In countdown to this year’s Birmingham Pride, we’re putting the history of LGBTQ theatre under the spotlight as we look back over 120 years of diversity on our stages….

Birmingham Hippodrome has a long and proud tradition of championing diversity and celebrating difference on its stages.

From early LGBTQ pioneers like Ella Shields, Mae West and Fred Barnes right through to modern-day icons Jinkx Monsoon, John Partridge and many others, our theatre has continued to embrace change over the decades with the expansion and diversification of its programming, shaping how we see the world in the process!

Early Pioneers…

Fred Barnes

Birmingham-born music hall performer Fred Barnes first appeared at the Hippodrome in 1913 after catching the theatre bug as a 10-year old visiting pantomime! He later shot to fame with his innuendo-filled song ‘The Black Sheep of the Family’…

According to Philip Hensher of The Telegraph; “Years after his death, homosexuals were said to start a pick-up with ‘Do you know Fred Barnes?’ It must be a compliment that Fred was still famous in 2008!”

Mae West

In 1927 Mae West wrote a play called “Drag” which was swiftly banned. The play, subtitled “A Homosexual Comedy in Three Acts” and written under the pseudonym Jane Mast, was about a young society man, Rolly Kingsbury, who prefers feminine young men and presented a sympathetic view of homosexuality.

Male Impersonators…

Male impersonators like Ella Shields and Hetty King were a mainstay of popular Music Hall during the early part of the 20th Century.

According to Hippodrome Heritage volunteer Ivan Heard ‘Hetty King played the Hippodrome seven times between 1904 and 1959 variously as “sailor, soldier and swell”. She was even credited with advising the popular singer Frankie Vaughn on his immaculate presentation, complete with top hat and cane’.

There is nothing like a Dame….

From the barely disguised masculinity of Malcolm Scott – “the woman who knows” – to the unrivalled glamour of Danny La Rue, there is quite simply nothing like a dame and the Hippodrome has played host to some of the very best in the business across its proud 120 year history.

Memorable male-impersonators across the years include ‘Old Mother Riley’ (a.k.a Arthur Lucan) and his daughter Kitty (played by his wife Kitty McShane) who appeared at the Hippodrome in revue in 1926. The inimitable Danny La Rue – who was famed for making cross-dressing entertaining for the whole family, Brummie legend Don McLean, Dame Edna Everage and – more recently in 2010 – Hippodrome favourite Brian Conley as the larger-than-life Edna Turnblad in Hairspray!

Breaking new ground…

In Spring 2015, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio played host to a new co-production of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing, a gritty and moving account of the budding romance between East-end teenagers Jamie and Ste, who find themselves grappling with dysfunctional families, gobby neighbours and obnoxious classmates, as well as coming to terms with their feelings for each other.

The production – which went on to inspire a cult screen adaptation in 1996 – was part of a growing commitment by the Hippodrome’s then Chief Executive Stuart Griffiths to diversify the venue’s programme, branching out into new creative territory through the use of our 300 seat studio space…a legacy which continues to this day.

Queer Question Time…

We’re incredibly proud to be part of the vibrant cultural life of Birmingham’s Gay Village!

Did you know, for example, that the original Nightingale Club building was located on Thorp Street at the side of the Hippodrome Theatre between 1981 and 1994? In 1985, the ‘Club’ was treated to an unexpected visit from the entire cast of pantomime following a personal invitation to Danny La Rue from the staff!

In 2005, Birmingham Pride Community Trust (BPCT) hosted a Queer Question Time at the theatre which featured representatives from the three main political parties including MPs Claire Short and Andrew Mitchell.

I Am What I Am….

In May 2017, Birmingham Hippodrome played host to the first ever UK tour of La Cage Aux Folles starring Adrian Zmed and John Partridge.

Behind the spectacular musical numbers and sensational production values, La Cage Aux Folles tells the sensitive story of Albin who encourages us to see that “life’s not worth a damn till you can shout out I am what I am!”

Best known for his long-running role as the openly gay Christian Clarke in EastEnders, West End superstar John Partridge was every inch the diva as dazzling drag artist Albin whilst Adrian Zmed provided the perfect support as life-partner and club-owner Georges.

And of course, no staging of La Cage would be complete without a stirring performance of the anthemic ‘I Am What I Am’….perhaps one of the most triumphant and defiant celebrations of self-identity ever to hit the stage!

Jinkx MonsoonSomething to SHOUT about…

In 2017, we celebrated our first large-scale collaboration with SHOUT Festival of queer arts and culture with a sell-out performance by RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon in The Vaudevillians; a bawdy, rowdy musical comedy co-starring composer and musician Major Scales. The show marked the culmination of a three-day festival celebrating the rich and diverse LGBT cultural offer here in Brum.

And…..following the success of last year’s event, we’re delighted to announce that Jinkx is back for another year with her new show; Jinkx Monson & Major Scales: The Ginger Snapped on Sat 17 Nov; a magnificent marriage of music and mental health exploring the dark side of drag fame!

Birmingham Pride gets ‘Kinky’

The theme of this year’s Birmingham Pride festival is ‘Be You’ – so what better way to celebrate Pride’s 21st anniversary than with an exclusive live performance from the smash-hit production of Kinky Boots!

As well as being an outrageously funny and feel-good night at the theatre – Kinky Boots is all about acceptance, community spirit and having the courage to take pride in who you really are. As one character famously says…”You can change the world when you change your mind”

Stepping out in the city, ahead of a UK tour, members of the Kinky Boots cast will join representatives from the Birmingham Hippodrome team aboard our themed float complete with booted-beauties, scarlet accessories and sassy show soundtrack.

This will be followed by a live performance of ‘Land of Lola’ by Lola and her Angels taking place at 3.15pm in the Cabaret Marquee of the Pride festival.

We can’t wait to bring a touch of ‘Kinky Boots’ warmth (and sparkle!) to one of the UKs biggest Pride celebrations!

So come on Birmingham….embrace your inner Lola, roll out the red and get ‘Kinky’ with us this weekend. 

A big thank you to Ivan Heard and Sophie Lewis (Hippodrome Heritage Volunteers) for helping to make this article possible through their research.

Visit our Hippodrome Heritage website to discover more about the rich history of Birmingham Hippodrome or why not book yourself onto one of our Behind-the-scenes tours?