Discussion in 'Cooking Equipment Reviews' started by chrislehrer, Feb 20, 2010.
I bought a 10qt Fagor Duo pressure cooker. The first gasket split after three uses, but they replaced it immediately without question or charge of any kind -- very nice.
But I still have a problem. No matter what I do, the gasket and the lid have a slight rubbery smell. Whatever I make in the cooker takes on a very, very faint trace of this smell. It's so slight that my wife doesn't notice it in the food, but I notice it every time -- of course, I'm primed to do so, because when I remove the lid the smell is strongest.
I have noticed that there is some black carbon or something around the bolt thing where the pressure knob comes through on the inside of the lid. Again, nothing seems to remove it -- I can get some off by wiping with a dry cloth, but no matter how much I wipe, the thing remains black.
My suspicion is that what it wants is a wash, but the washing I'm doing isn't working.
Anyone ever have this problem? Anyone have a solution or suggestion?
I had that pot but I never had that problem..or maybe I just didn't notice it.
Will they exchange the pot for a new one?
I don't have that particular Fagor model but do have several other sizes of theirs. The last gaskets I have bought for them have been made of silicone and have held up much better than the old fashioned rubber ones, they also haven't held onto any off odors. As to the black substance, are you drying it well after washing? The only thing I can think of is it is forming some mold by not being totally dry before being stored away. I have several of their models from the early 1990's and they have gotten lots of use over the years and still seem as if they just came off the assembly line. I would contact Fagor again and ask them directly about the black substance issue, if it isn't mold then maybe that part is lacking some kind of finish on the metal and they should make it good.
Hi ChrisLeher. I have no problem with the gaskets of any of my pressure cookers giving off odd odors. One of the PC's is a Fagor, but not the Duo. Does your Fagor have a non-stick interior, by any chance? For some reason, Fagor has produced some Duo models with stainless interior, and some with non-stick. If your is non-stick, might this be the source of the odor?
AmazingGrace I think just answered my question. It's slightly indirect, so here's a link for anyone else who has this problem.
If your pressure cooker is used quite often, then you will need to do this thorough cleaning process more frequently because more residues accumulate. For routine cleaning there's no need to disassemble the entire valve, you can just hand wash the sooty valve nut at the same time that you normally wash the lid and gasket after every use.
The entire valve should disassembled after cooking foods that foam, froth, or expands, or any food that may have spattered up on the lid, or foods that contain a lot of grease or fat, because they all tend to produce more residues. It you should burn or scorch any food, this deep cleaning will be necessary too.
The first time I used my cooker, I did get a little foaming. Apparently this causes a blackened residue to appear on the valve, and the entire assembly must be cleaned. Since I haven't done this, and since I've changed the gasket without any result, I'm betting that it's the valve assembly. I'll clean it and let you all know what the result is.
Chris, thanks for sharing the direct link. I'm glad you made your way there, and that it was of some help to you. I've edited it into my first post. This tutorial drives home the point that even though pressure cookers are "miracle pots", they are still subject to routine maintenance, just as any other appliance or kitchen equipment would be. I hope you have many wonderful food adventures with your Fagor. G.
The gasket still smells just slightly funny, but everything else is clean. I made a batch of chicken stock after the cleaning was done, and I can no longer detect any problematic smell even when I'm trying to. Clean, chicken-y smell, and nothing more.
The sad thing is that I would have dealt with this months ago had it not been on the very first time I used the cooker that I boiled it over and thus scorched the bolt/vent assembly. So it's always had that slight smell, only it's slowly gotten worse (as you'd expect). Since the old cookers did have a rubbery smell -- something Julia Child used to carp about -- I sort of assumed this was normal.
Important information for others: CLEAN THE VENT! It's not hard. Why Fagor doesn't tell you how to do it is beyond me, but whatever.
Incidentally, if you've got a Fagor Duo, the disassembly process is just slightly different -- and simpler. All you do is unscrew the bolt from the bottom, and the whole assembly comes out smoothly in four pieces.
You should continue to have good performance from your gasket. In future, if you think there may be an odd odor that's not being addressed by regular cleaning, I suggest you place the gasket in just enough warm water to cover, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over it, let it sit for about ten minutes, then wash with hot soapy water and rinse it well. While silicone does not typically hold odors within itself, deposits from cooking accumulate upon the gasket and result in unpleasant smells. This is especially true with grease (that may turn rancid) or strong-smelling foods, such as cabbage.
but on both of them the yellow button doesn't come up when I believe I've reached pressure (small amts. of steam escaping).
Any ideas why this might be so? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for the link. Not that I intend to buy a pressure cooker, but I will not buy that brand. The pics are disgusting and frankly, the very idea of the amount of funk that can get in that area where it's not easily cleaned, is appalling. I guess there's something to be said for the old style with the "tinker toy" looking thing to regulate the pressure.
That link reminds me of the time I decided to figure out what was wrong with the valve on the tea dispenser at the restaurant I worked at. Suffice to say, you'd be amazed at what tea can leave behind.
Also on the handle, you will see a dial that can be turned to several icons. This is the operating valve. It features a steam release position, one or two pressure settings [depending on the model], and an unlock position that allows for the pressure regulator to be removed for cleaning. In order for pressure to build, the operating valve must be in pressure position.
Now, for the yellow button. This is another integrated safety feature. With the lid lock and the operating valve in position, as soon as pressure begins building, this button will pop up. This safety feature prevents the opening of the lid so long as there is any pressure at all in the cooker. However, contrary to Fagor's instructions, having the button pop up does not mean that you have reached full pressure. It means only that there is some pressure. The yellow button will not rise if either of the previous features have not been activated, or if the gasket is not correctly inserted.
You will know that full pressure has been reached when you can observe a steady stream of steam coming from the operating valve. This is your cue to reduce the heat to only what is needed to maintain pressure as indicated by a "whisper-puff" of steam at 5 or 6 second intervals. NOW is when you start your timer. At the end of the pressure cycle, use the appropriate pressure release method, according to the recipe.
While this might all sound like a lot of bother, it's actually not. Describing the various functions and how they are accomplished takes time, but the actual doing amounts to very little real time.
Cleaning the various components of the PC is also not really difficult or even annoying if you use the appliance correctly in the first place. Don't over fill, especially with foods that foam, and your cleaning will be kept to a minimum.
I know this is off topic, but it's interesting that you should bring up the tea dispenser. Last week HubbyDearest took me out to lunch. I usually order just water, but I felt like having iced tea. However, as soon as I smelled it, I knew I couldn't drink it. Hubby never notices anything, and thought I was just being my same finiky self. I said "I cleaned enough nasty tea dispensers in my lifetime to know that smell. It's bad". So when the waitress came back, he told her "The lady has a problem with the tea". I said "The tea dispenser valve needs to be cleaned." I expected some smart remark, but in stead she wrinkled up her nose and said "does it taste funky?"
Supposed to be disassembled and cleaned at the end of every day, and left in pieces for the incoming shift the next day. Instead, what frequently happens is that they just shove the whole thing, with the tea still in it, into the walkin cooler and it doesn't get cleaned until the valve starts serving slime with the tea.
The blown gasket is because the pot did not want to explode in your kitchen , there by ruining your day.
In other words, your gasket is acting like a pressure relief valve. Comprende?
I just bought two 8 quqrt duo fagor pressure cookers. neither one will build up steam pressure. I asked the tech lady if the rubber gasket was suppose to make contact with the bottom of the lid. she said no. but i find it hard to believe that they would invest in such a heavy duty , expensive part as just a weight.. any ideas..
They take a while to build up to pressure in my experience. Also, the pop up pressure indicator needs a little help to pop up all the way so you can fully engage the handle lock and achieve the full seal.
So with mine, when the yellow pressure pop-up rises, I grab it with some small pliers, pull it up a bit more and push up the lock. Then it finishes pressurizing quickly.
I have a Splendid Fagor and it disassembles the same way. It's amazing how grimy it can get around the valves.


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This is a list of the members of the 4th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland.  These Senators were elected or appointed in 1943, after the 1943 general election and served until the close of poll for the 5th Seanad in 1944.

Composition of the 4th Seanad
There are a total of 60 seats in the Seanad. 43 Senators are elected by the Vocational panels, 6 elected by the Universities and 11 are nominated by the Taoiseach.

The following table shows the composition by party when the 4th Seanad first met on 8 September 1943.

List of senators

Changes

See also
Members of the 11th Dáil
Government of the 11th Dáil

References

External links

04

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The Gallery at Main Street Landing features Contemporary and Non-traditional art from Vermont artists as well as hosting a permanent video exhibition booth that shows video installations by artists from all over the world in bi-monthly exhibits.
SEABA and Main Street Landing would like to welcome Richmond Artist, Emily Mitchell and her exhibit "What Brings Me Joy". We would also like to welcome Swedish artist, Hugo Ljungbäck and his video installation piece "Last Words [sic] " (2017).
In her newest collection of acrylic paintings, Emily Mitchell, continues to create colorful stories about aspects of life which bring joy, love and appreciation. This current collection has a renewed sense of calm, peace and celebration of the things which lift us all up and provide a visual break from contemporary, complex issues.
Emily Mitchell's acrylic paintings are a vibrant celebration of love, nature and relationships. Through the development of many layers of paint and marks on the canvas, she weaves layered and complex narratives. Deep within her layers of paint, are the layers within of all of us – thin and thick, complex, translucent skins of color and texture, masking, but not eliminating, our shared experiences, feelings and moments.
Hugo Ljungbäck's work regularly explores queer subjectivities through a personal lens. He is interested in countering images of oversexed gay youth, offering instead portraits of the privately hidden, the truly intimate, the often unflattering, and the unseen: infidelity, sexual abuse, and coercion. His work is durational, gestural, and performative, and he often makes himself the subject of his camera. As such, he blurs the boundary between documentation and reenactment, and ideas of authenticity, reality, and artifice are always at stake.
In Last Words [sic], the artist revisits an email he received from a past lover. The text is taken verbatim from a goodbye-letter, and tells a humorously painful story of lost love, betrayal, and desire, as the delusional writer grows increasingly passive-aggressive with every paragraph. Last Words [sic] is the first part of a series of short, text-based video works.
Please join us for the Reception, Friday April 5th, 5-8pm. Exhibit runs through end of April.
CornerStone Building, 3 Main Street for more information, please contact SEABA at 802-859-9222 or artsalivevt@seaba.com Open M-F, 8-8pm, Sat-Sun. 10-8pm. Powered by SEABA.


