enjoy BRB’s main stage classic The Nutcracker. We’re also very proud to be programming a festive family show in our Patrick Studio for the second year running. Emily Brown and The Thing (p6). From the Tall Stories team who brought us The Snow Dragon last year – we’re in safe hands!

contents

And while we’re talking Patrick Studio, this could be the season you venture more into our smaller space and try something different. See our top picks on p5.

Of course we are more than just our worldclass shows, so find out about our incredible off-stage work in our other regular sections – festivals, fundraising, food and much more!

4/5

NEWS

6/7

BACKSTAGE

Enjoy this issue and email press@birminghamhippodrome with any future ideas,

8/9

FOOD & DRINK

Laura Smith Editor

10/11

PLAY YOUR PART

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CENTRE STAGE

Meet The Team Editor: Laura Smith Deputy Editor: Nichole Cooper

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HIPPODROME HEADLINER

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ON THE SCENE

Contributors: Fiona Allan, Kate Evans, Judith Greenburgh, Roz Laws, Rachael Magson, Rosie Milsom, Diane Parkes, Amy Stutz

18-21

OFFSTAGE

Photography: Vivienne Bailey, Joe Bailey, Simon Hadley, Jack Spicer Adams, Brinkhoff&Mögenburg

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FIVE MINUTE CALL With thanks to long-term supporters and print partners

Front cover: War Horse

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NEWS

SAY HELLO TO OUR HIPPODROME ASSOCIATE COMPANIES At our recent Season Taster event, we announced our new Hippodrome Associate Companies.

It was announced on the night that Rosie Kay (picture right) Dance Company is now one of our Hippodrome Associate Companies, alongside ZooNation,

Motionhouse and Sonia Sabri Company.

As part of our artistic ambitions, we will work with these companies to produce, premier and tour dynamic work, indoors and outdoors, on our main stage and in the Patrick Studio.

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ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company We’ll work with the team to bring ground breaking storytelling to a wider audience using hip-hop influenced music.

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Rosie Kay Dance Company This innovative company creates brave new dance in Birmingham that tours to

audiences at home and abroad. Rosie will be bringing her upcoming show MK Ultra to our Patrick Studio.

•

Motionhouse The electrifying dance-circus company will work with us to produce exciting performances for the stage and outdoors.

•

Sonia Sabri Company We’ve teamed up with this dynamic company to showcase dance inspired

by Indian and British culture.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION After the success of our first Creative Conversations event, up next, invigorating lunchtime conversations hosted by Sathnam Sanghera of The Times and author of ‘The Boy with the Topknot’.

On Mon 17 Sep Sathnam will focus on education with our esteemed panellists – Gurdip Bhangoo, Head of Future Skills & Events, BBC Academy, Clair Mowbray, Chief Executive, National College for High Speed Rail and Professor David

Roberts, National Teaching Fellow, Birmingham City University. Creative Conversations is kindly supported by West Midlands Growth Company.

£25pp including a welcome drink and two-course seated lunch with wine.

To book call Beth on 0121 689 3084 events@birminghamhippodrome.com

THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN! Make the Hippodrome your number one party destination to celebrate with colleagues, clients or friends.

We know it’s a little early, but Christmas will be upon us before you know it.

Join us in our award-winning Circle Restaurant for a Christmas celebration with trademark Hippodrome flair.

Our head chef has created a seasonal menu for you to savour while the DJ 4

sets the tempo. We know how to add theatrical style to any event and Christmas is no exception.

So let the Hippodrome take the stress out of the Christmas ‘do’ this year so that the only spotlight you’ll be under is the one on the dance floor!

To get into Santa’s good books, make your reservation ASAP!

To book contact Clare on 0121 689 3083 or events@birminghamhippodrome.com

CHRIS SUDWORTH INVITES YOU TO DISCOVER THE PATRICK STUDIO Our Associate Director (Programming & Artist Development) gives a run-down of his top picks from our new Patrick Studio season.

SEETA PATEL’S NOT TODAY’S YESTERDAY (TUE 23 OCT) Seeta Patel combines Indian classical dance, contemporary dance and theatre in this explosive one-women show. This fantastic production has received five-star reviews and the Best Dance Award at Adelaide Fringe Festival. If you’ve not been to the Hippodrome to see a dance performance yet I would highly recommend this as your first one!

