Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Supercalifragilistic smash-hit Mary Poppins flies in for the Easter Holidays

  • Currently the largest touring production in UK
  • A cast of 45, orchestra of 13 and technical team of 49
  • It takes 18 45-foot trailers to move the production from venue to venue

Multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins flies back onto the Birmingham Hippodrome stage just in time for Easter 2016, opening on Wednesday 9 March until Saturday 26 April 2016.

Mary Poppins the Musical stars Zizi Strallen (Matthew Bourne’s “The Car Man”, Cats, Rock of Ages, Dirty Dancing) as Mary Poppins. Zizi recently won a National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance (Modern) for her portrayal of Lana in The Car Man. She is joined by Australian actor Matt Lee (Miss Saigon, The Witches of Eastwich, Rent, Grease) who plays Bert. Matt, who was a judge on Australia’s popular TV show So You Think You Can Dance, first played the role when they show opened in Australia and won a prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Bert.

Mary Poppins the musical also stars Milo Twomey as George Banks, Rebecca Lock as Winifred Banks, Penelope Woodman as Miss Smythe, Wendy Ferguson as Mrs Brill, Grainne Renihan as Bird Woman, Blair Anderson as Robertson Ay, and local actress Maria Garrett from Wolverhampton as Kite Girl, with Jabari Braham from Sandwell playing William.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh said I’m delighted to be bringing Mary Poppins back to Birmingham after spreading her magic around the world.  Since we originally staged the production we have found even more magical ways to stage this timeless tale.”

Adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the stage production of Mary Poppins has a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.
The stage production of Mary Poppins originally opened in 2004 and ran in the West End for three years and over 1,250 performances. During this time it won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography and Best Set Design as well as the Evening Standard Award for Best Set Design and the Variety Club Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production ran for over six years where it won the Tony Award for Best Set Design. The show has subsequently played to great success in Holland and Mexico. It has toured Australia, New Zealand, the U.S, and UK and has been seen by over 11 million people and is currently breaking box office records in Vienna.

Mary Poppins is at Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 9 March – Saturday 23 April 2016. Performance times: Mon-Sat eves 7.30pm,Sat Mats 2.30pm, Weds 16 & 23 March Mats 2pm, Tues 29 March Mat 2pm, Thurs 31 March Mat 2pm, Tues 5 Apr Mat 2pm, Thurs 7 Apr May 2pm, Weds 13 & 20 Apr Mats 2pm. Tickets are priced from £25.  Purchase online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or telephone 0844 338 5000. A 5% transaction charge applies (excl. cash sales in person) postage from £1. Phone calls from 5p per minute. Prices and discounting subject to change.

There will be an audio described performance of Mary Poppins on Wednesday 13 April at 7.30pm, a captioned performance on Tuesday 19 April at 7.30pm and a signed performance on Thursday 21 April at 7.30pm.

-ENDS-

 Notes to Editors:

  • Birmingham Hippodrome is an independent, not-for-profit, registered charity. The Hurst Street venue averages over 500,000 visits annually making it the most popular single auditorium in the UK.  With no public revenue funding, it counts Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange as resident partners; presents all of Welsh National Opera’s repertoire; welcomes the best in international dance, major touring dramas, West End and Broadway musicals; and is home to the world’s biggest Pantomime. It also houses the 200-seat Patrick Centre for the Performing Arts.
  • The theatre has extensive meeting facilities and operates all its own catering services, including two restaurants. As a charity, Birmingham Hippodrome receives generous support from the business community through sponsorship and other partnerships; from individuals through donations and memberships; and from grant-making Trusts and Foundations for special programming and infrastructure projects. It is a major employer and plays a leading role in the Southside Business Improvement District (BID).
  • Birmingham Hippodrome is currently expanding its Creative Programme – Hippodrome CREATIVE – building on its successful work in education and in the wider community. With partners including Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and private funders, the Hippodrome has recently enjoyed co-producing and producing new events including International Dance Festival Birmingham, The Voyage (for the London 2012 Festival), Summer in Southside, and the 4 Squares Weekender celebrating the opening of the Library of Birmingham on behalf of Birmingham Arts Partnership.  More recently Birmingham Hippodrome produced Birmingham Weekender on behalf of Birmingham Arts Partnership.
  • Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd, Charity No. 510842. Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB. Box Office: 0844 338 5000. www.birminghamhippodrome.com/review