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text:
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package adila.db;

/*
 * LG G Pad II 10.1 FHD
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 * DEVICE: t1wifi
 * MODEL: LG-V940
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final class t1wifi {
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}

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It's safe to say that just about the entire state of Michigan is over this winter!
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text:
Home News Tenant ducks after ditching occupied flat
Tenant ducks after ditching occupied flat
BRIAN JOSS
For eight years, landlords Sharyn Samra and her husband, Clive, had a model tenant living in their furnished apartment at Tuscany Villas, West Beach, until he allowed his girl-friend, now his ex, to move in, and dumped her there before the lease expired.
"Basically he abandoned his partner, knowing that she did not have a full-time job. The tenant did not honour his contract with us, but would we have been able to evict them the moment the lease expired?" Ms Samra asked.
It is a complicated story involving the Housing Tribunal, the ex-girlfriend "who became a squatter and the police helping her remove her belongings as well as some of our furniture, breaking open the garage and destroying a door".
The lease was drawn up by letting agents before the Samras decided to manage the apartment themselves.
"Part of the lease states there must be a proper handover but the tenant ignored our emails and when he finally gave us a key, it didn't fit as his girlfriend had changed the locks. Although the apartment is furnished, he stored some of our furniture in the garage, so he has a lot of his own furniture and appliances in our flat, which he would have to remove," said Ms Samra, who claimed that the squatter was an "intern estate agent who was able to exploit the lease to her benefit".
Michelle Dickens, managing director of Tenant Profile Network (TPN), a registered credit bureau that also vets prospective tenants for landlords, said this case highlights just how important it is to use a lease agreement that is standardised in the industry.
"The TPN LeasePack (www.leasepack.co.za) for residential and commercial properties is constantly updated with new legislation and the latest in case law," Ms Dickens said. Mr Samra had a meeting at the tenant's office.
"However, since then he has not responded to any calls but he knows that his ex is no longer living there and he told us to take the boxes in the apartment to the dump. We are talking rooms full of boxes, some with his name on," Ms Samra said.
Ms Dickens said the lease agreement is still in place between the landlord and the original tenant and there is no legal relationship between the "squatter" and the landlord as the previous lease has not been cancelled.
"This is the same as when parents rent a property for their student son to stay in while he is at university. Only the party who signed the lease agreement (the parents) can be held liable," Ms Dickens said.
"Where the occupant or tenant changes the locks, it is considered an alteration to the property and is a material breach of the lease. The landlord should have placed the tenant, not the occupant, on terms to reinstall the original locks. It is important to note that the landlord cannot access the property without a court order or the tenant's permission.
"If the lease agreement has not been terminated or cancelled formally, it continues on a month to month basis according to the Rental Housing Act. The tenant and not the occupant is liable for the rental amounts. Therefore, the occupant cannot simply be removed without formally cancelling or terminating the lease agreement and granting of an eviction order by the court. Even though this person is considered a 'squatter' in the eyes of the landlord, the original tenant must be evicted together with the occupant of the property.
"The lease agreement is in the name of the tenant and he is thus the responsible party.
"An eviction can only be done legally through the courts and in this instance, the process set out in the Prevention of Illegal Evictions Act. Any other form of eviction is considered illegal and the landlord could get into serious trouble for doing so. There needs to be a valid court order in place to evict any party from a premises. Section 23 of the constitution also references that a court order is required to evict any person from any property," Ms Dickens noted.
She pointed out there is nothing stopping any person from abandoning a co-habitant in a property. That is why it is so important to properly vet your tenants beforehand and act proactively and quickly when something like this happens.
"Time is money in this situation. Many landlords are completely unaware of current eviction law and what to do when things go wrong. The best thing you can do is seek legal advice from an eviction specialist attorney," Ms Dickens explained.
The landlords can sue the tenant for back rent and damages but not the squatter as the damages stem from the lease agreement.
They would be able to sell his furniture if they secure a court order to do so.
"A rent interdict summons may be used to attach the goods on the property. However, the landlord should consider that a sheriff's auction is probably going to cost more than the actual money made from the sale. People rarely want second-hand microwaves. Or they could blacklist the tenant with TPN or any other credit bureau."
Visit www.tpn.co.za, call 0861 876 000 or email helpdesk@tpn.co.za for more information.
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Crécy-Couvé ist eine französische Gemeinde mit  Einwohnern (Stand: ) im Département Eure-et-Loir in der Region Centre-Val de Loire; sie gehört zum Arrondissement Dreux und zum Kanton Dreux-1.

Geographie
Crécy-Couvé liegt etwa sieben Kilometer südwestlich des Stadtzentrums von Dreux. Die Blaise begrenzt die Gemeinde im Südosten. Umgeben wird Crécy-Couvé von den Nachbargemeinden Garancières-en-Drouais im Nordwesten und Norden, Tréon im Osten, Aunay-sous-Crécy im Osten und Südosten sowie Saulnières im Süden und Westen.

Bevölkerungsentwicklung

Sehenswürdigkeiten
 Kirche Saint-Éloi-Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Monument historique seit 1992
 Schloss Crécy
 Mühle La Bellassière, Monument historique
 Brücke La Bellassière, Monument historique
 Justizvollzugsanstalt, Monument historique
 Hospital Saint-Jean, Monument historique
 ehemalige hydraulische Maschine

