Birmingham Hippodrome’s annual free festival Summer in Southside returns on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 July with seaside sights and sounds presented by local, national and international artists.

Puppets with Guts - Citizen SquidVisitors will be swept away by nautical encounters from a cod choir, a giant squid, deep-sea divers and even some eco-pirates! There is something for everyone – wooden street games to play, an invitation to dive into the mouth of an enormous whale, street acrobatics, a marching band with a difference and much, much more.

Birmingham Hippodrome’s back dock will be transformed into a beach with beautiful sculptures created by professional sand sculptors who will be running workshops throughout the weekend so visitors can develop their own sandcastle-making skills.

Sunday 24 July will also be an opportunity for visitors to take part in free Hippodrome Heritage talks and activities with the second Hippodrome Heritage Open Day. In keeping with the seaside theme the open day will focus on Birmingham Hippodrome’s connection to Blackpool from the design of the building to the early variety days. Characters from the theatre’s past will be brought to life by Highly Sprung Performance Company.

You can download the full programme of events here.