THE GINGER SNAPPED (SAT 17 NOV) BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME & AD INFINITUM PRESENT NO KIDS (SAT 10 NOV) How open is our society to the idea of two dads? No Kids tackles this question head on in this musical cabaret. We have worked with Ad Infinitum before and it’s an amazing company and I can’t wait to see how they tell this story on the stage, all I know is there won’t be another show like it!

Following last year’s total sell-out tour RuPaul’s Drag Race favourite Jinkx Monsoon and lyrical genius Major Scales return. Music and mental health collide in this witty, biting look at the dark side of Drag fame. And, don’t forget the recently announced meet and greet with Jinkx following the performance.

THE BELIEVERS ARE BUT BROTHERS (THU 22 & FRI 23 NOV) This bold show explores the smoke and mirrors world of online extremism and hate speech, using What’s App to deliver an interactive experience like no other. Not to be missed!

UNSPOKEN (MON 8 & TUE 9 OCT) This moving performance by serving forces personnel and recent veterans, tells the story of lives forever changed by war. This ties in nicely with a VR experience we have in our foyer from Mon 29 Oct to Sat 3 Nov, called Empire Soldier. This immersive experience puts you right in the centre of WWI from the perspective of Caribbean and South Asian soldiers.

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BACK STAGE

WE PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF THE FESTIVE FAMILY ADVENTURE

Emily Brown

and The Thing

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Written by Cressida Cowell and illustrated by Neal Layton, Emily Brown and The Thing tells the story of a little girl’s night-time adventures with her favourite toy and an unexpected visitor. Blending acting, puppets and original music, the production was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2014.

Sophie Alice first took the part of Emily in 2016 and returns to the role in Birmingham.

“It’s the story of a little girl called Emily and her best friend Stanley, who’s a cuddly rabbit who is worn and much-loved, and one evening they are awoken by a crying noise which comes from a creature called The Thing and they go on three adventures to help this Thing so they can all get to sleep,” she explains.

“Emily is a feisty little girl, she’s headstrong and adventurous. She’s a fantastic young female role model, a lot of children’s books have male protagonists so it’s good to have a female protagonist for children.

As well as acting, Sophie also needs to be adept at puppetry.

“In the show there are three actors playing Emily, Stanley and The Thing but there are also puppet versions of all three. There are times when they are on adventures and we use the puppets to do things which we couldn’t do on stage such as climbing trees and skiing down slopes.”

While some families are familiar with the story, for others in the audience it may be their first meeting with Emily Brown.

“If they have read the book previously it’s great to see that story jump out of the pages in front of them but I’m sure there are children in the audience who don’t know the story,” says Sophie. “That’s quite nice in a way because when it gets to the end they have gone on this journey with Emily and Stanley but they don’t know what is going to happen – or how the adventures are going to turn out.”

The genius of the show lies with Tall Stories founders Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell who read the book by Cressida Cowell, who is also the author of the How to Train Your Dragon series of books, some of which have been made into hit animated films.

“It’s a great story with a great message that families can connect with very well,” she says. “It’s about the worries that children have with getting to sleep.

Children get to an age where they put off going to bed, whether that’s because of fears or not wanting to not be with everyone else. This show just illuminates that.”

And while Tall Stories has tended to become known for adapting more recent novels, Natalia says the company isn’t necessarily only searching for new tales.

“It’s finding the stories which we want to tell on stage and we have become best known for those modern classics – Gruffalo, Gruffalo’s Child, Room on the Broom, Emily Brown - which were all written in the past ten years or so but we have also done adaptations of fairy tales such as Snow White or Oscar Wilde plus completely original stories which aren’t based on any previous work.

After the success of The Snow Dragon last year both Tall Stories and the Hippodrome were keen to bring another children’s show to the Patrick Studio this year.

Sophie, who has played Emily across the UK, in Australia, Malaysia and the United States of America, believes it’s a universal tale.

“It’s quite an exciting first theatrical experience for a child but they’ll also be picking up some of the messages about teamwork, friendship, working together to help each other, and then there’s songs and dance and lots of movement.”

“Tall Stories didn’t start out as a company for children, they simply wanted to produce good stories on stage,” says Natalia. “Some of their first works were Oscar Wilde’s fairy stories and the true story behind Alice in Wonderland.

“This is our third Christmas run of the show and it works very nicely as a Christmas show because it’s so heart-warming,” says Natalia.

“Tony and Olivia research a lot of children’s books looking for stories which really capture their imaginations and which they want to put on stage,” says Tall Stories creative coordinator Natalia Scorer. “They were really interested in the ideas in this book, the ideas of fear around bedtime and being scared of the dark.