Weblinks

Ort in Centre-Val de Loire


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text:
Birmingham Hippodrome Season Brochure (Winter 2021-2)
Winter 2021/22 Welcome back, Birmingham
birminghamhippodrome.com 0844 338 5000*
Welcome Back! The temperature has dropped, the evenings have drawn in and the decorations are up and filling our foyers with some much-needed sparkle; it can only mean one thing... panto is on its way! An annual tradition loved as much by our staff as it is by the 100,000 plus audiences that come every year, we are over the moon that Goldilocks and the Three Bears will finally be exploding on to our stage from 18 December until 30 January starring Jason Donovan and Matt Slack. As we look forward to 2022, we are delighted to welcome back Matthew Bourne's glorious adaptation of the Nutcracker!, Carlos Acosta's sensational Don Quixote for Birmingham Royal Ballet as well as a host of West End blockbusters including the much awaited runs of Mamma Mia!, Waitress, We Will Rock You and Les Misérables, all rescheduled from 2020. Disney's magical production of Beauty and the Beast is set to arrive for its four week run from 3 March having received nightly standing ovations on tour. We want to reassure you that your safety and that of our team remains our main focus during this time of uncertainty. Our practices and procedures are constantly under review in order to meet with the latest government and industry guidance and our most up-to-date list of measures can be viewed on our website at any time. From all the team here at the Hippodrome, we would like to wish you a happy and healthy end to the year and we look forward to welcoming you back in the coming weeks and months.
Front Cover: Beauty and the Beast p10, Don Quixote p8, We Will Rock You p30 and Dear Zoo p25.
18 Dec — 30 Jan From £16 Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
Goldilocks and the Three Bears Age Guidance 5+
A stellar cast, led by actor singer and much-loved personality Jason Donovan and Hippodrome panto favourite Matt Slack, assemble at Birmingham Hippodrome to take you on the ultimate panto adventure. Dame Betty Barnum and her daughter Goldilocks' circus is under threat from an evil rival circus owner and, with the help of their madcap circus friends, they're battling to rescue their Big Top from ruin. Will they succeed? All seems lost, until three brilliant bears join the gang… Featuring sets and costumes direct from The London Palladium, Goldilocks and the Three Bears will be packed with riotous comedy, extraordinary special effects, hair-raising stunts and international circus acts.
Roll up, roll up to see panto join the circus, and be swept away by Birmingham Hippodrome's must-see festive extravaganza, the panto that's just right!
Captioned Sun 2 Jan 1pm & Wed 5 Jan 7.15pm BSL Interpreted Sun 9 Jan 1pm & 5.15pm Touch Tour Wed 12 Jan 12.30pm & Sat 15 Jan 1pm
"An incredible spectacle, with special effects following one after the other"
Audio Described Wed 12 Jan 2pm & Sat 15 Jan 2.30pm
What's On Stage
"Full-on pantomime extravaganza that maintains its sense of individuality"
Relaxed Performance Wed 26 Jan 12 noon (phone bookings only)
The Stage Access Families
ir of ears, d for a small pa Pantomime is lou cause tears! es tim me hts can so Spectacular sig are aw one, please be If bringing a little scare. to d de en int are s One or two scene laughter joke for grown-up The odd naughty er. Happily Ever Aft ish fin all we t Ensures tha
Friends, p32 Groups S
Reviews from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 2019/20. 03
Fri 1pm (Schools & Relaxed)* & 7.30pm
Thu 7.30pm*
Rosie Kay Dance Company
Motionhouse presents
ONLINE PREMIERE Award-winning choreographer and Hippodrome Associate, Rosie Kay's re-imagining of the classic tragedy is her "love letter to Birmingham" where young people's family loyalties give way to gang allegiance as teenagers play with adult rules. Filmed at Birmingham Hippodrome at its September 2021 premiere, now you can watch at home.
"A bloody, raw, up-to-the-minute take on the tragedy"
Fast-moving and highly physical, Nobody explores the tension between our inner lives and how we make sense of the world around us. Hippodrome Associate Motionhouse's renowned dance-circus style combines with mesmerising choreography to tell this emotional and ultimately uplifting story, full of twists and turns. Packed with visual magic, the world on stage is transformed before our eyes. Digital projections and the shape-shifting set create a constantly changing environment where nothing is quite what it seems…
i-News
"Expresses a poignant message" Birmingham Mail
"...a bold and absorbing pandemic-era spectacle" The Times
*This performance is open to all Age Guidance 7+
Discounts Access Friends, p32
*Tickets include on-demand access for 14 days from this date Age Guidance 10+ 04 Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
Groups S
Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
8 Feb — 12 Feb Tue – Sat 7.30pm Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm
From £22.50 Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! It's a Nutcracker! for all seasons, adored by audiences and critics alike. With family-sized helpings of Bourne's trademark wit and magical fantasy, Nutcracker! follows Clara's journey through a shimmering, ice-skating wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland, influenced by the lavish Hollywood musicals of the 1930's. Tchaikovsky's glorious score and Anthony Ward's delectable sets and costumes combine with Bourne's dazzling choreography to create a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation of the classic. Expect a sprinkling of delicious new surprises in this re-imagined production.
Hailed by The Observer as "the undisputed king of dance theatre", master storyteller, Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures company have produced some of the most successful dance productions of the last three decades including The Red Shoes, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Edward Scissorhands, his acclaimed Romeo and Juliet and most recently the world premiere of The Midnight Bell.
Age Guidance 5+
Audio Described Sat 12 Feb 2.30pm
Discounts Access Families Friends, p32 Groups S
"Witty, wonderful, tender and funny" The Guardian
"Utterly delicious. A dazzling extravaganza" Sunday Telegraph
"Ravishing" The Observer
Sat 8pm
Jack Dee: Off The Telly
Stewart Lee: Snowflake/Tornado
Join Jack Dee for an evening of entertainment (food and beverages not included) in his new stand-up tour.
Join us for a double-bill of two new 60 minute sets, back to back nightly from "the world's greatest living stand-up" (The Times). Including new material for 2022.
"In these difficult and uncertain times people need hope - a ray of sunshine to brighten their day. And that's very much where I come in" says Jack. Star of TV sitcoms Bad Move, Lead Balloon and Josh, Jack also hosts the legendary Radio 4 show I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. Additional credits include presenting Jack Dee's Helpdesk on BBC Two, C4's The Jack Dee Show, ITV's Jack Dee's Saturday Night, BBC's Jack Dee's Happy Hour and Jack Dee Live at the Apollo. "In fact," explains Jack, "I've probably appeared in every TV show with my name in the title". Other sidelines include Motivational Speaking, which Jack describes as "Basically a total waste of time, talking to losers, but the cash is decent" and then adds "Don't print that". It's so hard to tell when he's being serious. In recognition of his charity work, Jack was denied an OBE in 2015.
The first half, Snowflake, will be heavily rewritten in the light of the two years the show has been laid off, looking at how the CovidBrexit era has impacted on the culture war declared on lovely woke snowflakes by horrible people. The second half, Tornado, questions Stew's position in the comedy marketplace after Netflix mistakenly listed his show as "reports of sharks falling from the skies are on the rise again. Nobody on the Eastern Seaboard is safe."
"Lee remains one of the best stand-ups in the country" Metro
"There's no-one else to touch him" Mail on Sunday
Discounts 06
Sun 8pm
Age Guidance 14+
Tue 8pm
Off The Kerb Productions presents
Russell Kane Live!
Rob Beckett
Packing more energy than a Duracell factory on a nuclear reactor, Russell's strutting, turbolaugh engine will be in the building live and direct (plus support)!
Rob Beckett is back on tour with a brand-new stand-up show. It's been a busy few years for the Mouth of the South and he's coming to see you to fill you in and make you laugh.
Multi-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Russell Kane is best known for his stand-up, panel show and chat show appearances. Currently, he has two top-ten hits - with his BBC Radio 4 show Evil Genius, and his podcast Man Baggage. You will also have seen him doing funnies every week on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch throughout the last year.
Host of Rob Beckett's Undeniable (Comedy Central), BBC One's All Together Now and team captain on Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats. He is also the star of Sky's BAFTA-nominated Rob and Romesh Vs, BBC One's Live At The Apollo, Would I Lie To You?, Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, BBC Two's Mock The Week, ITV's Play To The Whistle, ITV2's Celebrity Juice and Sky's A League of Their Own. And he is a host of hugely popular podcast Parenting Hell, co-presented with Josh Widdicombe, which has had over 25 million downloads
Previously he's hosted the BBC's Stupid Man, Smart Phone and Live At The Electric.Other TV appearances include The Royal Variety Performance, BBC One's Live At The Apollo, BBC Three's Unzipped, and ITV 2's I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here Now. "Fierce, funny and heartfelt…. a thrilling reminder of what comedy can do" The Guardian's Number 1 Comedy Performance of 2020
"Lights up the stage with his magnetic personality (not to mention the dazzle from his teeth)" Mail on Sunday
"Relentlessly smiley, perpetually grinning Londoner whose unshowy, unpretentious, but thoroughly funny shtick has every chance of winning him a big audience…" The Guardian
Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42). 07
18 Feb — 26 Feb Tue – Sat 7.30pm Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm
From £22 Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
Birmingham Royal Ballet's Director Carlos Acosta promises entertainment for all ages when he brings an explosion of Spanish sunshine, spectacular dance and vivacious comedy to Birmingham Hippodrome. In a new production created especially for Birmingham Royal Ballet, Don Quixote introduces us to Cervantes, the famous knight himself, lovers Kitri and Basilio, and a host of supporting characters. As the Don sets out on a quest to track down his true love, with his loyal friend and servant Sancho Panza at his side, he finds himself embroiled in an unlikely adventure of love and dreams. Join us for the first UK performances of Acosta's sparkling new 21st-century production of this 19th-century masterpiece.
Live music, played by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. A Celebration of Black British Ballet: Oxygen Arts in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet present a panel discussion. Fri 25 Feb 4.30pm Patrick Studio FREE
Discounts Access Families Groups S
