Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre

Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre
Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TB Street map

Buy Tickets: 0844 847 1722 - or use the online links below

Spring Summer 2008 at The Birmingham Hippodrome:

Harder They Come
Friday 11 to Sunday 13 April 2008

The Wedding Singer
Monday 14 to Saturday 19 April 2008
The hit movie live on stage prior to London. Remember when hair was big, greed was good and shoulder pads were in? It’s the 80s and wannabe rock star Robbie Hart is everyone’s favourite wedding singer. He’s the life and soul of the party until he gets jilted at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own, until he meets Julia, a sweet waitress. The only trouble is, she’s about to be married. Can Robbie pull off the performance of the decade and win the girl of his dreams? The Wedding Singer, based on the hit movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, comes to The Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre for one week this Spring. Recommended for ages 12 plus.

French & Saunders
Monday 21 to Saturday 26 April 2008

Cloudgate Theatre of Taiwan
Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 April 2008
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan is renowned for delivering spellbinding, spiritual performances. Here the company perform the breathtakingly beautiful Moon Water, in which the whole stage is flooded with water and reflections, creating a stunning on-stage work of art. Choreographer Lin Hwai-min has integrated meditation, tai-chi, martial arts and Chinese opera movement with modern dance and ballet, to develop a truly unique dance style – varying from the weighty stillness of a stone sculpture, to floating lyricism, to fierce martial art attack. Moon Water is set to movements from Bach's Suites for Solo Cello, performed live by Mischa Maiskyused. Mirrors appear onstsage, reflecting the image of the moving dancers and the patterns of the white Chinese brush strokes of the set. Water then flows onto the stage, until the floor itself becomes a huge mirror reflecting dancing bodies. Presented as part of thr International Dance Festival Birmingham.

Havana Rakatan
Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 May 2008
From the sexy, spontaneous rumba to the slick footwork of the cha-cha-cha, this dance spectacular is guaranteed to get heads nodding and feet tapping! Featuring one of Cuba’s most popular Son bands live on stage, Havana Rakatan is a captivating and colourful journey through the dance and music of a truly unique country.

Doctor Dolittle
Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 May 2008
Brought to magical life by this country’s brightest musical entertainer, the legendary Tommy Steele stars alongside a huge company of singers, dancers, and puppeteers in this hit musical which visits The Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham for two weeks this May. Immortalised in the hugely popular film, Doctor Dolittle is a world-renowned veterinarian who speaks a wide array of animal languages. He sets off from his home in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, England, in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail. Along the way, he and his friends meet such exotic creatures as the Pushme-Pullyu and the Giant Moon Moth. The Oscar Award-winning score includes the hits If I Could Talk To The Animals; I've Never Seen Anything Like It; and My Friend The Doctor. With lavish settings and spectacular effects Doctor Dolittle is the perfect treat for all the family.

The Kirov Ballet - Jewels
Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May 2008
The Kirov Ballet from the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg makes its debut at Birmingham Hippodrome in 2008. The 200-year-old Russian company, under the Artistic Direction of Valery Gergiev and Ballet Director Makhar Vaziev, will perform a one week season which starts with George Balanchine's diverse three-act ballet Jewels, a succession of classical divertissements, is inspired by three precious stones: elegant and romantic for Emeralds (set to music by Fauré), hot and jazzy for Rubies (Stravinsky) and glittering and aristocratic for Diamonds (Tchaikovsky).

The Kirov Ballet - Gala
Thursday 22 May 2008
The Kirov Ballet's debut season at The Hippodrome in Birmingham continues with The Gala Programme, a box of delights, includes Fokine’s romantic one-act ballet Chopiniana (or Les Sylphides) and the sublime Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadère. A dazzling sequence of balletic set pieces from Fokine’s dreamy Le Spectre de la Rose completes this splendid feast.

The Kirov Ballet - Don Quixote
Friday 23 and Saturday 24 May 2008
The Kirov Ballet's debut season at The Hippodrome in Birmingham concludes with Marius Petipa's Don Quixote, one of the sunniest ballet’s in the Kirov’s rich classical repertoire, tells of the rocky romance between Kitri, the playful daughter of a social-climbing innkeeper, and her lover Basilio, a barber who is handsome – but broke. This colourful production bristles with authentic Spanish dances, bullfighters and gypsies – all portrayed with an exquisite blend of wit and bravura.

Disney's High School Musical
Monday 26 May to Saturday 7 June 2008
Get ready for “the start of something new!” The stage production based on the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical is coming to The Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre this Summer as part of a new major UK tour. Watch the twists and turns of the lovable schoolmates – Troy, super-popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class – as they surf the tricky tides of peer pressure and canteen cliques to follow their dreams and score the leads in the big school show, and a place in each others hearts. Disney's High School Musical on stage follows the much-loved story of the movie, featuring all your favourite characters and songs, together with two brand new numbers performed by the country’s hottest dancers and an electrifying live band. So “get'cha head in the game!” and go totally wild for Disney’s High School Musical.

