In celebration of his 70th birthday this week (Sun 7 Jun), we’re delighted to shine the spotlight on Charles Holloway OBE, cherished supporter of New Musical Theatre at Birmingham Hippodrome.

A prominent arts philanthropist with a passion for creative organisations across the UK, Charles is the Founding Supporter of our New Musical Theatre department. Launched in 2023, this is the UK’s first in-house department dedicated to commissioning and producing exciting, era-defining new musicals.

From his early beginnings as a Stage Manager, and then as a Front of House Manager, Charles has always been excited about projects that engage young people and families.

Thanks to Charles’ generous support, including a 3-year grant from the Charles Michael Holloway Charitable Trust, the department hit the ground running with the launch of My First Musical. Designed as an introduction to musical theatre for children aged 3+, this series debuted with critically acclaimed The Jingleclaw in December 2024. This was followed by last year’s 5-star smash-hit No Such Thing As Wolves.

Reflecting on the success of No Such Thing As Wolves, Charles spoke of his joy at the show’s impact:

“It’s clear that early theatre experiences for young children and their families are hugely popular and impactful. Knowing that I am helping to bring new musical theatre work to life at Birmingham Hippodrome is an enormous pleasure.”

My First Musical continues for 2026 with One Tiny Penguin. Once again, Charles has generously agreed to be the Principal Supporter of this heart-warming adventure that follows penguin Lumi on his quest to light up the Northern Lights.

At the heart of Charles’ philanthropy is a zeal for new writing and a commitment to championing the storytellers of tomorrow:

“It’s very encouraging to see an organisation like Birmingham Hippodrome commit to making new work with national and regional partners, creating new opportunities, especially for writers and creatives.”

In this spirit, the New Musical Theatre team focuses on nurturing new musical theatre talent. The recent success of dazzling new pop musical Hot Mess is testament to their ambition and dedication. Hot Mess was written by rising stars Jack Godfrey (Lyrics and Music) and Ellie Coote (Lyrics and Book) and tells the story of the passionate but troubled relationship between Earth and Humanity, personified as two actors in a romcom.

Following workshop performances at Birmingham Hippodrome in February 2024, Hot Mess embarked on an acclaimed world premiere run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The production was a triumph, selling 7,810 seats and leading to 16,000 streams of its cast album on Spotify.

This production was also supported by Charles, who attended the Edinburgh run dressed in show merch. Hot Mess is now heading for London to play a transfer season at The Other Palace.

Keen to bring a sense of fun and community-building to his role, Charles organises ‘Holloway Hosts,’ where he meets with the creative teams of each show he supports over a relaxed, family-style lunch or supper.

Charles was awarded an OBE in October 2024 for services to charitable fundraising for the arts.

We send our heartfelt thanks and birthday wishes to Charles and hope he enjoys his day of celebrations. We recognise all the supporters who make our wider work as an arts charity possible at Birmingham Hippodrome. Their support helps us to craft exceptional creative experiences and opportunities for Birmingham and the region’s audiences.

To find out how you can help support this exciting work, please call Judith Greenburgh, Head of Fundraising and Development on 0121 689 3082 / 07702 713773 or send an email to fundraising@birminghamhippodrome.com