First Steps: Cinderella's storybook Fri 25 Feb 4.30pm, £14 In this hour-long, interactive show, specially adapted for children aged from three, our storyteller and Cinderella share highlights from some of our favourite ballets. A feast of dance, music, costumes and lots of fun, this is a perfect introduction to ballet. Ideal for Early Years and Key Stage 1 children.
Choreography Carlos Acosta after Marius Petipa Music Ludwig Minkus Production Carlos Acosta Designs Tim Hatley Lighting Peter Mumford
Céline Gittens as Kitri. Photo © Bella Kotak. 09
B IRM I NG HAM , B E O UR G U E ST !
3 Mar — 26 Mar Wed – Sat 7.30pm Tue 8 & Tue 22 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat & Sun 2.30pm
Beauty and the Beast Birmingham, Be Our Guest! The most enchanted musical of all time, Beauty and the Beast, returns to the stage for a new, completely reimagined UK & Ireland tour. Spectacularly reimagined using the latest theatrical innovations, Disney's beloved 'tale as old as time' has been brought to life on stage like never before, with all the charm and elegance audiences expect from Belle and her Beast.
Disney first debuted Beauty and the Beast on Broadway 26 years ago. Members of the original creative team have reunited on this new production that features all of the spellbinding music and lyrics of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.
BSL Interpreted Thu 10 Mar 7.30pm Relaxed Performance Tue 15 Mar 1.30pm Audio Described Sun 20 Mar 2.30pm Captioned Wed 23 Mar 7.30pm
Discounts Access Friends, p32 Groups S
29 Mar — 2 Apr Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed & Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time The National Theatre's global smashhit production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time returns to Birmingham this March as part of a 10th Anniversary Tour. Director Marianne Elliott's Olivier and Tony Award®-winning "extraordinary and unmissable" (Time) production brings Mark Haddon's best-selling novel to thrilling life on stage.
Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain. He is exceptional at maths, while everyday life presents some barriers. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbour's dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world.
BSL Interpreted Wed 30 Mar 7.30pm Captioned Thu 31 Mar 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 2 Apr 2.30pm
Discounts Access Families
"A beautiful, dazzlingly inventive show about the wonders of life"
Friends, p32 Groups
Evening Standard S
"Magical and Moving" Daily Mail
AS THE NARRATOR
AS PHARAOH
DPS 320mm Wide x 240mm High Plus 3mm Bleed
AS JOSEPH
9 Apr Oct 5 — 14 Apr Oct 16
'A TECHNICOLOR DELIGHT' METRO
Mon– – Sat 7.30pm Mon Wed & 2pm Wed Thu 7 2pm Sat 2.30pm 2.30pm Sat
£xx.xx From £30 Prices and and discounts subject Prices tochange change,(see where applicable to p42). 5% transaction charge may apply (excl. cash sales in person), postage from £1.
'A RIP-ROARING JOSEPH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY' THE SUN
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Book your dream ticket today! "Exercitationem ullam corporis "Sensational" suscipit Sunday Express Liverpool Echo
FREE Post-Show Talk Date Behind the Scenes Tour BSL Interpreted Date6p43 Wed Apr 7.30pm A History of Musical Captioned Theatre Course Thu 7 Apr 7.30pm p25 Audio Described Sat 9 Apr 2.30pm Audio Described Date Discounts Touch Tour Date Access Captioned Date Families Signed Date Friends, p32 Groups Discounts S
"This Joseph has mojo" The Times
Schools Access First Night, p34 Friends, p34
A CUT OUT PICTURE OF A SINGLE FIGURE OR ITEM FROM THE PRODUCTION CAN BE PLACED HERE
Steve Backshall - Ocean
21 Apr & 22 Apr
Thu & Fri 7pm
Don Giovanni Mozart
Steve Backshall's Ocean is a love letter to the greatest environment on our planet. Using stunts, experiments, props, cutting edge science and big screen footage from his two decades in TV, Steve brings to life the icons of the Big Blue, from Great whites to Great whales, from seals to sardine shoals and from Orca to the oddities of the deep. This is genuinely a show for any age, from the toddler with a shark obsession to the graduate zoologist... if you have a marine dream, this is the show for you. Ocean will not only bring the sea to the stage, but help us understand what we need to do to save our seas.
Opera's ultimate seducer is back and he's behaving very badly. The charismatic Don Giovanni seduces his way around Europe. He takes what he wants and lives for lust but his luck is about to change when his past catches up with him leading to his ultimate demise. Based on the legend of Don Juan, WNO's timeless production is set during the Spanish Golden Age. Mozart reflects both comedy and tragedy brilliantly in the score, including the Catalogue aria detailing Giovanni's list of 2065 lovers and the high drama of the heartstopping finale.
FREE Pre-Show Talk Thu 21 & Fri 22 Apr 5.45pm
Access Families
wno.org.uk/giovanni
Friends, p32
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
16 Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
Wed 7.15pm
Sat 7.15pm
Jenufa ˚
Madam Butterfly
Janáček
Jenufa ˚ has a secret. She is about to have a child out of wedlock, and hopes to marry the father before the secret is revealed. But her stepmother has other plans, and her desperate actions have terrible consequences for Jenufa. ˚ Set across seven months, the drama unfolds, and on Jenufa's eventual wedding day the truth ˚ of what really happened is revealed.
On the surface a dream-like wedding for a groom and his young, beautiful bride - but behind the façade is a cruel reality. Abandoned and betrayed, Butterfly finds her world crashing around her as her one chance for freedom becomes her prison. Her desperation and pain escalate as she fights for survival with devastating consequences.
A heart-wrenching tale of hope, love and despair, Jenufa ˚ has captivated audiences for a century. WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus conducts Katie Mitchell's acclaimed production that was described as 'the most powerful yet' last time it toured.
Madam Butterfly is a powerful story of unrequited love, human pain and suffering which is magnificently intensified by Puccini's glorious music, promising a night of drama and emotion. Inspired by Puccini's fantasy landscape of exotic pleasures, Lindy Hume's new production interprets Butterfly's famous story through a 21st-century lens.
FREE Pre-Show Talk Wed 20 Apr 6pm
FREE Pre-Show Talk Sat 23 Apr 5.45pm Audio Described Sat 23 Apr 7.15pm
wno.org.uk/jenufa
wno.org.uk/butterfly
Sung in Czech with English surtitles.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles. 17
3 May — 14 May Mon – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Wed 11 2pm Sat 2.30pm
MAMMA MIA! Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Sophie's quest to discover the father she's never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they'll never forget. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there's never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical in Birmingham.
BSL Interpreted Wed 11 May 7.30pm Captioned Thu 12 May 7.30pm
"An unforgettable evening" Edinburgh Evening News
"A terrific slice of sunshine. Thank you for the music!" Telegraph and Argus
Audio Described Sat 14 May 2.30pm
Discounts Access
"The sunniest of all shows MAMMA MIA! how could I resist you?"
Whatever age you are, you can't help but have the time of your life at MAMMA MIA!
Fri & Sat 1pm, Sat 7pm
Tue 7.30pm
Photo: Ambra Vernuccio
Akram Khan's Jungle Book reimagined In this brand-new dance work based on the original story by Rudyard Kipling, Akram Khan retells the classic tale of Jungle Book from the perspective of today's children - those who will inherit our world and become our future storytellers. Embedded in the roots of Jungle Book is the deep threat that mankind poses towards nature. Akram and his team reimagine the journey of Mowgli through the eyes of a refugee, caught in a world devastated by the impact of climate change; telling the story of how this child helps us to listen again, to the voices of the natural world that we, the modern world, try to silence. Jungle Book reimagined speaks to all generations as a reminder, to relearn and reimagine a new world together.
SHIAMAK presents
bollywood DIVAS After the success of spirit of INDIA and spirit of BOLLYWOOD, SHIAMAK presents bollywood DIVAS. The show is a dance tribute to the dream girls of Indian Cinema. Known for creating stunning visuals with breathtaking choreography, costumes, props and lighting design, Bollywood's trend setting entertainment icon Shiamak Davar, and his amazing creative team led by CEO, Glen D'Mello, have yet another spectacular show coming up. From Madhubala to Madhuri Dixit, Parveen Babi to Priyanka Chopra, Rekha to Rani Mukherjee, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Zeenat Aman, bollywood DIVAS pays tribute to all these leading ladies of Bollywood - the world's largest film industry based in Mumbai, India. The show will be performed by the SHIAMAK UK Dance Team which comprises of amazingly talented dancers from across the greater London area and Midlands. Age Guidance 5+
16 May — 21 May Mon – Sat 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Waitress "Treat yourself to a slice of five-star musical pie" (The Times) as Chelsea Halfpenny (9 to 5, BBC's Casualty, ITV's Emmerdale) stars as Jenna in the hit musical comedy Waitress. Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.
award-winning Sara Bareilles (Love Song, Brave) a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and direction by Tony® Award-winner Diane Paulus (Pippin, Finding Neverland). Having received standing ovations night after night in London's West End and on Broadway, Waitress is "the real deal" (The Independent) musical comedy "made from the finest ingredients" (Time Out). Book now and get your tickets to this "joyously life-affirming celebration of love and friendship" (The Express).
BSL Interpreted Thu 19 May 7.30pm Captioned Thu 19 May 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 21 May 2.30pm
Brought to life by a ground-breaking, female-led creative team, this "warm, witty, wise and hilarious" (The Express) hit features "one of the best scores in years" (The Stage) by the Grammy
15 Dec — 24 Dec
See p44-45 for times
From £17.50 Dear Santa Santa is determined to deliver the most fantastic Christmas present to Sarah, but he doesn't get it right straight away! With the help of his cheeky Elf, he finally settles on something 'perfect'. From the author of the well-loved children's book Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell, comes Dear Santa and it's LIVE! This show is an ideal introduction to theatre for those aged 2+ who believe in Santa. To spread the Christmas cheer; every child will receive a gift from us to you. "Magical family treat and a joy to watch" Mumsnet
18 Dec & 5 Feb
£5 in advance £8 on the door Jumprov! Looking for something new and exciting to do in Birmingham?! Well, grab a ticket and join Jumprov, who are the UK's first Black and Brown Improv group for a night of fun, featuring live sketch comedy which is completely made up on the spot using suggestions from you, the audience.
Age Guidance Dear Santa
2-7*
Jumprov!
Relaxed Performance Thu 16 Dec 10am & 1pm
Discounts Access I Friends
I Families I Schools I Groups
22 Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42). *Babes in arms (under 18 months) welcome, but please call to book in advance.
Thu 8pm