Eurobeat
Monday 9 to Saturday 14 June 2008
Love it or loathe it, the Eurovision Song Contest makes for legendary TV! Experience some of the thrills, the tension, and the heady 'euro-phoria' in this interactive new musical extravaganza on stage at The Hippodrome in Birmingham. This award-winning musical, starring Les Dennis and Sally Lindsay is a show-biz send-up like no other. Having taken Edinburgh Fringe and Australia by storm, Eurobeat is only a handful of sequins away from whipping up a frenzy in the West End. As Terry Wogan himself puts you in the mood with a pre-recorded welcome, join the cheering, flag-waving, clapper-clacking crowds as ten countries compete live on stage for the golden trophy in a glittering glamour-fest of satin and shiny white teeth. Text in your vote on your mobile phone and decide on a new winner every night!

Aida - Welsh National Opera
Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 June 2008

An Evening of Rossini - Welsh National Opera
Wednesday 18 June 2008

Alexander Nevsky/Carbon 12-A Choral Symphony - Welsh National Opera
Thursday 19 June 2008

Hansel and Gretel - Welsh National Opera
Friday 20 June 2008

Giselle - Birmingham Royal Ballet
Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 June 2008
Still the epitome of 19th-century romanticism, Giselle broke new ground when it was first conceived by the poet Théophile Gautier. This surreal ballet fused the popular appeal of historical local colour, with shadowy spirits – to great tragic and dramatic effect. Marius Petipa, Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, were the choreographic stars of their time, and David Bintley and Galina Samsova's 1999 production for BRB preserves the best of their work.

Stravinsky: the Real Deal - Birmingham Royal Ballet
Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 July 2008
BRB continues to celebrate Igor Stravinsky's unique musical contribution to the world of ballet with three vividly contrasting works, including the long-awaited revival of two works the Company hasn't performed since its early years in Birmingham, and the world premiere of a new ballet by Michael Corder. Card Game, music by Igor Stravinsky, choregraphy by John Cranko; Le Baiser de la fée, music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by Michael Corder; and Petrushka, music by Igor Stravinsky, choreography by Mikhail Fokine.

Mary Poppins
Thursday 10 July to Saturday 27 September 2008
Following a triumphant run in London's West End, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular hit musical Mary Poppins visits The Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham as part of a major UK tour. Brilliantly adapted from the beloved stories of P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, this unforgettable production includes the best-loved songs from the film, including Chim Chim Cher-ee; A Spoonful of Sugar; and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Don't miss your chance to experience this "soar-away hit, full of wonder and magic" (The Sunday Express).

Chasing Fate
Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October 2008

Blood Brothers
Monday 20 October to Saturday 1 November 2008
Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers returns to The Birmingham Hippodrome for a two week season this October. Blood Brothers is a tale of twins, separated at birth, who grow up as friends one rich, one poor: without knowing their family background. Told with gentleness, darkness and joy it is at one time hilarious at the next heartbreaking. Few musicals have received such acclaim: scooping four awards for Best Musical and enjoying standing ovations at almost every performance over the past 12 years. Although its greatest strength is its Englishness it was nominated for 7 Tony awards. A remarkable adult cast play the group of children that we watch grow, learn, love and fight.

Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands
Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 November 2008
Matthew Bourne's delightful adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture is a treat for all the family. Featuring the beautiful and unmistakable soundtrack by Danny Elfman, this touching and witty gothic fairytale tells the story of a boy created by a lonely inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands, Edward struggles to find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well-meaning community struggle to see past his strange appearance to the innocence and gentleness within. Following sell-out performances in New York, LA, San Francisco, Syndey, Melbourne and Paris since its premiere in March 2006, Matthew Bourne's Edward Scissorhands returns to the Hippodrome Birmingham Theatre by popular demand!

Otello - Welsh National Opera
Tuesday 18 and Friday 21 November 2008
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

Jenufa - Welsh National Opera
Wednesday 19 November 2008
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

Barber of Seville - Welsh National Opera
Thursday 20 and Saturday 22 November 2008
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

Robin Hood
Friday 19 December 2008 to Sunday 1 February 2009
Following the record-breaking success of Aladdin last Christmas, John Barrowman is returning to the Hippodrome in Birmingham in a brand new production of Robin Hood - The Pantomime Adventure. John Barrowman said: "I had a great time at Birmingham Hippodrome over Christmas and the new year. Everyone made me and the whole cast feel so welcome. I'm really looking forward to coming back. Robin Hood – The Pantomime Adventure is going to be a spectacular production, full of surprises and lots of sparkle. Don't miss it!" Be sure to book now for the whole family.

The Marriage of Figaro - Welsh National Opera
Tuesday 24 and Friday 27 March 2009
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

Salome - Welsh National Opera
Wednesday 25 March 2009
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

The Elixir of Love - Welsh National Opera
Thursday 26 and Saturday 28 March 2009
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

Mitridate re di Ponto - Welsh National Opera
Wednesday 27 May 2009
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

La Boheme - Welsh National Opera
Thursday 28 and Saturday 30 May 2009
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008

The Queen of Spades - Welsh National Opera
Friday 29 May 2009
On sale from Monday 2 June 2008