Hamilton and Hammond heading for the Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced that internationally acclaimed musical Hamilton will play a 10-week season at the venue next summer.

The Olivier, Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prizewinning show will visit the Hippodrome from Tuesday 25 June to Saturday 31 August 2024.

The hit production, which blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway to tell the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, is widely considered to be one of the greatest musicals of

Fun in the forest...

Popular outdoor-concert series Forest Live makes a welcome return to Staffordshire’s Cannock Chase Forest in June.

Presented by Forestry England, the series aims to introduce forests ‘to new audiences in unique, natural woodland arenas around the country’. More than two million people have attended a Forest Live gig since the series began 22 years ago.

This year’s Cannock Chase Forest gigs are as follows: Madness + special guest Hollie Cook and support The Hawkmen, Thursday 8 June; Paul Weller with special guests Far From Saints and guest support Seb Lowe, Friday 9 June; Tom Grennan + guests, Saturday 10 June; Jack Savoretti plus special guest Natalie Imbruglia, Sunday 11 June.

For further information and to book tickets, visit forestryengland.uk/music

all time...

In other Hippodrome news, the theatre has also revealed that The Great British Bake Off’s new Birmingham-born presenter, Alison Hammond, will star in its 2023/24 pantomime production of Jack And The Beanstalk.

The show will run from Saturday 16 December to Sunday 28 January.

For more information and to book tickets, visit birminghamhippodrome.com

BBC favourites returning to the NEC this summer

Two hugely popular shows are returning to Birmingham’s NEC next month.

The summer edition of the BBC Good Food Show will take place alongside BBC Gardeners’ World Live from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 June. A ticket for either show provides access to the other... For further details, visit bbcgoodfoodshow.com and bbcgardenersworldlive.com

New festival continues Commonwealth legacy

Birmingham City Council has unveiled plans for a 10-day summertime festival of free events.

Birmingham Festival 23 (28 July - 6 August) will mark the one-year anniversary of the city hosting the Commonwealth Games.

Win tickets in B:Music’s B:Lucky lottery

A Birmingham charity is this month providing music lovers with the chance to win three pairs of tickets to gigs of their choosing at the city’s Town Hall and Symphony Hall.

B:Music’s B:Lucky Lottery offer also includes a VIP backstage tour of one or other of the venues and a 12-month Silver Patron membership deal worth £250.

The lottery costs £5 to enter and closes at midday on Saturday 13 May. A winner will then be chosen at random.

Proceeds from the lottery will go toward supporting B:Music’s community projects, programme of free gigs and charitable work with young musicians.

To find out more about the lottery and enter, visit the charity’s website at: bmusic.co.uk

Tune in for Stranger Sings at Wolverhampton Grand

Smash-hit parody musical Stranger Sings is visiting the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre early next year.

The award-winning sci-fi spoof - described by its publicity as ‘a wild, irreverent twist on

A summer of outdoor shows at the castle

Five family-friendly shows will this summer be performed under the stars in the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle.

Outdoor productions of Robin Hood, Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night, The Wizard Of Oz and Wind In The Willows will be presented at the venue on dates between Thursday 27 July and Thursday 10 August.

To find out more about the shows and the companies presenting them - and to book tickets - visit theatresevern.co.uk

More acts announced for Shrewsbury Comedy Fest

Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival has announced yet more acts for its flagship Gala Show at Theatre Severn this summer. Taking place on Sunday 16 July, the line-up now features Tom Wrigglesworth, Jessica Fostekew, Adam Rowe, Clinton Baptiste and Paul Sinha. For more information and to book tickets, visit theatresevern.co.uk popular Netflix series Stranger Things’stops off at the venue from Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 January. To find out more and book tickets, visit grandtheatre.co.uk

Sky and Utilita Arena set to roll out new VIP lounge

Sky will next month launch a new VIP lounge experience at Utilita Arena Birmingham (on Thursday 8 June). The exclusive lounge boasts a number of benefits, including dedicated entrances and customer check-in, plus a private area to relax and dine in, as well as the VIP Star Bar. Sky customers can sign up to visit the brand-new lounge via the MySky app on a first-come first-served basis.

To find out more, visit sky.com/pages/vip

Restoration works begin at Lichfield Cathedral

Works to restore the badly damaged central spire at Lichfield Cathedral have begun, thanks to money received from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The 12-month project, costing a total of almost £1million, aims to ‘restore the structure, reopen the space to visitors, and explore what the iconic landmark means to its local residents’.