£14 (£12 conc) DanceXchange presents
Starving Dingoes by Léa Tirabasso In this exciting contemporary piece, five dancers embrace the desire to live furiously and passionately exploring the vital and sometimes brutal necessity to stay together to survive when facing the threat of a group of huge, obsessive primitive beasts. Starving Dingoes plunges the audience into a dreamworld - as adults re-experience the freedom of childhood - observing both the smallness and the depth of humanity without artifice, with a smirk, forgetting time and simply quenching the hunger for life.
16 Feb — 20 Feb
Wed – Sun, Various Times
Starving Dingoes is the latest work from critically acclaimed dancer and choreographer Léa Tirabasso, who received the prestigious Arts et Lettres in Luxembourg in 2016.
From £6.50 VERVE Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word 2022 Now in its fifth year, VERVE has become synonymous with a lively and celebratory approach to programming poetry of every different kind, whether it be raucous performance poetry events, quiet reading events, studious workshops, mind-blowing dramatic poetry, collaborative work and open mic poetry. Whether new to poetry or an old hand, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at VERVE! "By far one of the most inclusive and well curated poetry events I've ever been to" Anthony Anaxagorou
Discounts Access I Under 25s Starving Dingoes
Wed 8pm
Overflow by Alexander Whitley Company Featuring a dazzling kinetic light sculpture and intricate choreography, Overflow confronts how our desires, fantasies and vulnerabilities are powerfully influenced by social media platforms. Discover what lurks beneath our compulsions to check, share and like, and how now more than ever our lives are influenced by unseen algorithms and surveillance technologies. Alexander Whitley has a reputation for his bold, interdisciplinary approach, and ground-breaking use of digital technology. "Whitley's choreography is sinuous, sensuous and elemental" Evening Standard
Fri – Sun, Various Times
From £5 UniSlam Watch the UK and Ireland's most exciting spoken word poets perform live across the preliminary heats, Semi-Finals and Grand Finals of the UniSlam 2022 tournament. Guest performances from the esteemed judging panel; previous judges include Hollie McNish, Caroline Bird, Malika Booker and Caleb Femi. "UniSlam is a factory of dreams, ideologies, new philosophies and passions. It is the world, re-written" Joelle Taylor
Discounts Access I Under 25s
UniSlam
6 Apr — 10 Apr
£16 Dear Zoo Ben and Sally are searching for the perfect pet, but instead the zoo send a far too big elephant, a far too grumpy camel, and a far too jumpy frog. Whatever will they send next! Rod Campbell's much-loved lift the flap book has been a firm favourite with children and parents for nearly forty years. Lovingly adapted for the stage, his distinctive illustrations leap from the page in this colourful show, packed full of puppetry, songs and, of course, all the animals from the zoo. With lots of laughs and audience interaction, Dear Zoo is the perfect introduction to theatre for young children.
This dramatization of Dear Zoo is based on the book Dear Zoo text and illustrations © Rod Campbell 1982, 2007, published by Macmillan Children's Books.
21 May — 29 May
"A must-see for fans of the book, and for any young child who likes animals" What's Good to Do
£15.50 Oi Frog & Friends! FROG is looking for a place to sit, but CAT has other ideas and DOG is doing as he's told. Who knew there were so many rhyming rules and what will happen when FROG is in charge? Join us for Oi Frog & Friends!, the Olivier Award nominated action-packed stage adaptation of Kes Gray and Jim Field's bestselling books. Expect songs, puppets, laughs and more rhymes than you can shake a chime at. "ZANY, SILLY, GOOD-NATURED" The Times
"Enchanting and refreshing" The Stage
2+*
Wed 6 April 10.30am
Oi Frog & Friends!
Tue 24 May 1pm
Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42). *Babes in arms (under 18 months) welcome, but please call to book in advance.
24 May — 29 May Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat & Sun 2.30pm
Magic Goes Wrong Age Guidance 11+
BSL Interpreted Wed 25 May 7.30pm Captioned Thu 26 May 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 28 May 2.30pm
Discounts Access Friends, p32 Groups
Back with their biggest comedy catastrophe to date, multi awardwinning Mischief (The Play That Goes Wrong, BBC One's The Goes Wrong Show) return to the stage with their hilarious new show created with magic legends, Penn & Teller. A hapless gang of magicians are staging an evening of grand illusion to raise cash for charity. But as the magic turns to mayhem, accidents spiral out of control and so does their fundraising target! Raising the bar with their dare-devil stunts, jaw-dropping feats and irresistible comedy genius, Mischief's Magic Goes Wrong comes to Birmingham Hippodrome direct from the West End. Book your tickets now, before they vanish out of sight (or sellout!).
Photo of West End cast. See magicgoeswrong.com for tour cast details. 26
Penn & Teller are co-creators of the show and won't be appearing on stage.
"I'll be laughing into next week" The Sun
"Spellbinding romp by the masters of mischief" Daily Mail
"Fringe whizz-kids turned theatrical world leaders" The Telegraph
6 Jun — 11 Jun Mon – Sat 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Singin' in the Rain A smash-hit at Chichester Festival Theatre and in the West End, Jonathan Church's critically acclaimed production of Singin' in the Rain is back to make a splash in Birmingham in 2022.
romance and wit of one of the world's best-loved films. Singin' in the Rain features the glorious MGM score including Good Morning, Make 'Em Laugh and the legendary Singin' in the Rain.
Journey back to the glamour of Hollywood during the roaring 20's. Silent movie star Don Lockwood has it all, a string of hit films and a studioengineered romance with the most beautiful actress in town. What Don doesn't know is that the silver screen is about to find its voice, and a chance meeting with a talented young chorus girl set to steal his heart promises to change both Don, and Hollywood, forever.
Don't save it for a rainy day, book your tickets now!
High-energy choreography and sumptuous set design (including over 14,000 litres of water on stage every night) combine with the charm,
BSL Interpreted Thu 9 Jun 7.30pm Captioned Thu 9 Jun 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 11 Jun 2.30pm
"This all-tapping, all-splashing show will put a smile on anyone's face"
Families Friends, p32
"One of the most marvellous movie musicals of all time. Now bigger, bolder and better"
Birmingham Hippodrome is a leading festivals producer and partner in the region bringing the best of outdoor arts into the city and beyond. birminghamhippodrome.com/festivals
Major projects in 2021 included Birmingham Weekender at Bullring & Grand Central — B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival at Coventry UK City of Culture — In Memoriam at Aston Park — Global Rainbow laser installation —
Sun 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Sun 7.30pm
Oti Mabuse I Am Here
FREEDOM Starring Joe McElderry
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 & 2020 champion Oti Mabuse is bringing her brand new production to Birmingham Hippodrome for just two performances.
In the brand-new tour, X Factor winner, musical theatre star and number one selling artist Joe McElderry will pay homage to George Michael, one of the world's most iconic music legends.
Prepare for a show of electrifying choreography as the star of The Greatest Dancer and two time reigning Strictly Come Dancing champion Oti Mabuse is joined by some of the world's greatest dancers and the West End's finest singers and musicians. Oti Mabuse - I Am Here is a whirlwind celebration of the influences and inspirations that took her on a journey from growing up in South Africa to following her dream. From mesmerising Jives and pumping Sambas to South Africa's exhilarating Kwaito, this is an explosive night of dance and music that will set your heart racing.
Celebrating his immense catalogue of Grammy award-winning hits, FREEDOM will have audiences on their feet and reminiscing with fast-paced classics and sensational ballads performed by Joe and a full live band. This high energy show will take you on an unmissable journey through George's greatest hits including: Freedom, Careless Whisper, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Jesus To A Child, Fast Love, Club Tropicana, Amazing, Outside, Faith, and many more.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that this is a tribute production and is not affiliated or endorsed by the George Michael estate. Discounts Age Guidance 14+ Access Friends, p32 Groups Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
Discounts Access Prices and discounts subject to change (see p42).
4 Jul — 30 Jul Mon – Sat 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Tw we o adde eks to de d due man d!
We Will Rock You The worldwide smash-hit musical by Queen and Ben Elton returns to Birmingham Hippodrome. The multi-million-pound show dazzles all the senses in breath-taking style. Guaranteed to blow your mind, this musical phenomenon is not to be missed! Since 2002, over 16 million theatregoers in 19 countries have been thrilled by this awe-inspiring production. With 24 of Queen's biggest hits delivered in a show that boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the band's legendary live performances.
"A spectacular musical!" Daily Express
"A new breed of musical - brilliant" BBC Newsnight
"Exhilarating and great fun"
Captioned Thu 7 Jul 7.30pm BSL Interpreted Wed 13 Jul 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 16 Jul 2.30pm
"An evening of sheer entertainment and enjoyment. The show should run forever!"
Access Friends, p32 Groups
Memberships... Patrons Hippodrome Patrons play a vital role in sustaining our charitable commitments, helping us to create opportunities for everyone to access the arts. A Patron membership offers you the chance to get behind-the-scenes, be a part of special events, be the first to know about and book premium seats for sell-out shows, enjoy discounts and make use of our luxury VIP Proscenium Lounge. From just £27.50 per month, you'll become part of the Hippodrome 'family' and help us achieve our ambitions, because Arts Matter!
birminghamhippodrome.com/ patrons
Let's Be Friends If you're passionate about theatre and want to enjoy a host of exclusive benefits such as priority booking, great savings on tickets and discounts on food and drinks - join our membership scheme from only £50 per year.
birminghamhippodrome.com/ friends
CREATIVES CARD
Are you an artist, producer or creative living or working in Birmingham and the West Midlands? Sign up for our Hippodrome Creatives Card today! We want to make sure that the creative talent of our region is able to develop, thrive, and make careers from a base at Birmingham Hippodrome. You can also benefit from free rehearsal space, space to work and meet in, ticket offers and much more!
birminghamhippodrome.com/ creatives
2 Aug — 6 Aug Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed & Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm
