Birmingham Hippodrome
A major theatre and performance venue in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter, known for dance, touring musicals, opera, ballet and pantomime.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Birmingham Hippodrome is a large theatre on Hurst Street in Birmingham's Chinese Quarter. It is one of the United Kingdom's most significant regional performance venues and is particularly associated with Birmingham Royal Ballet, large-scale touring theatre and annual Christmas pantomime. The theatre also presents visiting opera and ballet companies, contemporary dance, drama, musicals, family entertainment and special events. The site has hosted entertainment since 1895, when assembly rooms were constructed. In 1899 the building was redesigned by local architect F. W. Lloyd and given a stage, circus ring and Moorish tower. It was then promoted as the Tower of Varieties. After that enterprise failed, the building was reconstructed as a conventional variety theatre and reopened as the Tivoli in 1900. It adopted the name Birmingham Hippodrome in October 1903 under the ownership of impresario Thomas Barrasford. The present neo-classical auditorium was designed by Burdwood and Mitchell in 1924 and has approximately 1,900 seats. Major changes to the surrounding site followed the construction of Smallbrook Queensway. In 1963 the original entrance building and Moorish tower were demolished, and a modern entrance was built. The theatre was also known for a period as Birmingham Theatre. During the 1970s it was acquired by Birmingham City Council, and since 1979 its operation has been entrusted to Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust, a registered charity. The building was refaced in the 1980s with mock-Victorian decorative work, while its stagehouse was demolished and rebuilt to support larger productions. The venue also became associated with television entertainment during this period, including the Central Television revival of the ITV talent show New Faces, presented by Marti Caine. A substantial redevelopment completed in 2001 was designed by Associated Architects and Law and Dunbar-Nasmith. It introduced a prominent glass facade, accommodation for Birmingham Royal Ballet and additional performance space. The theatre subsequently became a major stop for West End touring productions, presenting shows including Wicked, The Lion King, Matilda, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia!, Hamilton and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. It has also hosted important dance productions by Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, including Swan Lake, Nutcracker!, Edward Scissorhands and The Red Shoes. The Hippodrome's annual pantomime is a central part of its identity. Productions have been supplied by Crossroads Pantomimes, formerly Qdos Entertainment, and have featured a succession of prominent performers from British theatre, television and popular entertainment. Matt Slack has appeared in the pantomime regularly since 2013. The venue has also hosted productions transferred from the London Palladium, including versions of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. The theatre has a strong connection with Birmingham Royal Ballet and has presented major dance premieres. In 2022 it staged the world premiere of Rambert's Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, based on the television series. In 2023 it hosted the world premiere of Birmingham Royal Ballet's Black Sabbath: The Ballet, with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi appearing during the opening-night finale. The theatre reports annual attendance of more than 600,000 and is described in reference material as the United Kingdom's busiest single theatre and the busiest dance venue outside London.
History
Birmingham Hippodrome occupies a long-established entertainment site on Hurst Street in central Birmingham. The first building on the site was an assembly-room complex erected in 1895. In 1899 local architect F. W. Lloyd redesigned the venue with a stage, circus ring and Moorish tower. The resulting enterprise was called the Tower of Varieties, but it failed financially and was soon rebuilt as a standard variety theatre. It reopened as the Tivoli in 1900. The venue became the Hippodrome in October 1903 after it came under the ownership of theatrical impresario Thomas Barrasford. Its current auditorium dates from 1924 and was designed by Burdwood and Mitchell in a neo-classical style. The auditorium seats about 1,900 people. The building and its approaches changed significantly in the post-war period. Construction of the nearby Smallbrook Queensway led to the removal of the original entrance building and Moorish tower in 1963. A modern entrance replaced them, and the theatre was temporarily known as Birmingham Theatre. During the 1970s Birmingham City Council acquired the theatre. Since 1979 the venue has been operated by Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust, a registered charity. The theatre's physical form and production capacity were revised again during the 1980s. Its plain exterior received