Circus 120 – Birthday Open Day – Birmingham Hippodrome

This is a past event and is currently no longer running.

Family & Pantomime

Circus 120 - Birthday Open Day

FREE

Celebrating our circus origins, we held a spectacular showcase to mark our 120th birthday!

A whole day of circus-inspired antics to celebrate the Hippodrome’s birthday marking 120 years since it started life as a circus in 1899.

See below for a full list of performers and acts who took part….

Tower of Varieties

As part of the celebrations to mark Birmingham Hippodrome’s 120th birthday, we've commissioned a new site-specific sculpture by Rachael Champion inspired by Birmingham.

On display from Fri 25 Oct...

Symoné

One of the UK's most popular cabaret performers, Symoné will be dazzling us with her hula hooping and skating skills!

1.30pm, 2.45pm, 6.30pm & 7.10pm, Hippodrome Square & Stalls Foyer (Level 1), FREE ...

Traditional skills & stilts

Rogue Play will be presenting a variety of acrobatic tricks and stilts inside and outside the building.

1.45 - 2.45pm & 6.15 - 7.15pm, Inside & outside main entrance, FREE...

La Luna

Be dazzled by this unique act, blending beautiful aerial and hoop performances inspired by the wistful charm of the travelling circus.

1.45pm, 2.15pm, 6.30pm & 7pm, Main Entrance Foyer, FREE ...

Artist Talk with Rachael Champion

The winner of the Hippodrome 120 Sculpture Commission will be discussing her striking new site-specific work 'Tower of Varieties' celebrating the theatre's 120th birthday and reflecting
Birmingham's architecture and personality.

1.45 - 2.30pm, Lloyds Suite, FREE, Drop in - no need to book...

Hippodrome Education Network

Schools from our Hippodrome Education Network will be showcasing the circus performances they've been working on this term.

1.55pm, Hippodrome Square, FREE...

Clockwork Ballerina

Wind up our beautiful ballerina to see her burst into pirouettes and arabesques en pointe.

1.45 - 2.30pm & 6.15 - 7pm, Roaming throughout the building, FREE...

Acro Chaps

Traditional strongmen and firm believers that there is nothing in life that cannot be improved by the application of a good moustache, these intrepid fellows set out to entertain, dazzle and amaze.

2 - 2.45pm & 6.30 - 7.15pm, Roaming throughout the building, FREE...

Chango Fuego

Juan Carlos is a Spanish fire performer and street entertainer wowing audiences across the UK and Europe.

2.15 - 2.45pm & 6.45 - 7.15pm, Hippodrome Square, FREE...

Contortion Girl

Hannah Finn is a world class performer based between Bristol, London and Los Angeles, and known for her innovative and jaw-dropping one of a kind tricks.

2.15pm, 2.30pm, 6.30pm & 7pm, Coffee Bar (Level 2), FREE
...

Circus Skills with Rogue Play - Drop-in Workshop

Learn some simple circus skills with Birmingham's very own circus and physical theatre company.

2.15 - 2.45pm, Stalls Foyer (Level 1), FREE, Drop in - no need to book...

Circus 1903

The centrepiece of the day's events is Circus 1903 in the Main House. Direct from a sell-out run at London’s Southbank Centre, this thrilling production recreates all the thrills of a turn-of-the-century circus.

3pm & 7.30pm, Main House, Tickets from £15.50, Book your tickets here...

Heritage Talk - Variety & Vaudeville

An introduction to the acts chosen to appear on our giant playbill. Find out about some of the most weird and wonderful including Claire Heliot and her 12 performing lions.

6.15 - 7pm, Lloyds Suite, FREE, Drop in - no need to book...

Khalgani

Bringing fierce performances filled with mystery and magic, the UK’s first tribal bellydance group perform sword dances and traditional Romani-folk style pieces.

6.45pm, Stalls Foyer (Level 1), FREE ...

Scareside

As part of your visit, don't miss Scareside outside in Hippodrome Square for spooky fairground rides and street entertainment to celebrate Halloween. Organised by Southside BID.

12 noon - 10pm, Hippodrome Square
...

Circus Adventures with Toni's Tots Drama - Workshop 1

Run away to the circus with this energetic and highly interactive drama adventure for pre-school children including movement, music, imaginative play and crafts.

10am, Patrick Studio, 1 hour workshop, Under 6s (older siblings welcome), FREE - this workshop is now FULLY BOOKED...

Circus Adventures with Toni's Tots Drama - Workshop 2

A second chance to run away to the circus with this energetic and highly interactive drama adventure for pre-school children.

11am, Patrick Studio, 1 hour workshop, Under 6s (older siblings welcome), FREE - this workshop is now FULLY BOOKED...

Circus Skills with Rogue Play - Workshop 1

Try out juggling, stilts, tight-wire and a range of balance tricks with Birmingham's very own circus and physical theatre company.

12.15pm, Patrick Studio, 1 hour workshop, 7 years +, FREE - this workshop is now FULLY BOOKED...

Circus Skills with Rogue Play - Workshop 2

A second chance to try out juggling, stilts, tight-wire and a range of balance tricks with Birmingham's very own circus and physical theatre company.

1.15pm, Patrick Studio, 1 hour workshop, 7 years +, FREE - this workshop is now FULLY BOOKED...

Circus 120 - Birthday Open Day

Celebrating our circus origins, we held a spectacular showcase to mark our 120th birthday!

Tower of Varieties

Symoné

Traditional skills & stilts

La Luna

Artist Talk with Rachael Champion

Hippodrome Education Network

Clockwork Ballerina

Acro Chaps

Chango Fuego

Contortion Girl

Circus Skills with Rogue Play - Drop-in Workshop

Circus 1903

Heritage Talk - Variety & Vaudeville

Khalgani

Scareside

Circus Adventures with Toni's Tots Drama - Workshop 1

Circus Adventures with Toni's Tots Drama - Workshop 2

Circus Skills with Rogue Play - Workshop 1

Circus Skills with Rogue Play - Workshop 2

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