The Cher Show Six decades of stardom, over a hundred million records sold. Legend, icon, Queen. She is Cher and this is her show. Goddess warrior of pop turned Hollywood royalty, the Grammy®, Oscar®, Emmy® and Golden Globe® award-winning Queen of re-invention has conquered it all. It's now time to turn back time with this fiercely fabulous kick-ass new musical, from the writer of Jersey Boys, to honour the original Queen of sass - the inimitable Cher. From a young kid with big dreams, to the dizzying heights of global stardom, The Cher Show tells the incredible story of Cher's meteoric rise to fame, flying in the face of convention at every turn.
In a dazzling glitter fest of flamboyant glory, sparkling with Cher's signature wit and style, you'll be spinning in the aisles to the sounds of her biggest hits, including The Shoop Shoop Song, I Got You Babe, If I Could Turn Back Time, Strong Enough and Believe. A joyous party musical celebrating independence and individuality - be inspired by the greatest influencer of our time.
BSL Interpreted Wed 3 Aug 7.30pm Captioned Thu 4 Aug 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 6 Aug 2.30pm
Written by Tony award-winning Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), this brand new UK production is directed by Arlene Phillips (Grease, Starlight Express), choreographed by Oti Mabuse (double Strictly winner) with costumes by Gabriella Slade (Spice World Tour, SIX). Cher the love and believe again!
9 Aug — 27 Aug Mon – Sat 7.30pm Wed & Thu 11 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Les Misérables Returning by popular demand following a sell-out run, Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg's musical Les Misérables returns to Birmingham Hippodrome in August 2022. This brilliant new staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed "Les Mis for the 21st Century". With scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, the magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs; I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, One Day More, Master Of The House and many more.
Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 52 countries and in 22 languages, Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world's most popular musicals. Storm the barricades for a ticket! "This reborn dream of a production looks and sounds fresher than ever" The Telegraph
"Dazzling! The audience stood and roared its approval"
Audio Described Sat 13 Aug 2.30pm BSL Interpreted Wed 17 Aug 7.30pm Captioned Thu 25 Aug 7.30pm
30 Aug — 3 Sep Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed & Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Beautiful Age Guidance 10+
BSL Interpreted Wed 31 Aug 7.30pm Captioned Thu 1 Sep 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 3 Sep 2.30pm
Produced on Broadway and in London by Paul Blake, SONY/ATV Music Publishing and Mike Bosner. 36
A brand new production of the award winning West End and Broadway show, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, comes to Birmingham Hippodrome. Long before she was Carole King, the chart-topping music legend, she was an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.
Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation, with countless classics such as (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Take Good Care of My Baby, You've Got a Friend, So Far Away, It Might as Well Rain Until September, Up on the Roof, and The Locomotion.
4 Oct — 15 Oct Mon – Sat 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Sister Act The Musical Brace yourselves Sisters! The eagerly anticipated Broadway and UK smashhit musical Sister Act is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome. This sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won't be found a convent!
Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney's Aladdin, Enchanted) and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this joyous and hilarious musical is one nostalgia-filled trip back to the 70s that you will never forget.
Captioned Thu 6 Oct 7.30pm BSL Interpreted Wed 12 Oct 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 15 Oct 2.30pm
Star casting to be announced.
31 Oct — 5 Nov Mon – Sat 7.30pm Wed 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Strictly Ballroom Age Guidance 7+
BSL Interpreted Wed 2 Nov 7.30pm Captioned Thu 3 Nov 7.30pm Audio Described Sat 5 Nov 2.30pm
Strictly Ballroom the Musical, based on the award-winning world-wide film phenomenon, is heading to Birmingham Hippodrome, starring Strictly Come Dancing's Kevin Clifton!
Federation, he must dance with beginner, Fran. Together they find the courage to defy tradition and discover that to win, your steps don't need to be strictly ballroom!
With direction from dancer, choreographer, theatre director and Britain's favourite TV Judge, Craig Revel Horwood, Strictly Ballroom the Musical will be foxtrotting to Birmingham in 2022.
Featuring toe tapping numbers such as Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time, as well as several wonderful new songs by internationally acclaimed artists including Sia, David Foster and Eddie Perfect. This spectacle is sure to make for an unforgettable evening under the glitter ball that will send your heart soaring!
Bringing together a cast of over 20 world class performers, Strictly Ballroom the Musical follows rebellious young ballroom dancer, Scott Hastings. When his radical dance style sees him fall out of favour with the Australian
...to all our supporters - major donors, patrons, sponsors, corporate patrons, and Trusts & Foundations - for helping us to create opportunities for everyone to access the arts. We hope you share our belief in the value of arts and culture for communities here in the West Midlands and will help us bring our charitable ambitions to life. Because Arts Matter!
Major Gifts Mrs A Cole • Racheal & Adrian Jessop • Mrs T Justham • Mark & Amanda Smith • Peter Tod • Mr J Weston • Anonymous Donors
Hippodrome Circle Patrons
Headline Act Patrons
David & Nicola George • Mark Hopton • Maureen & Roy Kirby • Anne & Matthew Lewis • Chris & Jane Loughran • Mr & Mrs Mosedale • Linda Sleath • Mark & Amanda Smith • Paul Twose
The Dickens Foundation • Dr & Mrs George Harrison • Marc & Michelle Messer • Emma & Peter Neads • Janette Rutter • Helen Thompson
Leading Role Patrons John & Heather Clemson • Sara & Tim Fowler • Stephen Glover • Averil Green • Andy & Rebecca Hammond • Alison & Jamie Justham • Steve & Erin Kearney & Maria Mosley • Debbie & Mark Lilburne • Michael & Cerys Luckman • Jeremy & Harjinder Millington • John & Sandra Phenix • Tony & Julie Phillips • Paul Puttergill • David Renton • Steve & Suzie Whittern • Neil & Polly Wilson • Phillip Wright • Anonymous Patrons
Supporting Cast Patrons Mark, Liz & Holly Abrol • Fiona Allan • Christine Bachelor • Simon Bashford • Bridget Blow • Simon & Amanda Boardman-Weston • Richard Burke • Andrew & Sarah Connors • Teresa Cook • Adrian Cox • Marcus & Linda Daly • Rachel Davies • Gareth Edwards & Jane Mitchell • Patricia & Ronald Etchells • Nicola Fleet-Milne • Mark Forty • Katie Fraser • Neil & Jackie Frettsome • Kerry Jennings • Emma Griffin • Martin & Roni Guest • Pauline Hancock & Simon Derby • Joseph Hassett • Dorothy Hobson • David Jackson • Victoria J T Jenkins & George Constance • John Jeremy & Pamela Buckley • Jan Johnson • Rodney & Alyson Kettel • Claire Kimbley • Martin & Joanne King • Andy Le Marr • Martin Levermore & Michele Taylor • Lynne Myers • Katie Newbon • Win Palmer & Lola Ralph • Mrs Jill Parker • John & Jill Queenan • Dr and Mrs Reynolds • David & Jane Richardson • Emma Rowley • Mary Shaw • Sukhvinder Singh • Wendy Smith & Family • Christine Spittle • Gwen Stephens • Glynis Troth • Mrs Ann Wailing & Mrs Vanessa Ottley • Alex Watson • Anonymous Patrons
1899 Club Founder Members Maureen Booth • James Clews • Kirsty Davies-Chinnock • Mr & Mrs P Davies • Alaine Fendek • Rob Macpherson • Rachael Magson • Rosie Milsom • John & Teresa Purser • Roger Rivett • Ann Tonks • Mr J Weston • Margaret Plumley • Our other generous donors
Name A Seat 2019 Pauline Bolton • Rebecca Carter • Lisa Cartwright • Natal Chapman • Barbara Colvin • Raj Dhokia • Sara Ellis • Joel Hales • Karen Heath • Joanne Huzzey • Mia Illsley • Sadie Jevons • Linda McLeod • Victoria Pritchard • David Richardson • Debbie Sangha • Peter Tod & Velocity Worldwide
To find out how you or your business can play your part, please get in touch with Judith Greenburgh, Head of Fundraising and Development on 0121 689 3082 or email fundraising@birminghamhippodrome.com 40
We look forward to welcoming you to the Hippodrome 'family' - together we can make a real difference.
Trusts & Foundations Arts Connect WM • The Bernard Piggott Trust • Birmingham Bodenham Trust • The Bishop of Birmingham Charitable Trust • CBRE Charitable Trust • Derek Hill Foundation • Edward & Dorothy Cadbury Trust • The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust • The Eveson Charitable Trust • The Garrick Charitable Trust • GJW Turner Trust • The Grantham Yorke Trust • The Grimmitt Trust • Hobson Charity • IMI Charitable Trust • The Oakley Charitable Trust - The Owen Family Trust • The Richardson Brothers Foundation • Roger and Douglas Turner Charitable Trust • The Rowan Trust • The Saintbury Trust • The Sir Barry Jackson Trust • The Sir Robert Gooch Trust • Richard Burns - The Thousandth Man Trust • The Uncle Bill Trust • The W E Dunn Trust
Good Company Club Lorica Insurance Brokers • Professional Polishing Services Ltd • Squire Patton Boggs • SX Media
Sponsors and Project Partners
We're looking forward to welcoming you…
Our Covid Measures We are constantly reviewing our processes and procedures in line with the latest government guidance, ensuring the safety of our visitors and teams. Our most up-to-date list of measures can be found online at birminghamhippodrome.com/CovidSafety
It's easy to find us Main entrance address Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB. We also have a public entrance on Thorp St. We are easy to find and have great connections to public transport and nearby car parks. The Arcadian Car Park (Bromsgrove St, B5 6NU) opposite our main entrance has disabled parking with access to street level. Check networkwestmidlands.com for details on public transport routes, or call Traveline on 0871 200 2233 (fees may apply). Both New Street and Moor Street train stations are very close and well signposted. Many bus routes and the West Midlands Metro pass very nearby, and we are well-served by taxi ranks. Please note Tickets are sold for the use of the buyer only (and his or her party) and are not for resale for commercial gain by the holder. We reserve the right to cancel tickets and refuse entry without refund if this condition is breached.
How to book You can book or reserve tickets, become a Friend, reserve a table in our lounge areas, make a donation or just ask us a question. •	Tickets and information 0844 338 5000 (calls cost 4.5p per min plus your phone company's access charge). •	Our ticket sales counter at the theatre opens 1 hour before a performance and closes 30 minutes after the show starts. It is closed on non-performance days. •	Our ticket sales phonelines are open 10am – 6pm Mon – Fri. They are closed on weekends and bank holidays. •	Choose your own seats online (to a maximum of nine tickets per performance): birminghamhippodrome.com •	Select your own seats may not be available on busy onsale days to help manage website demand. •	Organise a group booking on 0844 338 7000 (calls cost 4.5p per min plus your phone company's access charge). Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm. •	We offer a post-purchase enquiries only line on 0121 689 1070. •	For enquiries about accessibility, please use the Access phone line on 0121 689 1060. NB: For staff training, from time to time we may change our opening hours, and occasionally we monitor calls. Payment •	We accept most major credit and debit cards. After payment, we'll send e-tickets no later than 2 weeks before a performance date unless booked within that period. •	We also take cheques payable to 'Birmingham Hippodrome'. •	Unfortunately we don't accept SOLT Theatre Tokens, but you can buy and redeem our own Birmingham Hippodrome Gift Vouchers.