Based in London, Tall Stories has a rich repertoire including adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and The Snail and the Whale. But the company, which celebrates its 21st birthday this year, didn’t set out to specialise in family theatre.

“And the Patrick Studio is a good venue for family work as the audience is close to the stage and we like that intimacy, it works really well for our shows because they do involve interaction and direct address to the audience. It’s a great idea to use it for more family work.”

Emily Brown and The Thing plays the Patrick Studio between Mon 17 Dec and Sun 6 Jan. Tickets from £12.50

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FOOD & DRINK

WHAT’S HOT ON OUR MENU

Melissa Menns, Head Chef at Birmingham Hippodrome

FANTASTIC FISHCAKES

Method To make the fish cakes, begin by boiling the potatoes in a large saucepan for 30 minutes or until tender. Then bake the salmon in a preheated oven (Gas 6 / 180˚C) for 8 minutes. Remove and set to one side and allow to cool.

You then need to remove the potatoes from the water and put them into a dry pan. Dry the potatoes out on a medium heat for 5 minutes then mash until nice and smooth.

Now it’s time to get mixing! Add the salmon to the potatoes and combine the ingredients slowly. Then, add the parsley, season with some salt and pepper to taste and then add a little lemon juice. You should allow the mixture to cool until it’s almost cold.

Shape the salmon mixture into 4 medium sized cakes. Then whisk the eggs and dip the cakes in the flour, egg and then breadcrumbs - reshape the cakes if necessary.

To cook the fish cakes, place a frying pan over a medium heat and add enough oil to come about 3mm up the side. Once the oil is hot, fry the cakes for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side.

Ingredients Serves 2 200g of skinless salmon, cut into 1.5cm chunks 1 lemon, juiced 2 eggs, whisked 200g of breadcrumbs

30g of flat-leaf parsley, washed and chopped 100g of plain flour 200g of potato, peeled and diced into 1cm chunks salt & black pepper 200ml of vegetable oil

Remove and drain on kitchen paper to soak up excess oil. Voilá!

Don’t forget to send in snaps of your completed dish to win dinner for two in our award-winning Circle Restaurant. Email press@birminghamhippodrome.com or tweet us @brumhippodrome

YOU HAD ME AT ESPRESSO Why not visit our new Coffee Bar? ?

We’re now open throughout the day and into the evening (from 10am Mon-Sat). Find us on the Front Circle foyer, offering a range of bespoke freshly-made Quarter Horse coffee, ‘Standing Ovation’, hot and cold drinks, homemade paninis, cakes and sweet treats.

Whether you’re coming to see a show, a family activity, an exhibition, or just passing through, our Coffee Bar is a cosy spot to relax and unwind. Come and enjoy delicious, homemade food and sip a tasty, fresh coffee whilst browsing on the free Wi-Fi. 8

ADD A LITTLE SPARKLE TO YOUR EVENING We know going to the theatre is an extra special occasion but why not add even more glitz and glamour to your evening by booking one of our delightful private dining experiences.

Introducing our new look Qdos Lounge Add some VIP sparkle to your Hippodrome experience with a Diamond or Champagne package in our luxurious Qdos Lounge.

Your package gives you access to this premium lounge, which has its own bar, refreshments, private cloakroom and washroom facilities, before the show and during the interval.

Your dedicated Lounge Host will be on-hand to serve you from the private bar, which stocks a wide range of wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks, as well as delicious nibbles. Beat the queues and relax in style!

Diamond Package, £15pp Ultimate Entertaining, £57pp Our signature experience includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne and a sumptuous three course meal. Return to your private room during the interval for desserts and coffee. We’ll take care of the finishing touches and provide each couple with a complimentary programme.

For a visit brimming with Hippodrome sparkle, try our Diamond Package. This package includes exclusive entry to the Qdos Lounge 90 minutes before the performance and during the interval, a complimentary drink, unlimited savoury nibbles, and use of the cloakroom & en-suite facilities.

Champagne Package, £40pp Feeling Relaxed?, £27pp Our bowl food concept may be just what you’re looking for to create a more informal evening for a group of 20 guests or more.

Enjoy two courses from our extensive Bowl Food selection in one of our private spaces to which you can return during the interval to enjoy further refreshments.