mock-Victorian plasterwork, while the stagehouse was demolished and rebuilt to support the technical demands of larger touring shows. The theatre also hosted the Central Television revival of New Faces, presented by Marti Caine. A major redevelopment in 2001 was undertaken by Associated Architects and Law and Dunbar-Nasmith. The project created a new glass-fronted entrance, facilities for Birmingham Royal Ballet and additional performance space. This reinforced the theatre's role as a major home for dance while allowing it to accommodate large West End touring productions. Over subsequent years the Hippodrome presented musicals and plays including Blood Brothers, Wicked, The Lion King, Matilda, Mary Poppins, Annie, Grease, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, War Horse, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Hamilton. Dance has remained a defining part of the programme. The venue has hosted works by Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, including Swan Lake, Nutcracker!, Edward Scissorhands and The Red Shoes. It has also functioned as an important presentation venue for Birmingham Royal Ballet. In September 2022, Rambert's Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby received its world premiere at the Hippodrome. The dance production was based on the Peaky Blinders television series, later toured nationally and returned to Birmingham before being filmed for BBC broadcast. In September 2023 Birmingham Royal Ballet presented the world premiere of Black Sabbath: The Ballet at the theatre. The work drew on the music and history of the Birmingham heavy-metal band, and guitarist Tony Iommi joined the opening-night finale. Reference material records a revival in September 2025, again featuring Iommi at the opening-night finale. The Hippodrome is also strongly identified with its Christmas pantomime. In recent years these productions have been produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, previously known as Qdos Entertainment. The pantomimes have featured many well-known performers, while Matt Slack has appeared regularly since 2013. The venue has also received pantomime productions transferred from the London Palladium, with sets, costumes and adapted scripts moving to Birmingham in subsequent seasons. The theatre's programme extends beyond regular performances. On 28 November 1999 it hosted the Royal Variety Performance, the first staging in Birmingham and the first outside London since the event had been held in Manchester in 1959. Queen Elizabeth II attended, Brian Conley presented, and the televised production was made by LWT for ITV Productions. The event featured performers including Steps, Westlife, LeAnn Rimes, Ken Dodd, Joe Pasquale and Barry Manilow. In October 2020 Birmingham City Council approved a phased redevelopment intended to provide a new facade, a first-floor terrace, outdoor seating, improved access to refreshments and a third-floor restaurant. The Hippodrome is described as attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually, making it one of the United Kingdom's busiest individual theatres and a leading dance venue outside London.
- 2023
Black Sabbath: The Ballet premieres
[1]Birmingham Royal Ballet stages the world premiere of Black Sabbath: The Ballet, with Tony Iommi appearing on opening night.
- 2022
Peaky Blinders dance work premieres
[1]Rambert's Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby receives its world premiere at the Hippodrome.
- 2020
Phased redevelopment receives council approval
[1]Birmingham City Council approves plans for facade improvements, a terrace, outdoor seating and additional hospitality facilities.
- 2013
Matt Slack begins regular pantomime appearances
[1]Matt Slack begins a continuing association with the theatre's Christmas pantomime.
- 2001
Major redevelopment is completed
[1]A redevelopment by Associated Architects and Law and Dunbar-Nasmith adds a glass facade, Birmingham Royal Ballet accommodation and further performance space.
- 1999
Royal Variety Performance comes to Birmingham
[1]The theatre hosts the Royal Variety Performance, attended by Queen Elizabeth II and presented by Brian Conley.
- 1980
Stagehouse is rebuilt
[1]The theatre's stagehouse is demolished and rebuilt to accommodate larger productions, while the facade receives mock-Victorian treatment.
- 1979
Charitable operation begins
[1]The Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust begins operating the theatre after Birmingham City Council's acquisition during the 1970s.
- 1963
Entrance and tower are replaced
[1]The original entrance and Moorish tower are demolished during changes associated with Smallbrook Queensway, and a modern entrance is built.
- 1924
Current auditorium is designed
[1]Burdwood and Mitchell design the neo-classical auditorium that remains the core of the modern theatre.
Products and positioning
A high-capacity regional theatre positioned as Birmingham's leading venue for large-scale touring productions, dance, ballet and family entertainment, with a distinctive role as the home stage of Birmingham Royal Ballet and a major producer and presenter of Christmas pantomime.
Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet performances
The Hippodrome is closely associated with Birmingham Royal Ballet and provides a major Birmingham platform for classical ballet, new full-length works and dance projects connected to the city's cultural identity. The venue also supports larger ballet presentations by providing substantial stage and audience capacity.
Musical theatre
West End touring musicals
The theatre presents large touring productions originating in London's West End and the wider commercial theatre sector. Its programme has included Wicked, The Lion King, Matilda, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Hamilton and other major musical titles.
Family theatre
Christmas pantomime
The annual Christmas pantomime is one of the Hippodrome's principal recurring offerings. Recent productions have been associated with Crossroads Pantomimes, formerly Qdos Entertainment, and combine comedy, music, spectacle, audience participation and celebrity casting. Matt Slack has been a regular performer since 2013.
Dance
Contemporary dance
The Hippodrome presents visiting and commissioned contemporary dance, including works by Matthew Bourne's New Adventures. Productions such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker!, Edward Scissorhands and The Red Shoes demonstrate the venue's role in bringing large-scale dance theatre to audiences outside London.
Dance theatre · 2022
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby
Rambert's dance-theatre production based on the Peaky Blinders television series received its world premiere at the Hippodrome in 2022. The work combined contemporary dance, narrative theatre and music, subsequently touring nationally and returning to Birmingham.
Ballet · 2023
Black Sabbath: The Ballet
Created by Birmingham Royal Ballet around the music and legacy of Birmingham heavy-metal band Black Sabbath, this ballet premiered at the Hippodrome in 2023. Tony Iommi's appearance during the opening-night finale linked the production directly to the band's history.
Marketing campaigns
- 1999Royal Variety Performance
United Kingdom
The Hippodrome hosted the Royal Variety Performance on 28 November 1999. It was the first Birmingham staging and the first presentation outside London since the event had been held in Manchester in 1959. The production was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and televised through LWT for ITV Productions.
Outcome. The event reinforced the theatre's national profile as a venue capable of hosting a major televised variety production.
Brand decisions
2023
Host the world premiere of Black Sabbath: The BalletProduct launchBackground
Birmingham Royal Ballet developed a new work inspired by the music and history of Black Sabbath, a band formed in Birmingham.
Action taken
The Hippodrome staged the world premiere in September 2023, with Tony Iommi participating in the opening-night finale.
Aftermath
The production connected the theatre's ballet programme with Birmingham's musical heritage and was later revived.
2022
Present the world premiere of Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas ShelbyProduct launchBackground
Rambert developed a dance-theatre work based on the Birmingham-linked television series Peaky Blinders.
Action taken
The Hippodrome hosted the production's world premiere in September 2022 before its national tour and later return to Birmingham.
Aftermath
The production expanded the theatre's role in presenting large-scale contemporary dance rooted in a nationally recognised screen property.
2020
Approve phased theatre redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The theatre and Birmingham City Council identified a need to update the public-facing building and expand hospitality and audience areas.
Action taken
The council gave approval for a phased project involving a new facade, a first-floor terrace, outdoor seating, refreshed refreshment facilities and a third-floor restaurant. Work was expected to begin in early 2021.
Aftermath
The decision established a framework for further physical improvement of the venue, although the supplied material does not document the complete delivery or final cost.
Recent events
- 2023
Black Sabbath: The Ballet opens at Birmingham Hippodrome[1]
Product launch
Birmingham Royal Ballet's ballet inspired by the music of Black Sabbath received its world premiere at the theatre. Tony Iommi appeared during the opening-night finale.
- 2022
Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby premieres at Birmingham Hippodrome[1]
Product launch
Rambert presented the world premiere of a dance work based on the television series Peaky Blinders. The production later toured and returned to the Hippodrome before being filmed for the BBC.
- 2020
Birmingham City Council approves phased Hippodrome redevelopment[1]
Other
The council approved plans for a phased redevelopment involving a new facade, a first-floor terrace, outdoor seating, refreshed refreshment areas and a third-floor restaurant.
- 2015
Brian Conley recognised after 600 performances at the theatre[1]
Other
Brian Conley was celebrated at the end of a performance of Barnum after completing approximately 600 performances at the Hippodrome across pantomime and other productions.
Sources2 sources
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