When I joined the Hippodrome in April 2022, it was clear that I’d joined a wonderful organisation, in an extraordinary city, at special time.

In a year like no other, the spotlight shone on Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games, and it certainly put on a show. The rich and diverse cultural landscape of the city was at the heart of the celebrations, and the Hippodrome proudly played its part in one the region’s biggest ever celebrations of creativity.

Parks across the West Midlands played host to our co-production of the joyous new musical To The Streets! and The Patrick Studio was transformed with the groundbreaking immersive experience Waswasa: Whispers in Prayer. On our main stage we opened our collaboration on Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby – a landmark creative partnership between Steven Knight and Rambert. Tens of thousands flocked to these world premieres, and the latter was seen by over a billion people around the world as part of the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

For the Hippodrome, like all theatres across the country, it was also a year of rebuilding. It was our first year post-pandemic restrictions, and whilst the theatre had weathered the storm, the impact had been felt.

However, a fantastic and varied programme saw audiences return in their numbers. We had a record-breaking on sale, witnessed sell-out runs of Mamma Mia, Les Miserables and SIX the Musical, and over 100,000 people came for another sensational panto. Our co-production of The Color Purple toured across England and Wales to critical acclaim. Our Learning and Participation programme grew, now working with 44 schools, 80% of which are in areas of low engagement. And it was the first full year of our Creatives Card membership, with over 400 West Midlands artists making the Hippodrome their home.

The last 12 months have been amongst the most creatively fulfilling and exciting of my life, and I feel incredibly lucky to live and work in Birmingham. But (to quote one of the region’s better known writers) “what is the city but the people”?

Firstly, I would like to thank our staff, volunteers and Trustees who all play a vital role in the work we do, with endless positivity and dedication. Then, as importantly, thank you to you; our audiences and supporters. I hope you enjoy looking back at some of the highlights from the last year and I look forward to you joining us on the next part of our journey.

Next year, we celebrate 125 years of this wonderful theatre, which will mark a new chapter for Birmingham Hippodrome. With our rich history, bold vision and incredible teams, we believe this could be our most exciting era yet.