A note on ticket prices, discounts and charges •	All ticket prices listed in this brochure and elsewhere are subject to change at any time. •	In response to demand we may adapt prices, seating areas and discounting, and availability of concessions or discounts may be limited at our discretion. •	Check online at birminghamhippodrome.com or call us on 0844 338 5000* for current prices. •	Tickets for selected events may include a building improvement levy retained by Birmingham Hippodrome. •	We will always endeavour to keep discounts as generous as possible so that no bookers are at a disadvantage. Discounts vary, cannot be combined nor applied retrospectively, and 42
Privacy Policy We regularly update our privacy policy to comply with the latest regulations. You can change your preferences at any time by contacting us online, by post or by phone. See birminghamhippodrome.com/privacypolicy. Donations When booking tickets, please consider making a small donation. This helps us continue expanding our community projects, access initiatives, and education work. Donations may be eligible for Gift Aid at no extra cost to you. Conditions of sale Full terms and conditions are available at birminghamhippodrome.com or you can call us on 0844 338 5000* and just ask one of our friendly team. Children We want our productions to be enjoyed by everyone, but very young children can get bored or easily upset by special effects. This is why, unless otherwise stated, we don't admit children under 3 into our main house performances. See individual show pages or the website for more detailed age guidance. For family shows in our Patrick Studio, young children are welcome and we always indicate any terms or prices for babes in arms (18 months and under). Please book babes in arms in advance on 0844 338 5000.* Everyone admitted to the theatre needs a ticket. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult so we know they are safe. Access •	Assisted Performances: for dates of relaxed, audiodescribed, captioned or BSL interpreted performances, please see the show pages or refer to the diary on pages 44/45. Visit birminghamhippodrome.com or call our Access phone line on 0121 689 1060 for further details. •	Visually-impaired: Guide dogs are very welcome in the theatre and can be looked after by staff during performances. Should you require a seat close to entrances, please ask when booking. Please let us know when booking if you need any help. Please book your guide dog in with Ticket Sales in advance of your visit. •	Deaf, deafened and hard-of-hearing: if you'd like a receiver, just ask at Access Assistance Desk, located at our main entrance. We can arrange seats close to the signer or caption board for BSL interpreted and captioned performances. •	Impaired mobility: Automatic doors and lifts are available for wheelchair users and we have wheelchair positions both in our main auditorium and Patrick Studio. We have accessible unisex and ambulant disabled toilets on all levels, plus low-level counter service. Toilet facilities To ensure everyone's welcome at Birmingham Hippodrome, in common with an increasing number of public places, we've introduced all gender toilets on Level 4. Designated Male toilets and Female toilets are still available and easily accessible on all other floors. Enjoy your next visit! Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, changes may occur.
may be restricted or limited. They are generally available on presentation of valid ID, and our range includes: 18 and under or 65+, full-time students, selected Hippodrome memberships, benefits claimants, groups of 8+ or 10+ upwards, school and youth groups, those with access or disability needs, plus occasional early booking discounts or special offers. •	Charges vary with other agents selling on our behalf. We regularly use Ticketmaster and other well-known agents. You are advised to check their charges when booking. •	We have several 0844 telephone numbers. *Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.
Please take your seats
Circle 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
R 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 N 2 3
M 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 L 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 K 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
H 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
G 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
F 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
UPPER BOXES
C 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
B 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
LOWER BOXES
LOWER BOXES 3 seats
All boxes offer some restricted viewing
V 2 3 4 5 6 V U 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 T 1 U 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 T 1 1 2 S 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 S 1 1 2 R 2 3 3 R 1 3 1 2 Q 2 3 Q P 1 2 2 3 3 P 2 0 3 3
7 8 9 10 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10
4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9
10 10 11 11 12 12 0 3 N 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 N 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 M 4 5 6 7 8 M 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 L 5 L K 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 K 6 7 8 J 8
9 10 11 12 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 9
28 29 30 28 29 30 29 30 31 32 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 29 30 31 33 32 34 30 31 32 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34
18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29
30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34
LOUNGE BB LOUNGE BB
36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41
14 15 15 16 16 J H 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 14 14 15 15 16 16 H 9 10 11 12 G 14 G 14 15 15 16 16 F 14 F 14 14 15 15 16 16 E E 14 14 D C 1 2 3 D 4 14 5 C B 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 B A 1 12 23 34 A 1 2 3
15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 15 15 19 20 6 16 7 17 8 18 9 10 11 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 5 9 10 45 56 67 78 89 10 9
32 33 33 34 34 32 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 29
Circle overhead (Row N backwards)
LOUNGE AA LOUNGE AA
33 34 34 33 33 25 34 26 27 28 29 24 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 23 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 28 22
Transfer seats Transfer seats Companion seats Companion seats
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Stage Please note: This diagram is a guide and not an accurate representation of seating positions. Stalls Rows A – D are not used for Opera and Ballet performances. Other variations may apply due to technical reasons. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, changes may occur.
Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Limited Registered Charity No. 510842 Glenn Howells (Chair) • Andrew Connors • Martin Guest • Andrew Hammond • Vidar Hjardeng MBE • Immy Kaur • Elizabeth Lawal • Harj Millington • Suzie Norton • Tru Powell • Ann Tonks Special Adviser: John Crabtree OBE 43
Performance diary
Dec Wed 15	Dear Santa	1pm	Thu 16	Dear Santa	10am & 1pm Sat 18	Dear Santa	10am, 1pm & 4pm	Sat 18	Jumprov!	7.45pm	Sun 19	Dear Santa	10am, 1pm & 4pm Mon 20	Dear Santa	10am, 1pm & 4pm	Tue 21	Dear Santa	10am, 1pm & 4pm	Wed 22	Dear Santa	10am, 1pm & 4pm	Thu 23	Dear Santa	10am, 1pm & 4pm	Fri 24	Dear Santa	10am & 1pm
Fri 4	Beauty and the Beast	Sat 5	Beauty and the Beast	Sun 6	Beauty and the Beast	Tue 8	Beauty and the Beast	Wed 9	Beauty and the Beast	Thu 10	Beauty and the Beast	Fri 11	Beauty and the Beast	Sat 12	Beauty and the Beast	Sun 13	Beauty and the Beast	Tue 15	Beauty and the Beast	Wed 16	Beauty and the Beast	Thu 17	Beauty and the Beast	Fri 18	Beauty and the Beast
7.30pm 2.30pm & 7.30pm 2.30pm 7.30pm 2pm & 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 2.30pm & 7.30pm 2.30pm 1.30pm 2pm & 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm
Fri 18 -	UniSlam	Sat 20	Sat 19	Beauty and the Beast	Sun 20	Beauty and the Beast	Tue 22	Beauty and the Beast	Wed 23	Beauty and the Beast	Thu 24	Beauty and the Beast	Fri 25	Beauty and the Beast	Sat 26	Beauty and the Beast
2.30pm & 7.30pm 2.30pm 7.30pm 2pm & 7.30pm 7.30pm 2pm & 7.30pm 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Tue 29	The Curious Incident of	the Dog in The Night-Time
Wed 30	The Curious Incident of	the Dog in The Night-Time
2pm & 7.30pm
Thu 31	The Curious Incident of	the Dog in The Night-Time
Apr Fri 1	Sat 2	Tue 5	Wed 6
18 Dec - 30 Jan See p3
Feb Fri 4	Sat 5	Sat 5
Motionhouse - Nobody	1pm & 7.30pm Jumprov!	7.45pm Jack Dee	8pm
MB's Nutcracker!	7.30pm
Wed 9	MB's Nutcracker!	7.30pm
Thu 10	MB's Nutcracker!	Thu 10	DX - Starving Dingoes
2pm & 7.30pm	8pm
Fri 11	MB's Nutcracker!	7.30pm
Sat 12	MB's Nutcracker!	2.30pm Sun 13	Stewart Lee	8pm
& 7.30pm
Wed 16 VERVE Festival	Various Times 23 - Sun 20	Fri 18	BRB Don Quixote 7.30pm 8 Sat 19	BRB Don Quixote 2.30pm & 7.30pm 8 Tue 22	BRB Don Quixote 7.30pm 8 Wed 23	BRB Don Quixote 7.30pm 8 Thu 24	BRB Don Quixote 2pm & 7.30pm 8 Fri 25	BRB First Steps 4.30pm 9 Fri 25	BRB Don Quixote 7.30pm 8 Sat 26	BRB Don Quixote 2.30pm & 7.30pm 8
Mar 44 05
Wed 2	DX - Overflow	Thu 3	Beauty and the Beast
8pm 7.30pm
The Curious Incident of	7.30pm the Dog in The Night-Time The Curious Incident of	2.30pm the Dog in The Night-Time Joseph and the Amazing	7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Dear Zoo	10.30am
Wed 6	Joseph and the Amazing	2pm & 7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Thu 7	Dear Zoo	10.30am & 1.30pm
Thu 7	Fri 8	Fri 8	Sat 9
Joseph and the Amazing	Technicolor Dreamcoat Dear Zoo	Joseph and the Amazing	Technicolor Dreamcoat Dear Zoo
10.30am & 1.30pm 7.30pm
10.30am, 1.30pm & 4pm 25
Sat 9	Joseph and the Amazing	2.30pm & 7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Sun 10	Dear Zoo	11am Mon 11	Joseph and the Amazing	7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Tue 12	Joseph and the Amazing	7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Wed 13	Joseph and the Amazing	2pm & 7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Thu 14	Joseph and the Amazing	7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Fri 15	Joseph and the Amazing	7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Sat 16	Joseph and the Amazing	2.30pm & 7.30pm Technicolor Dreamcoat Sun 17	Steve Backshall - Ocean	2pm Wed 20	WNO Jenufa	7.15pm Thu 21	WNO Don Giovanni	7pm Fri 22	WNO Don Giovanni	7pm Sat 23	WNO Madam Butterfly	7.15pm Sun 24	Romesh Ranganathan	8pm SOLD OUT Mon 25	Romesh Ranganathan	8pm SOLD OUT Tue 26	Romesh Ranganathan	8pm SOLD OUT Wed 27	Romesh Ranganathan	8pm SOLD OUT Fri 29	Akram Khan's Jungle Book	1pm reimagined Sat 30	Akram Khan's Jungle Book	1pm & 7pm reimagined