Afternoon Tea, £27pp Combine your matinée visit with an afternoon tea served in a private room. Enjoy a glass of prosecco before tea to add extra sparkle to your afternoon. Ideal for a club, association, reunion, anniversary or special birthday.

Make your evening extra special with our Champagne Package. This package includes exclusive entry to the Qdos Lounge 90 minutes before the performance and during the interval, half a bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne, a choice of deli platter, unlimited savoury nibbles, and use of the cloakroom & en-suite facilities.

If you have any questions about the Qdos Lounge or want to book via telephone, please call Information & Sales on 0844 338 5000 or visit: birminghamhippodrome.com/Qdos 0844 calls to us will cost you 4.5p per min plus your phone company’s access charge.

To find out more call Clare on 0121 689 3083 on or email events@birminghamhippodrome.com

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PLAY YOUR PART

FUNDRAISING FLYING HIGH Two exciting grants announced: The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has donated £200,000 to help with our ambitions to create ‘One Million Hippodrome Moments’.

Head of Fundraising Rachael Magson said: “As one of the largest grant givers in the UK, we are thrilled to receive this

four-year commitment from Esmée Fairbairn”.

Syndrome and complex disabilities get to experience the magic of theatre.

“We are also delighted to have received a £15,000 corporate grant from HSBC. This will be used to expand our Relaxed Performance programme, ensuring audiences with Autism, Asperger

Over the next year we will offer eight Relaxed Performances thanks to this support.

You can find out more about supporting our charity at birminghamhippodrome.com/giveandjoin

FANCY KEEP US IN SOME FREE MIND WHEN YOU ‘REMEMBER A CHARITY’ GIVING GUIDANCE? We are delighted to announce we are now members of Remember a Charity – a nationwide initiative which promotes legacy giving to your favourite charitable causes.

We will be taking part in Remember a Charity Week, Mon 10 - Sun 16 Sep, and as part of this we will be exploring one of the biggest questions for our charity:

How can we create free arts opportunities for all?

Look out for social media posts, blogs and videos as we explore how we can make a lasting difference as a charity.

Leaving a legacy in your Will is an incredible way of supporting a cause close to your heart. We know Birmingham Hippodrome is a much-loved venue, and that many families make memories with us down the generations.

In partnership with Mills & Reeve, join us for a special giving seminar. They will take you through tax efficient ways of donating to support your favoured charity, including legacy giving. Plus there’ll be a chance to hear about the latest charitable developments at Birmingham Hippodrome.

With a history of nearly 120 years, you can give your gift with confidence.

Our promise to you is to make sure your gift will be in safe hands and spent wisely where it is needed most.

The event will also include light refreshments and a Behind The Scenes Tour! The event is free to attend, but places are limited.

A legacy gift – of any size – can make a big difference to our charity. Your gift could help us invest in future artistic commissions, further our education programmes or protect our historic auditorium and develop our theatre venue for years to come.

If you would like to book please contact fundraising@ birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0121 689 3068.

You can find out more about leaving a legacy to Birmingham Hippodrome at birminghamhippodrome.com/legacies

Paul, Legacy Pledger “When I eventually pass away I would want to feel that I have made a contribution to the theatre that makes it possible for someone else to enjoy it as much as we have!”.

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Thu 6 Sep, 10am-12pm

PLAY YOUR PART

GALA EVENINGS LIKE NO OTHER Here at Birmingham Hippodrome, we’re known for running fundraising events with flair.

We have Gala Evenings at three incredible upcoming shows where you can join fellow theatre goers for an experience to remember. A Gala ticket includes a drinks reception, three-course meal, top price show ticket, show programme and post-show soiree.

Let us show you a different side of our theatre. Do something different, experience something new, treat someone special – book today!

Welcome on board!

We’re pleased to announce a number of new and renewing corporate partnerships with Birmingham Hippodrome.

LEADING LADIES Michelle Stammers – The Travel Genius Laura Orrell – Park Regis Birmingham Ellie Hill – Biddle & Webb GOOD COMPANY CLUB Squire Patton Boggs ASSOCIATE PARTNERS Birmingham Airport CBRE SPONSORSHIP Lloyds Bank – room naming rights Primera Air EVENTS PARTNERS Cure Leukaemia – Theatre Takeover at Les Misérables Women’s Institute – Theatre Takeover at Peter Pan PRIZE PARTNERS Darwin Escapes

War Horse Gala

Les Misérables Gala

Fri 12 Oct, £140pp

Thu 2 May, £140pp

Book your place at this very special dinner alongside an unforgettable theatrical experience from the National Theatre set during the centenary year of WWI.

