• Best-Selling Pantomime Finishes Record-Breaking Six Week Run
  • Highest attendance since 2002; over 35% booking for the first time.
  • Charity success for Children’s Hospital and third Relaxed Performance

Birmingham Hippodrome’s smash-hit pantomime Aladdin closes on 31 January following a spectacular six week run of 74 performances.  With over 118,000 admissions, Aladdin becomes the theatre’s best-selling pantomime in 14 years.

Marti Pellow, Julian Clary, Lee Mead, Matt Slack, Andrew Ryan and the entire Aladdin company of singers, dancers, musicians and technicians, received outstanding five star reviews with massive popular support on social media from the public.

Aladdin marks the 25th pantomime directed by Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division, who commented: “It’s an amazing result and I want to thank the entire cast and crew who worked so hard to make this such a successful show.  The support we get in Birmingham is always astonishing – and year after year the appeal of Panto seems to grow.”

Birmingham Hippodrome’s Chief Executive FIONA ALLAN added: “Given the huge range of high quality seasonal treats on offer across the city, not to mention the demands made on family time, plus digital fun and blockbuster cinema, we’re so grateful people came along to the Hippodrome pantomime to make it such a success.

“I’m so proud of my team here at the theatre working tirelessly across front of house, the bars and restaurant, and the box office at one of our busiest times of the year.”

Box office records show that for 35% of the audience, this was a first time booking to the Hippodrome.  And patrons travelled from across the UK – from Penzance to Glasgow, and from Norwich to the Isle of Man.

Overall, nearly 40% of pantomime tickets were issued at a discounted rate.  In addition to six assisted performances (audio-described, captioned and sign-language interpreted) over 1,200 patrons also attended the theatre’s third Relaxed Performance of panto (made possible through donations and grants), specially designed for those on the autistic spectrum or with a learning disability.

Over the festive period, panto audiences generously donated more than £4,000 to be shared equally between Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Children’s Charity.  And January 2016 has seen the highest ever level of patron donations for Hippodrome CREATIVE, the theatre’s growing community and learning programmes, which bookers can support when purchasing tickets.

Dick Whittington, the 2016/17 pantomime, has already been announced and opens on Mon 19 Dec 2016.   Comedian Matt Slack will be returning for his 4th pantomime with further star casting to be announced.  Tickets can be booked now from birminghamhippodrome.com or 0844 338 5000*.

-ENDS-

29 Jan 2016

Notes to Editors

  • Birmingham Hippodrome is an independent, not-for-profit, registered charity receiving no public revenue funding. The Hurst Street venue averages over 500,000 visits annually, making it the most popular single auditorium in the UK.
  • Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange are resident partners and all of Welsh National Opera’s repertoire is presented. It welcomes the best in international dance, major touring dramas and musicals; and is home to the Birmingham’s favourite 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 the Circle Restaurant and Deli Bar.
  • Birmingham Hippodrome receives support from the business community, from individuals through donations and memberships, and from grant-making Trusts for special programming and infrastructure projects. It is a major employer and plays a leading role in the Southside Business Improvement District.
  • Hippodrome Creative delivers successful learning, performance and community projects with partners including Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and private funders, including International Dance Festival Birmingham, The Voyage (for the London 2012 Festival), Summer in Southside, 4 Squares Weekender and 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 (*calls cost 4.5p/min plus your phone company’s access charge, 5% transaction fee applies) www.birminghamhippodrome.com