In its 120th year, Birmingham Hippodrome have announced another season of world class performance with unforgettable entertainment both on and off the stage.

Tickets are on sale to Friends and Patron scheme members from 11am today – general on sale begins Mon 29 Apr, 11am. For more information on becoming a Friend click here.

For the first time in the theatre’s history, the Hippodrome will present a brand-new production of West Side Story (29-31 Aug) featuring a cast of local young talent in a large-scale youth community production. In another first, Birmingham Hippodrome will also present its first large scale co-production with Curve Leicester, The Color Purple (16-20 Jul). The theatre will also co-produce Message In A Bottle (7-11 Apr 2020) with Sadler’s Wells and The Lowry. This exciting new production is choreographed by Kate Prince and set to the iconic hits of Sting.

The festivities will be by no means limited to the stage, with an exciting festival programme and a very special birthday event. For the fourth year, B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival (3-12 May) will see the Hippodrome and surrounding areas filled with pop-up performances, striking graffiti and thrilling dance battles whilst Summer in Southside (13 & 14 Jul) will transport families to another world. Visitors can expect exciting space themed acts include a 7 metre model of the moon and an aerial performance featuring an astronaut suspended 20 feet in the air. The Hippodrome will also celebrate its 120th year with a special circus themed birthday party and open day (26 Oct), kicking off a week of half term activities which highlight the theatre’s origins as a circus and variety hall.

This September, The Broadway and West End production of Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s smash-hit musical On Your Feet! (3-7 Sep) will come to Birmingham Hippodrome as part of its first-ever UK tour featuring an exhilarating musical score including iconic pops songs such as Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Conga and 1-2-3. Expect plenty more dance-floor fillers and copious amounts of glitter as the big pink bus rolls on to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for the very first time with Priscilla Queen of the Desert ‎(13-18 Apr 2020) starring Strictly winner, Joe McFadden and co-produced by Jason Donovan.

The smash-hits continue with both We Will Rock You (20 Apr-2 May) and Mamma Mia! (12-30 May) returning to the Hippodrome and, following on from its current sold-out run, Les Misérables (30 Jun-18 Jul 2020) announces an encore season in Spring 2020.

There’s plenty of fun for all of the family as the classic children’s book The Gruffalo (25 & 26 Jun) stomps on to the main stage packed full of fantastical creatures and lots of monstrous fun. Entertainment to delight the entire family continues as Circus 1903 (25 Oct – 2 Nov) brings all the thrills and daredevil entertainment of a turn-of-the-century circus to Birmingham this October half-term. Celebrating the Hippodrome’s roots as a circus, audiences can expect jaw dropping acts from across the globe and magnificent elephants from the puppeteers behind War Horse.

Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning hit, The Red Shoes (11-15 Feb 2020) will pirouette back on to the stage following two sold-out seasons back in 2016. As part of Birmingham Hippodrome’s ongoing involvement with Dance Consortium, acclaimed South African choreographer, Dada Masilo will bring her contemporary interpretation of Giselle to the main stage (15-16 Oct).

Some of the biggest names in comedy step into the spotlight this celebratory season including, Ben Elton (14 Nov), Rob Beckett (6 & 7 Feb 2020) and Romesh Ranganathan (3 & 4 May 2020).

Finally, the Patrick Studio has announced another exciting season of theatre in an up-close setting featuring Bravo 22 Company Birmingham (13-15 Jun), Mawaan Rizwan’s Juice (12 Sep), Rosie Kay’s Fantasia (25 & 26 Sep) Eye of the Storm (8 & 9 Oct) by Theatr na nÓg and Anjali Dance Company’s Genius (19 & 20 Nov).

Fiona Allan, Artistic Director and Chief Executive at Birmingham Hippodrome said:

“As our social and political landscape often seems more focussed on division rather than unity, I take particular solace in the power that arts and culture have to bring people together, whether as an audience member or participant.

“Here at Birmingham Hippodrome, we pride ourselves on creating experiences that unite our region’s communities, and in recent years have grown the number of free festivals that we produce for everyone to enjoy such as the upcoming B-SIDE Hip-Hop festival and the return of our popular Summer in Southside. 

“For the first time in our history we ourselves are making new shows, drawing on some amazing new talent.  The professional production of The Color Purple in July will be followed by a large scale community production of West Side Story in August.  For the latter we auditioned over 1000 local young people to find our dream cast, who are set for the experience of a lifetime. I’m sure audiences will agree.

“Our 120th birthday celebrations continue throughout the year with many opportunities to be involved: a particular highlight being our circus themed half-term birthday party and open day on 26 October.

“With a huge variety of headlining entertainment on the main stage and in the Patrick Studio, I encourage our loyal audiences to do something different and try something new.  Introduce a friend and share some timeless stories, and together we might just cross some of those divides.”

Tickets are on sale to Friends and Patron scheme members from 11am today – general on sale begins Mon 29 Apr, 11am. For more information on becoming a Friend click here.