Go Beyond the Barricades at our Les Misérables Gala Evening!

Join us to welcome Cameron Mackintosh’s Broadway production back to Birmingham. You can upgrade your existing show ticket from £80pp.

Already booked for the show on this or another date? You can upgrade and join us for the dinner for £75pp.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Gala Fri 8 Feb, £130pp Sir Matthew Bourne’s smash hit Swan Lake returns to Birmingham Hippodrome. Book for our Gala Evening to enjoy this ground-breaking production in style. Upgrade your existing show ticket from £80pp.

To find out more about our corporate partnerships, email judithgreenburgh @birminghamhippodrome.com or call 0121 689 3082.

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CENTRE STAGE

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Partners in pantomime

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We catch up with panto star and much loved adopted Brummie Matt Slack and ‘partner in mime’ Michael Harrison.

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Actor Matt Slack has proclaimed Birmingham his second home as he returns to the city for his sixth pantomime in a row this Christmas.

We caught up with Matt along with producer and director Michael Harrison to talk about the production which also includes seventies pop icon Jimmy Osmond as Captain Hook, Wolverhampton writer and actor Meera Syal as the Magical Mermaid and Jaymi Hensley of band Union J as Peter Pan. Matt, who played Buttons in last year’s Cinderella, says there is something very special about being in the Hippodrome panto.

“The audience here is why I keep coming back,” he says. “When I come out to that warmth and that love, it’s unique. I just love it.

I always think I’ll look back on these Birmingham years in years to come and will have such fond memories of it. Performing at the Hippodrome is like performing in my living room.”

Matt, whose signature moments include tongue-twisting songs with barrel-loads of local references, says being in front of 14

a live, and lively, audience creates his energy.

“Every audience is different and the audience reaction can be different each night or each matinee. You never quite know what an audience will be like but I thrive with a good audience.

Now I’m looking forward to getting the juices flowing and performing again and watching it evolve.

Matt is also keen to share the stage with this year’s cast.

“I’m a panto veteran now, I think this is my 17th year, and I think people who haven’t done panto before do have respect for people who have. It’s very hard, unless they’ve seen you work, to explain what you do. They are all professional people and you all get on with it.

“Panto is an art form. It was disrespected for many years and now it’s sort of being more recognised. Not everyone can do it. There are brilliant stand-up comics who wouldn’t understand how to be a pantomime comic – it’s a genre that should be celebrated, recognised and cherished.”

Last year’s Cinderella featured Wolverhampton singer Beverley Knight with actors Danny Mac and Suzanne Shaw and it gained hit reviews and large audiences.

“Last year was a real belter, we had such a lovely cast,” Matt recalls. “Now I’m looking forward to this year. I’ve played Smee many, many times so hopefully the audience will

like what I do with the part. It’s nice to come back to what I now see as my second home and do what we all love to do on stage.”

Director Michael Harrison says a special bond has built up over the years between Hippodrome audiences, Matt and his pantomimes.

“Birmingham, the Hippodrome and all of us really are quite lucky to work together and something has just happened between us that has made this really work. Matt and I did pantomime in Plymouth a few years ago, it was Cinderella and it was the same kind of situation, but it didn’t click in the way it’s clicked here”.

“Matt’s panto persona is the real Matt Slack in another gear and the audience like that - they like his visual comedy, they like his word play. They are a great audience in Birmingham, they really respond to the size and the spectacle of the show but above all else they love to laugh.”

Michael is managing director of Qdos Entertainment Pantomimes, who stage Birmingham Hippodrome’s Christmas extravaganza.

“Pantomime is an art form in the same way that opera is or ballet is or if someone like Mark Rylance is doing a play in Shakespeare’s Globe,” he says.

“It’s actually no different to being a master of the art of pantomime. I think there are very few people now left in the country who can really go out there and grab an audience in the palm of their hand but Matt is one of them.

“Panto is a rare form of theatre because it’s real escapism. It’s unique in its

A potted history of Panto at the Hippodrome Honorary Brummie Matt Slack holds the record for the most consecutive appearances on the Hippodrome stage!

Having a ball…

The role of Fairy Godmother in Cinderella has marked the pantomime debuts of Jane Macdonald, Jodie Prenger and Beverley Knight!

