The Rep has been in my life for as long as I've lived in Brum, getting on for 30 yrs now. We get there once or twice a year and the productions we've seen have always been enjoyable, some of them have been outstanding. As a review about the venue I can honestly say that the Rep has got better and better over time. Tonight I was in the House for 'The Exorcist', comfortable seating and wonderful production on the stage. Last year we were in the studio for 'Beryl', one of the best plays I have seen. Again great production values and a very comfortable experience for the audience. The Marmalade bar offers great cocktails, you can dine here too. Centenary Square is a big part of the cultural quarter of Birmingham with Symphony Hall, The Rep and Library of Birmingham all lined up like ducks in a row. Whilst the Rep seems to have been here forever, it feels brand new on the inside. There's a wonderful ambience around here, it's part of the Birmingham buzz. The real challenge of living in Birmingham, is that there is so much going on and only so much time. Then again, time spent at the Rep is happy time. read more

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This was my first visit to the Rep, and one that was eagerly anticipated, being a keen theatregoer. So when the opportunity arose to sign up for the double feature of The Exorcist and Seance, I jumped at the chance. My first impressions of the building itself were positive, there was a buzz about the place and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Finding our seats was easy and the seating was generous, with plenty of legroom and offered an unobstructed view of the stage. Comfy too, having been to many performances elsewhere where fidgeting becomes the norm. The production itself was impressive, with a cast that were mostly familiar. I had been wondering how such a performance of the iconic horror tale would translate on stage and I was not disappointed. From the glare of the lights going up, to being suddenly (and loudly) plunged into darkness set the tone for the evening. The effects were spectacular, with a mix of live action, projections and more traditional effects. Yes, we get the iconic scenes, voice effects and some blood and gore. I had been trying to work out who was voicing the demon, and had the of course moment when I read my programme of Sir Ian McKellen. An eerie and unsettling tone is kept throughout, and is a treat for any horror fan. The Seance was a trippy mind game from start to finish. I don't want to spoil too much (I went in knowing nothing), as people are booked in over the coming days. What I will say is this. Your senses are deprived and the tension ramped up to boiling point. I don't scare easily but when the lights finally came on, I realised I had been holding my breath mostly. Had my eyes been open or closed? Such fun though. I also got to experience the bar, Marmalade and the atmosphere in there was fantastic. I look forward to sampling the menu on my next visit! read more

Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Awaiting Act 2 - Performing Arts Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

I LOVE going to the theatre. From Community pieces to large scale extravaganzas, you just can't beat the razzle dazzle of a trip to see a play. We are truly spoilt with arts venues in Birmingham. From the big touring shows at The Hippodrome to the fantastic gems at places like The Crescent and The Blue Orange Theatre, there is something going on every single week in the City. The REP is a truly fantastic theatre. I have seen a plethora of pieces here (most notably "The Northern Lights") and they have all been memorable. The theatre itself has even had a facelift with the construction of the Library, giving you even more of a reason to visit. As well as one-off plays, the REP hosts several events as part of Birmingham's cultural festivals. Keep an eye out on their website for more details of special events which go on throughout the year. In terms of the actual performance space, I have never had a bad view (even when buying the cheap seats) here. The ticketing has always been straight forward and problem free and it's easy to find out what's scheduled via their print materials and their site. The seating is comfortable and the theatre is accessible for those with mobility issues. As you would expect, drinks are expensive. It wouldn't be a trip to the theatre if you didn't have a good gasp at the price of two drinks, but saying that it's still cheaper than many of the other big theatre spaces I've been to around the UK. I have reviewed the Brasserie before for afternoon tea (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/searcys-birmingham?osq=REP+Brasserie), but you can also grab pre-theatre menus here (which would work out a little cheaper than the regular menu). Check out what's coming up, book your tickets and give this fantastic venue a visit (but make sure to bring plenty of money if you want a drink before/during/after the play). read more

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The Birmingham Rep is a really buzzing theatre venue. There are several stages, so it's caters for all sorts of shows-small productions with only one or two cast members or musicals such as Little Shop of Horrors (saw a few years ago here and it was brilliant!). The acoustics are good, room temperature not bad and seats fairly comfortable. The box office and bar staff are efficient , helpful and friendly and the addition of the re-vamped cafe now know as Marmalade is a great success. Also, now that it is attached to the new Library, the place seems revitalised. Ticket prices can vary greatly depending on the production, but everything that I have seen has been worth the money. Looking forward to coming back soon! read more

Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Not the best photo-trying to show it's busy and get the backdrop in!;) - Performing Arts Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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The REP is such a well designed theatre. The clever seating design means that you have a great view wherever you are and there's good leg room. The only issue is that there is no aisle so if you're in the middle you have to push all the way along. They have all the usual things you would expect such as helpful staff, a bar and the restaurant, Marmalade. You can pre order interval drinks at the bar and pick them up at labelled spots throughout the venue. Seats are comfortable, temperature is good, sound is clear and they always have interesting, well staged plays. I love the REP! read more

I feel a little bad for Birmingham's rather lovely Rep Theatre lately; not only does it seem to have been overshadowed by the Hippodrome of late, but the scaffolding shrouding the new library building next door means it's quite easy to forget it's there. However, having attended a few shows at the Rep, generally family-friendly shows but one rather more offbeat play during the city's art-celebrating BASS Festival, I can safely say it's one of the region's finest theatres. As well as the convenience of its central location, its main theatre room offers comfortable seating and is just the right size to provide a certain intimacy without you ever feeling squashed in. My best experience here was viewing 'His Dark Materials' a few years back; although it was in 2009, I bring it up for a reason as the show was divided into two parts. The first was taken in on a Saturday afternoon from 2 until 5, with the climax taking place an hour or so later until 9pm - it seems pertinent to make reference to the fact that not once, during 6 hours spent in this same space, did I ever feel uncomfortable or ready to leave. I don't think I could say the same about other venues. read more

Sandwiched in between The Alexandra Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome, The Rep seems to be a fairly 'unlucky' establishment, especially in recent times. The new library being build next to it has definitely overshadowed the theatre, diverting attention away from the theatre. The Rep, doesn't really host major productions like its big sister theatre, the Birmingham Hippodrome, focusing on more diverse performances as one of Britain's leading 'new theatres'. It has been a while since I visited the theatre itself, to see Withering Heights two years ago, which i thoroughly enjoyed. However, in comparison to the Hippodrome which I have visited on numerous occasion, the Rep seems to do things on a much smaller scale. Regardless of the small stage the performance was fantastic, as was the service. Nothing since this visit seems to have caught my attention, although if a particular show was to come to the Rep I would definitely not hesitate to book a ticket there. read more

The Rep is currently busy supporting the Old Rep and other venues as a place to programme new work due to all the effects of the build for the new library next door. Ignoring this temporary hiccup that should have passed by the Autumn of 2012, The Rep is the theatre to support in the city centre. Whilst the Hippodrome hosts Birmingham's Royal Ballet and tend to play to the crowds in their programming, The Rep on the other hand is all about supporting new writers and performers; programming new, exciting theatre. Instead of spending the money on a cinema ticket you can instead buy a ticket for a performance at The Rep's smaller stage, The Door. A place for small scale performances and for writers to road test new work, usually followed with a Q&A. The last thing I saw here was Polar Bear's 'If i cover my nose you can't see me'. I saw it in it's rawest first performances here and then once again whilst it was on a big tour with dates at The Southbank Centre. A theatre that provides the space for British talent to develop and for you to see something inspiring, home grown and live for the price of a cinema ticket is well worth the your support. read more

For over 100 years the REP has been at the heart of Birmingham's theatre scene and one of the country's foremost and most interesting producing theatres. Today it remains a very important producing theatre, with a mission to support new theatre work - making theatre from scratch. In 2013 the building, conveniently situated on Centenary Sq., underwent a bit of a transformation, with new offices, studios and workshops added to the back and a facelift for the public spaces. The Marmalade restaurant also moved in, providing the perfect place for a bit of pre-show refreshment. I've seen several shows at the REP in recent years and I've always been impressed by the quality of the set design and the overall experience. It is just a lovely place to spend an evening. The atrium area is usually decked out with installations relating to current shows and there are two bar areas where you can pick up a drink or a bite to eat. The main theatre affords all seats excellent views of the stage and the seats are really comfy. The programme usually features a mixture of touring and locally produced shows, as well as youth theatre. The REP also plays host to BE FESTIVAL, Birmingham's festival of European theatre which takes place in the backstage areas. If you're looking for a night of theatre in Birmingham, look no further! read more

