As it's own space. I wanted to add the The Patrick Centre for the performing arts to yelp. Accessed…read morethrough the upper floor in Birmingham Hippodrome's main foyer, this is a 200-seater auditorium more intimate experience than the huge show space of the Hippodromes main theatre. Jord M and I won tickets to see Beautiful Thing at The Patrick Centre thanks to Vicky O (Our Birmingham Community Manager and thanks to the team at Birmingham Hippodrome for the Tickets!) We were here on press night! Which meant a free programme and drinks in the VIP Lloyd room before the show and during the interval. Within five minutes of our arrival, I saw actress Charlie Brooks by the stage door, and resisted having a photograph rather than crashing her conversation. My night was already made!! If you don't know Beautiful Thing, is a 1993 play by Jonathan Harvey, about two teenage boys finding love on a south London council estate. Although current for the time it was made, it is really now a play set in the 1990s with lots of nods to the culture of the day. 1990s copies of The Guardian, Hello! magazine, reading the problem page in gay magazines and finding gay venues in classified directory all add to the authenticity of the time. Charlie Brooks who plays Janine Butcher in EastEnders is BRILLIANT as Sandra, a single, hard-working mother with a string of ex boyfriends. She is funny, warm and much more loveable than the hard faced character she plays in the soap. I was really excited to see her in this role made famous in the film by Linda Henry who is Shirley Carter in EastEnders. Her son Jamie is played by the great Sam Jackson from Skins, and he really is believable as Sandra's child who is starting to want to explore his own sexuality. Acting-wise there is lots of crossover with BBC EastEnders. Their neighbour's son Ste is played by excellent Thomas Law who played Peter Beale version 4 in EastEnders. His awkward sexual awakening, and the homophobic violence from his family, remind you that this was first performed a year after being homosexual was declassified as a mental illness in the UK (in 1992.) Sandra's hippyish boyfriend, Tony, is played smoothly by Gerard McCarthy who played Kris Fisher in Hollyoaks. Tony is "right on" about too understanding about everything and you feel like he is a bit of a yes man. And finally the cast is rounded out by the talented Vanessa Babirye, as the other neighbour Leah. Leah's obsession with the music of Mama Cass provides the even more retro soundtrack to the play. While this is really Jamie and Ste's love story for me the performance of Charlie Brooks stole the show. If you get chance to see it around the country then GO SEE IT!

The Rep has been in my life for as long as I've lived in Brum, getting on for 30 yrs now. We get…read morethere 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.

This was my first visit to the Rep, and one that was eagerly anticipated, being a keen theatregoer…read more 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!

It was a great show, we saw hamilton, good quality sound and comfortable seats, we had a nice tub…read moreof popcorn and the staff were friendly and helpful, hamilton is a great show and white it's in town I recommend you see it!

I was here last night for a freinds birthday to watch a play called The Curious Incident of the Dog…read morein the Night-Time. We have both read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. At first glance it didn't look like much, the stage setting looks simple, minimalistic. Then suddenly the play begins with thunder-like music and flashing strobes of intense light. a dog is seen in the light that has been killed with a garden fork (i dont want to give too much of the plot away) but as the story unfolds, it morphs into an impressive display of modern technology! Experienced through the eyes & ears of a teen suffering from Aspergers syndrome, be prepared for moments of sensory overload with blinding bright lights, 3D mapping visuals & intensely loud noise. The main character Christopher is intelligent, honest, & funny even when he doesn't intend to be. Christopher uncovers secrets about his mom & dad when the dog next door is murdered, & what ensues is a two-hour mystery that asks questions about truths & lies, & the ramifications of your choice to do one or the other. Certain scenes are difficult to watch, and even heartbreaking, it really does hit home and allows you time to think too...perhaps because don't we all have somewhat dysfunctional families?! Heavy topics are explored, but I like feeling that weight, so I definitely recommend this great British play to everyone. Hats off to the actors who played the characters and for entertaining us. Be sure to stay till the end.. as the end is not the end until the confetti falls. SPOILER ALERT: watch out for the adorable puppy towards the end of the play! Tickets price was £37.50 excluding bf also free parking 6pm-8am around hurst/ kent street area if your lucky to find a spot.

It may have had something to do with the choice of play or the fact that I visited the Old Rep…read moreduring an unseasonal heat wave, but I find it hard to get too excited about the place. Yes, I like the fact that it is a bastion of high culture in a pretty seedy part of town. It just lacks a bit of sparkle. The 383 seat theatre is home to Birmingham Stage Company and stages an eclectic mix of dramatic productions. It also played home to the Birmingham Repertory theatre company during The Rep's recent refurbishments.

When I go to the theatre I like to be wowed instantly from the moment I walk in. I think that the…read morefeeling you get when you walk in is as important as the quality of script as it's this feeling that will be carried with you into the show. If you walk in to a venue with characteristic features and show lighting, you instantly feel inspired and excited about the show in hand and that feeling translates into the crowd and overall atmosphere. Unfortunately I didn't get that feeling when I walked in to the Old Rep theatre, in fact, it was quite the opposite. As the venue itself is quite small, I was hoping that the atmosphere would be intimate and enjoyable but it felt quite segmented at times. Overall, the venue isn't the most inspiring so use the creative flare in you to push that aside and focus on the amazing show you're about to watch and you'll have a great night.

Our son bought us tickets to see Frank Skinner. He paid for seats in the grand dress circle. We…read morewere so cramped in the seats we had to leave before Frank came on due to my husband's pain in the legs they were so cramped.

Have watched shows at the Alex many times in my life, was even in a drama club there when I was…read moreyoung! The most recent time was to see Avenue Q. It's not incredibly glamorous or impressive, more cosy- and there's nothing wrong with that! There are lots of places to purchase sweets and drinks (including alcoholic ) and the queues go down quickly. I purchased a bottle of water and some chocolates and this came to £5.50. The show looked and sounded great. We had seats in the stalls and this gave us a great view. It was a little too warm. The theatre isn't huge but that adds to the atmosphere!

Birmingham Royal Ballet has to be one of the biggest jewels in Birmingham's cultural crown…read more Although the company itself has been around since the 1930s, it's only been a Birmingham-based ballet company since 1990. Since then, it's won critical acclaim from all over the world for its performances, as well as its Education and training programmes. One the UK's top ballet companies, its performances always dazzle, and its commitment to this art form is evident, with ambitious excellence at the heart of all their productions. Their medical team also runs The Jerwood Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Dance Injuries, which contains state-of-the-art diagnostic and fitness equipment.

I'd finished watching a Canadian band that I'd supported called The Wilderness Of Manitoba who were…read moretouring the UK. They said that I should catch them again when they played the next week at The Edge in Digbeth. I though I knew my city inside out, but obviously not, as I'd never heard of The Edge. When the night came, I took a wander down the back streets of Digbeth looking for the venue. It took me a while to find it, as it is set back a bit from the road by a long drive. Once inside I found the place had an underground feel to it. A makeshift bar was selling drinks at well-below pub prices, the walls and floor were decorated with 3-D objects and while the band played their set un-amplified, people listened quietly or slipped outside to have a cigarette on one of two sofas underneath a palm tree. The Edge has developed since then, but they are keeping true to their name by continuing with edgy shows, exhibitions, performances and performance workshops that you won't see elsewhere.