The art of puppetry The Hippodrome has played host to such family favourites as Sooty, George, Zippy and Bungle, Spit The Dog, Rod Hull and Emu, Nookie the bear, Churchill the Dog, Basil Brush, Orville and Cuddles the monkey. will be playing Peter Pan. He has the most phenomenal and brilliant voice and we know that the Hippodrome audience loves the element of musical theatre in the show.”

The Hippodrome panto usually includes an additional element such as special effects or a touch of magic. This year, Michael is introducing a bit of circus.

combination of musical theatre combined with variety and it’s the only show which you rehearse with one cast member who’s not there - and that’s the audience. We rehearse it in a room together and it’s just not the same without the crowd – they make all the difference.”

“It’s a great cast, very different from what we’ve had before. When you have Peter Pan everyone wants to know who’s playing Captain Hook and this year we’re having one of the nicest men you will ever meet in show business Jimmy Osmond to play one of the nastiest pantomime characters!

“Meera Syal is a brilliant comedic actress who is very well-known to the Midlands and I’ve just worked with her on our West End show of Annie. She’s very excited to be coming and making her pantomime debut and she will be a great addition to the world of pantomime. We’re very keen to bring new people into pantomime like we did with Beverley Knight and with Danny Mac last year.

And Michael is sure the Hippodrome audiences will take the 2018/19 cast to their hearts. “Jaymi Hensley of the band Union J

“We’ve not really had speciality acts before which is particularly relevant here because this theatre was once a circus. While we always look forward in pantomime it’s also important to remember the things that have gone before us so I want to introduce two phenomenal acts.

Legends Britain’s favourite comedy double-act Morcambe and Wise appeared in Sleeping Beauty in Birmingham back in 1966.

There is nothing like a dame…

It was as an Ugly Sister in the 1961/1962 production of Cinderella that female impresario Danny La Rue made his first Hippodrome appearance.

“The Timbuktu Tumblers are playing the Neverlanders. They are a group of seven guys who are extraordinarily talented acrobats. And Sascha Williams will join the cast as the Drunken Pirate. A lot of people will know him from Britain’s Got Talent but I’ve actually worked with him before.

And Michael is sure the Hippodrome audiences will take the 2018/19 cast to their hearts.

“Panto is a rare form of theatre because it’s real escapism” Find out more about the history at Birmingham Hippodrome by visiting our heritage website: birminghamhippodromeheritage.com 15

HIPPODROME HEADLINER Rosie Milsom is a fundraising executive. As a charity, she helps us to raise over £1million a year to deliver our charitable work, Hippodrome Projects.

How would you describe your job?

I manage the day-to-day running of our memberships, individual giving schemes, fundraising campaigns and fundraising events.

How long have you worked at Birmingham Hippodrome?

Six years in October, which has absolutely flown by!

What’s your favourite part of the job?

Fundraising is largely about your supporters, and I am at my best when I’m meeting and speaking to people. I love getting to know our donors and patrons; finding out what they’re passionate about and being able to show them the difference that their support makes. It’s also great when you get to hear from the beneficiaries themselves. A lot of the time you’re beavering away in the office trying to get together the funds for our amazing Artistic Team to deliver their work, so it’s great to attend a project or hear first-hand from those who’ve benefited from our work in the communities we’re trying to reach.

Describe a typical working day?

One of the things I love about this job is the variety. And again, I’m going to be super cliché-tastic now, but every day can be different. It’s what keeps the job extra interesting and I’m also lucky that it’s allowed me to learn a wide range of skills that aren’t just fundraising-related.

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What are you most proud of achieving here?

This is a tough one. I’d probably say the increase in our Patrons scheme. It’s almost three times bigger now than when I started. Our Patrons feel like part of the Hippodrome family.

Our ‘On-Stage Galas’ are always a spectacular event too. I think we sometimes don’t realise what a massive undertaking it is until the night itself when we look around and see 300 people having an amazing evening on our main stage.

The last one we held in 2016 broke records for the amount we raised!

What show are you most looking forward to in the coming season?

I think War Horse has to be up there. I didn’t get to see it when it was first here in 2013, as the show completely sold out and I wasn’t quick enough to get tickets! But people rave about it, so I’ll definitely try to get in this time. We’re also holding a Fundraising Gala Evening during the show’s run, and given that it’s the centenary year of when WW1 ended, it should be a really special moment in time.

The Full Monty is also on the list………… need I say why?! And Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the Hippodrome panto and particularly, Matt Slack. He cracks me up every time he’s on stage. I say Christmas, but I normally save

watching it for the cold dreary days of Jan, when it acts as the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas blues! This year it’s Peter Pan, so I look forward to booing Captain Hook.