Tue 3	Mamma Mia! 7.30pm 18 Wed 4 Mamma Mia! 7.30pm 18 Thu 5	Mamma Mia! 2pm & 7.30pm 18 Fri 6	Mamma Mia! 7.30pm 18 Sat 7	Mamma Mia! 2.30pm & 7.30pm 18 Mon 9	Mamma Mia! 7.30pm 18 Tue 10	Mamma Mia! 7.30pm 18 Wed 11	Mamma Mia! 2pm & 7.30pm 18 Thu 12	Mamma Mia! 2pm & 7.30pm 18 Fri 13	Mamma Mia! 7.30pm	18 Sat 14	Mamma Mia! 2.30pm & 7.30pm 18 Mon 16	Waitress 7.30pm 21 Tue 17	Waitress 7.30pm 21 Wed 18	Waitress 2pm & 7.30pm 21 Thu 19	Waitress 7.30pm 21 Fri 20	Waitress 7.30pm 21 Sat 21	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm 25 Sat 21	Waitress 2.30pm & 7.30pm 21 Sun 22	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm 25 Tue 24	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am & 1pm 25 Tue 24	Magic Goes Wrong	7.30pm 26 Wed 25	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am & 1pm 25 Wed 25	Magic Goes Wrong	2pm & 7.30pm 26 Thu 26	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am & 1pm 25 Thu 26	Magic Goes Wrong	7.30pm 26 Fri 27	Magic Goes Wrong	7.30pm 26 Sat 28	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm 25 Sat 28	Magic Goes Wrong	2.30pm & 7.30pm 26 Sat 29	Oi Frog and Friends! 10.30am, 1pm & 3.30pm 25 Sun 29	Magic Goes Wrong	2.30pm 26 Tue 31	Bollywood DIVAS
Jun Fri 3	Joe Lycett	7.30pm SOLD OUT Sat 4	Joe Lycett	7.30pm SOLD OUT Mon 6	Singin' in the Rain	7.30pm Tue 7	Singin' in the Rain	7.30pm Wed 8	Singin' in the Rain	2pm & 7.30pm Thu 9	Singin' in the Rain	7.30pm Fri 10	Singin' in the Rain	7.30pm Sat 11	Singin' in the Rain	2.30pm & 7.30pm Sun 12 Russell Kane	8pm Tue 14 Rob Beckett	8pm
7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 2pm & 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 2.30pm & 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 2pm & 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30
Sat 30	We Will Rock You
2.30pm & 7.30pm
2.30pm & 7.30pm	29 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 2pm & 7.30pm	30 7.30pm 30 7.30pm	30 2.30pm & 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 2pm & 7.30pm 30 7.30pm	30 7.30pm	30 2.30pm & 7.30pm	30
Audio Described Performance Captioned Performance BSL Interpreted Performance Relaxed Performance (phone and counter booking only)
Aug Tue 2	The Cher Show	7.30pm 33 Wed 3	The Cher Show	2pm & 7.30pm 33 Thu 4	The Cher Show	2pm & 7.30pm 33 Fri 5	The Cher Show	7.30pm 33 Sat 6	The Cher Show	2.30pm & 7.30pm 33 Tue 9	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Wed 10	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Thu 11	Les Misérables	2pm & 7.30pm 34 Fri 12	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Sat 13	Les Misérables	2.30pm & 7.30pm 34 Mon 15	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Tue 16	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Wed 17	Les Misérables	2pm & 7.30pm 34 Thu 18	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Fri 19	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Sat 20	Les Misérables	2.30pm & 7.30pm 34 Mon 22	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Tue 23	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Wed 24	Les Misérables	2pm & 7.30pm 34 Thu 25	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Fri 26	Les Misérables	7.30pm 34 Sat 27	Les Misérables	2.30pm & 7.30pm 34 Tue 30	Beautiful	7.30pm 36 Wed 31	Beautiful	2pm & 7.30pm 36
Sep Thu 1	Beautiful	Fri 2	Beautiful	Sat 3
Jul Sun 3	Oti Mabuse - I Am Here	Mon 4	We Will Rock You	Tue 5	We Will Rock You	Wed 6	We Will Rock You	Thu 7	We Will Rock You	Fri 8	We Will Rock You	Sat 9	We Will Rock You	Mon 11	We Will Rock You	Tue 12	We Will Rock You	Wed 13	We Will Rock You	Thu 14	We Will Rock You	Fri 15	We Will Rock You	Sat 16	We Will Rock You
Mon 18	We Will Rock You	Tue 19	We Will Rock You	Wed 20	We Will Rock You	Thu 21	We Will Rock You	Fri 22	We Will Rock You	Sat 23	We Will Rock You	Mon 25	We Will Rock You	Tue 26	We Will Rock You	Wed 27	We Will Rock You	Thu 28	We Will Rock You	Fri 29	We Will Rock You
2pm & 7.30pm 7.30pm
Beautiful	2.30pm
Oct Tue 4	Sister Act	7.30pm 37 Wed 5 Sister Act 2pm & 7.30pm 37 Thu 6	Sister Act 7.30pm 37 Fri 7	Sister Act 7.30pm 37 Sat 8	Sister Act 2.30pm & 7.30pm 37 Sun 9	Joe McElderry - Freedom 7.30pm 29 Mon 10	Sister Act 7.30pm 37 Tue 11	Sister Act 7.30pm 37 Wed 12	Sister Act 2pm & 7.30pm 37 Thu 13	Sister Act 7.30pm 37 Fri 14	Sister Act 7.30pm	37 Sat 15	Sister Act 2.30pm & 7.30pm 37
Tickets & Information 0844 338 5000* | birminghamhippodrome.com
Schools Only (not available online) Talk Patrick Studio
If undelivered, please return to Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB
Tickets & Information 0844 338 5000* Group Bookings 0844 338 7000* Administration 0844 338 5010*
birminghamhippodrome.com
Events 0844 338 6500*
*Calls cost 4.5p per minute plus your phone company's access charge
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text:
Grief & Coping
How My Grandmother's Suicide Led Me To Become A Seeker
by Diana Raab
"Let the past make you better, not bitter."
~ Unknown
I remember the year I turned ten and my mother handed me a red leather Kahlil Gibran journal that had beautiful quotes at the top of each page. My grandmother had just committed suicide in my childhood home, and my mother knew that writing would help me feel better.
My mom was an English major in college and was dealing with her own grief, but as an only child who'd just lost her mother, she found it too challenging to manage my grief in addition to hers. It was the 1960s, and therapy was not commonplace. She figured that a journal would be a good substitute, and she was right.
My journal served as a springboard for questions begging for answers, such as why my grandmother had committed suicide at the age of 61, and why my parents wouldn't allow me to go to her funeral. Instead, they sent me to stay with my aunt and uncle.
Writing also led me to ask other meaningful questions, such as, Why was I an only child, and what it was like for my father to have survived the Holocaust?
For days on end, I sat in my walk-in closet with clothes hanging over my head, writing in my new journal. I poured my grief onto its pages. Those writing days were also the beginning of my life as a seeker–that is, someone seeking answers to life's mysteries.
As a seeker, I always found that writing helped me pose and answer some of life's most important questions, such as those related to my life purpose, destiny, and how to tap into my passions. These questions inspired me to look for the messages of my heart–which came to serve as a source of growth and transformation.
I wanted to understand the reasons why certain things happened. In essence, losing my grandmother led me down a path of self-discovery. Writing also allowed me to tap into questions about my soul's quest and my own mortality, and helped me come face-to-face with my periodic bouts of depression.
Coincidentally, my grandmother had also been a writer. Years after her passing, I found her journal, where she wrote about her tormented life as an orphan, and "an unwanted child," during World War I. After reading her words, I realized that we'd shared many parallel experiences and emotions, which led us both to become seekers.
Seekers are often those who have experienced either physical or psychological trauma. We become seekers as a way to understand ourselves and the world in which we live. Many writers, especially poets like myself, are seekers. While we may not know why we initially sit down to write, as we do so, answers to unanswered questions emerge, which can lead to healing and transformation.
Although I became a devoted seeker after my grandmother's suicide, I do believe I was probably one even before that momentous event. I was born to an Austrian mother who believed that children should be seen and not heard. As a result, I was often silenced. I had to seek peace and answers from within and from the scribblings in my journal.
My seeking might also be connected to my fascination, as a young girl, with reading biographies and magazines such as True Confessions. Real-life stories often provide a deep connection to the kinds of experiences that offer answers to seekers who are posing questions.
Some years ago I taught a workshop called "Writing with Lust." The participants were from all walks of life. I learned that they had one common thread–they all admitted that they were seekers of one type or another. They had questions for which they sought answers and expressed that they were on journeys of self-discovery.
Like me, writing helped them on their journeys. Sometimes writing down one's deepest feelings can be scary, but the results are often worth it. That is, no risk, no reward. Writing from one's deep, authentic self leads to healing, growth, and transformation.
When I was writing about my grandmother, I realized that for different reasons, both of us were unwanted by our mothers. Seeking to understand why has been a lifelong mission for me, but now that my mother is in the latter years of her life, I have come to understand her better, and, through writing, I have received some closure.
Because my grandmother was my primary caretaker, losing her was very painful, and I wrote many poems in her honor. One of the first ones I ever wrote asks why she took her life. It begins: You took your life in the house where we lived together forty years ago. I was ten and you sixty.
In the poem, I wrote about how I remembered her. I also thanked her for instilling in me a love for words. By the end of the poem, I received the answer to my initial question of why she'd taken her life: her deep childhood wounds had led to a profound sense of depression.
I learned that to be a seeker, you need to be open-minded and consider new ways of thinking and doing. This means opening your mind to examine who you are, where you've come from, and what your belief systems are. It also means pushing yourself to go places and do things that you might not ordinarily do–that is, letting go of fear.
Spiritual seekers have a deep sense of spiritual hunger and a need to understand themselves and their motives, as well as those of others. Even though I am a seeker, I've realized that I also seek the opportunity to share my stories with others, which helps them navigate their own journeys.
Spiritual seekers are not necessarily religious. Most often, they have little interest in organized religious practice. In fact, studies have shown that 33 percent of Americans are spiritual and not religious in the more traditional sense.
Below are some writing prompts to bring out the seeker in you. Write as much or as little as you'd like about the following:
What really matters to you?
What is your soul's purpose?
What is the purpose of life?
What do you want people to remember you for?
What would you like to do that is outside of your comfort zone?
Is there something you've worked hard for and poured your soul into, and then you decided you wanted nothing to do with it? Why do you think this was the case?
You may find that by being a "seeker" who delves deeply into your mind and heart for the answers to the "big" questions, you will find a level of peace and contentment you hadn't realized before.
Diana Raab, PhD, is a memoirist, poet, blogger, speaker, and award-winning author of nine books. She's been published in over 1000 publications. She frequently speaks and teaches on writing for healing and transformation. Her latest book is Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Program for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life. Visit: dianaraab.com.
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