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre is one of two main venues in Birmingham to see the latest music, concerts, shows and theatre. Located in a vibrant part of Birmingham, near acres and acres of shops, restaurants and bars, it's a great place to see a show, safe to walk to and fro, and has ample car parking around. The design of the place is pretty great. While the Hippodrome has more to offer in terms of West End quality, The Rep more than makes up for its indie offerings (if indeed it has to) with its resplendent decor. The outside alone is magnificent, tall and imposing, with a fountain nearby, and lovely, multi-coloured lighting in all the right places (bada bing bada bing!). The inside is minimalist white, again with excellent lighting. The nice thing about it is all the different halls -- Auditorium A might be playing a jazz concert, whilst Auditorium Z might be showing Philip Pullman's His Dark materials on stage. Each section is discreetly tucked away, belying the enormity of the place. You wonder through white elegance (but trodding on truly horrid carpeting), without feeling lost because of well-placed signs. There is a restaurant, several bars, and more than a few small stalls selling drinks, sweets and ice creams. Each Auditorium is largeish - ours where we saw The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe (horrid musical production, agh, ruined my childhood dreams of Aslan), seemed to hold about a thousand guests. The staff are helpful and polite, and the booking via the website is very easy. A great place to see some unusual entertainment! read more

Going to the theatre is one of my favourite things to do but I have only just gotten around to visiting The Rep. I went to see Anita & Me with complimentary free tickets and had a blast. The ticket office couldn't find my tickets at first but the guy who served us went above and beyond to help and sort out the situation. Lovely customer service. There is plenty of space for sitting with a glass of wine beforehand and if you so fancy why not try Marmalade for food? The stage itself is gorgeous and the seating is really good in allowing for a good view where ever you are sitting read more

This is one of the nicest and most spacious theatres I have had the pleasure of visiting. It is modern, clean and well located with easy parking spaces available everywhere. They offer a huge variety of plays to entertain and delight everyone and offer great student or concession discounts. The chairs in the main auditorium are comfy and spacious. There are theatre staff everywhere so you always have somebody near by should you need them. At intervals, food and drinks are available from the outside bar and inside the theatre there are vendors selling ice creams and sweets. Try to pre book though. read more

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre is slap bang in the middle of Birmingham's busy Broad Street district, and is one of the most highly-regarded theatres in England. From the outside, it's a giant of concrete and glass, mirroring the gorgeous ICC opposite. Walk inside, however, and it becomes very welcoming indeed. The restaurant and bar provide great refreshments and food (look out for a very tasty quesadilla), whilst the theatres themselves are a great escape from the bustle of the outside. The two spaces, The Main House and the Door, provide excellent theatre work year-round. The Door is a small 100-seater which has just produced a new show devised by local mc's called 8sixteen32 and which was fantastic. The 800-seat Main House opens it's doors to a classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, for Christmas, so anyone wanting an escapist treat and a fabulous piece of storytelling should get themselves down. read more

The Rep's my favourite theatre - I don't get there enough. There's always a great choice of performances to choose from, and located in an attractive part of the city, it's a lovely place to spend time. The selection of matinee performances is just as good as the evening programmes, allowing you to make a real event of your visit. read more

This is definitely Birmingham's drama orientated theatre of recent years, it can usually be counted upon to be putting on school curriculum related productions, which is great for local schools as well as those who studied the plays at school and never got to see them at the time. The theatre is involved in the £5 tickets for under 25s during the week which means a slightly different night out is always on the cards. Staff are very helpful and friendly and the seating comfy and spacious. There are usually ice creams available at the interval along with a lovely bar which allows you to pre-order drinks so as to avoid the crush. read more

I have seen a large number of productions at the Rep over the years and have rarely been disappointed. the main house is well laid out and comfortable, with good visibility of the stage. productions are varied through the year with some specials for families at Christmas. the Door gives opportunities to new playwrights and I have seen some very powerful and moving performances here that have had me quietly snuffling in the dark. well worth a visit time and time again! read more

HAve visited this theatre for a number of shows. ALthough very modern and new, the size of the space outside the auditorium is too small for the number of people that are waiting. They only opened the doors to the auditorium 10 mins before the start of the show. The bar and confectionery shops were too small too. However the theatre has ggod quality seating and the stage can be seen easily from all seats as they dont try to cram too many seats in. They show a good variety of shows / plays. read more