If you could do someone else’s job at the Hippodrome for a day, what role would you choose?

I would probably choose a role in the Technical department, helping out backstage. I’d love to see a show from that perspective.

FUN FACT! I have a second job as a registrar, conducting and registering weddings!

So if the Hippodrome ever decided to renew their wedding venue licence, I could play two roles at the theatre!

ON THE SCENE Fiona Allan, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Birmingham Hippodrome talks us through her highlights of the past months.

Almost invariably, when I speak at school or college events about how fantastic it is to work in the cultural sector, I get asked what I actually DO. And sometimes it’s quite hard to explain! So for your benefit, in the past couple of months here are the top 10 things I’ve been up to: 1. Being on the Hippodrome’s float for Birmingham’s Pride parade with some of the cast of Kinky Boots. This was the first time the Hippodrome has had a float in the parade and we certainly did it with flair.

3. Attending UK Theatre’s revamped Theatre and Touring Symposium in London, where we got into big debates between venues and producers about how to keep costs reasonable.

4. At press night, sharing a podium with a Matilda made of Lego, who upstaged me no end, and having the Royal Shakespeare Company here for a joint press night to kick off our blockbuster summer show.

6. Seeing a host of productions - from BRB’s terrific recent triple bill, through to seeing Carrie Hope Fletcher star in Heathers the Musical.

7. Meeting some of the Channel 4 Execs and flying the #WMGeneration flag as part of the region’s efforts to entice them to relocate here. Fingers crossed.

8. Hosting lots of events around productions here; lunches, receptions, launches - we are lucky to have some wonderful supporters and I always enjoy meeting you and sharing our development plans.

9. Announcing our first four Associate Companies - Rosie Kay & Sonia Sabri Dance Companies, Motionhouse and ZooNation. Watch this space for more…

2. Meeting Joey, the equine hero of War Horse, at our recent Season Taster evening, which I hosted alongside Heart FM’s Ed James. Learning about how they bring the horse to life through careful movement and sound was incredibly interesting.

5. Meeting our new Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Michael Ellis MP, who is a huge supporter of making sure that culture is a central part of our schooling.

10. And recently, doing a LOT of planning for our 120th birthday celebrations in 2019. Hard to believe there has been a theatre operating on this site since 1899.

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OFF STAGE A taste of what’s to come We opened up our doors for an exciting evening of sneak peeks and extra special guests (including an equine four-legged friend).

Our yearly Season 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 and Q&As with the teams from Tall Stories’ Emily Brown and The Thing, Rosie Kay Dance Company and National Theatre’s War Horse. On arrival, guests were treated to a special bowl food tasting, specially prepared by our in-house catering team.

Want to get access to future events like this? Then join as a Friends or Patrons member today.

Visit birminghamhippodrome.com/ memberships

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Raise a glass to our Festival of Champagne We recently celebrated all things fizz with our Festival of Champagne, which included a Champagne tasting dinner sponsored by Brewin Dolphin and a picturesque Champagne Summer Garden.

Teaming up with Laurent-Perrier, we offered a series of memorable evenings with a little added sparkle.

First up, the tasting dinner in our award winning Circle Restaurant, which was transformed to provide a dining experience with a difference.

Guests were treated to a delicious five-course pairing menu specially created by our head chef, Melissa Menns. Then, we invited you to bask in our Champagne Summer Garden in our atrium ahead of each performance of BRB’s enchanting production of Romeo & Juliet.

Join us next time, Champagne Tasting Dinner, Thu 8 Nov, ÂŁ95pp Call Charlie on 0121 689 3085 or events@birminghamhippodrome. com

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OFF STAGE The first of many ‘Creative Conversations’ at Birmingham Hippodrome We recently started a new series of Creative Conversations at Birmingham Hippodrome to provide a new stimulating lunchtime event for the city.

The idea is to contribute more actively to the wider regional debate about the social and economic contribution made by the creative industries (and performing arts in particular).

Following a light lunch for supporters and guests, BBC broadcaster Mishal Husain interviewed The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Executive Director Catherine Mallyon covering a range of important issues: funding challenges, artistic relevance, audience diversity, gender pay gap, #MeToo, investment in schools and much more.

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Brum gets Kinky!

Stepping out in the city, ahead of a UK tour, members of the Kinky Boots cast joined our team aboard our float as participants of this year’s #BeYou Birmingham Pride Parade.

The team set off from Victoria Square complete with booted-beauties, scarlet accessories and sassy show soundtrack, followed by a live performance of ‘Land of Lola’ by Lola and her Angels in the Cabaret Marquee.

The visit, which was made possible by Birmingham Hippodrome Projects in partnership with Jamie Wilson Productions, marks Kinky Boots’ first Pride performance outside of London and the Hippodrome’s first large-scale collaboration with Birmingham Pride in its 46 year history.

To book for our Kinky-est Gala of the year call Charlie on 0121 689 3085. A night of flamboyant hospitality alongside a performance of Kinky Boots and a FAB-U-LOUS after party.

From Centre Stage to Centre Court!

Our fabulous Leading Ladies networking events have been a grand slam both on and off the stage. We had an ace night at The Band, sponsored by Primera Air, complete with an exclusive Q&A with a star of the show Harry Fabulous!

After a fun-filled evening at The Band, our Leading Ladies were treated to a day of world-class tennis and first-class hospitality on Ladies Day at the Birmingham Classic. With our new Hippodrome binoculars in hand, our supporters had a vision from Centre Stage to Centre Court, raising over £3,000 for Hippodrome Projects!

Game point!

21

COMPETITION!

fiveminute call

DID YOU SPOT? Summer in Southside made a massive return to the streets surrounding our theatre in July.

The two-day free family festival was a huge hit with the community, but perhaps the crowd favourite at the festival was the monumental People’s Tower.

From the creative mind of Olivier Grossetête, he, his team and the people of Birmingham helped bring his vision to life using cardboard boxes to construct a Chinese Arch on the Saturday.

The tower was then pulled down by festival-goers squashed and recycled on the Sunday. Check out the video on our YouTube channel Birmingham Hippodrome.

TICKETS AND SUITE STAY Win a two night Suite stay with breakfast at Clayton Hotel and tickets to see War Horse.

We orchestrate loads of pop-up performances around the city centre. If you spot our next one tag us in your pictures using @Brumhippodrome. Keep your eyes peeled…

Do you have what it takes to go The Full Monty?

From the bare-breasted beauties of the ‘Folies Bergères’ to the not-so-hidden charms of The Chippendales, when it comes to nudity, Birmingham Hippodrome has never been shy of baring all (in the name of entertainment of course…) In countdown to the return of the British comedy classic, The Full Monty from Mon 5 - Sat 10 Nov, we uncover the ‘naked truth’ behind 120 years of curtain-raising performances on our stages…

1) Which famous French revue - famed the world over for its extravagant sets, lavish costumes and tasteful ‘nudes’ inspired countless imitations on the Hippodrome stage during the early half of the 20th century?

A) The Folies-Bergeres B) Ziegfield Follies C) Folies-Parisian 2) ‘If it moves, it’s rude’....said which government official in response to Laura Henderson, proprietor of The Windmill Theatre; the first venue of its kind to present near-naked girls on the UK stage and whose successor paid a visit to Birmingham in 1949 to ensure that the theatre’s Parisian review was ‘keeping within the bounds of good taste’?

22

Which historical event is the National Theatre’s award-winning production War Horse set in?

A) World War 1 B) World War 2 C) The American Civil War

A) The Lord Chamberlain B) The Prime Minister C) Minister of Culture 3) Which anti-establishment musical famous for its iconic ‘nude’ scene - first burst onto the Birmingham Hippodrome stage in 1968 following the abolition of censorship laws in 1968?

A) Rent B) Hair C) Chess 4) Which popular TV soap saw Essex heartthrob and star of The Full Monty first rise to fame in the role of Luke Morgan?

A) Coronation Street B) Hollyoaks C) Eastenders 5) Which much-loved English actress and broadcaster starred in BOTH the 2010 UK touring production of Calendar Girls at Birmingham Hippodrome and the theatre’s magical 2011/12 pantomime Cinderella alongside Brian Conley as the loveable Buttons?

A) Leslie Joseph B) Lynda Bellingham C) Celia Imrie

Simply email your answer to press@birminghamhippodrome.com by 10th October 2018.

Answers:1) The Folies-Bergeres • 2) The Lord Chamberlain • 3) Hair • 4) Hollyoaks • 5) Lynda Bellingham

QUIZ

To enter answer the question:

Clayton Hotel suite

Clayton Hotel

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And finally a big round of applause to...

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