| Birmingham: Birmingham Hippodrome |
Country: England, United Kingdom Historic County: Warwickshire City: Birmingham Location: Hurst Street / Thorpe Street Built 1899 by F. W. Lloyd as "Tower of Varieties and Circus", a music hall with a floodable circus ring. 1900 auditorium and stage rebuilt by F. W. Lloyd. Re-opened as "Tivoli Theatre of Varieties". Subsequently mainly used for variety, drama and musical performances. 1903-1924 various renamings, known as "Hippodrome", "Barrasford's Hippodrome", "Hippodrome Theatre of Varieties", "Tivoli". 1917 interior alterations by Bertie Crewe. 1925 major auditorium rebuilding by Burdwood and Mitchell. Re-opened 1925 as "Birmingham Hippodrome". 1963 major exterior and foyer rebuilding, destroying the original Moorish tower. From 1965 renamed "Birmingham Theatre". Later again renamed "Birmingham Hippodrome". 1981-1992 various interior alterations, 1990 addition of an annexe to serve as the Birmingham Royal Ballet headquarters by J. Seymour Harris Partnership. 2000 major renovation, addition of a studio theatre (200 seats), and new façade by Associated Architects/Law and Dunbar-Nasmith. Home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Used for opera, musical, pantomime, and ballet performances. 1901 seats. Links: www.birminghamhippodrome.com, www.brb.org.uk, Theatres Trust, Wikipedia |
Front Text: "Birmingham Hippodrome", signed: "J. L. S. Surman '93"Reverse Text: "The Auditorium of the Birmingham Hippodrome from a commissioned watercolour by John Surman - 1993. 'The Nutcracker' by the Birmingham Royal Ballet is directed by Sir Peter Wright with designs by John Macfarlane." - "Opened in 1899 the Birmingham Hippodrome is now one of the country's major theatres boasting magnificent stage and excellent patron facilities and a 1,901 seating capacity. Attracting large scale touring companies, international stars and regular seasons of opera and ballet it is the home of Britain's biggest pantomimes, and houses the permanent base for the acclaimed Birmingham Royal Ballet." Handwritten Reverse Text: dated 2 Aug 1996 Publisher: The Birmingham Hippodrome Development Trust Type: Charity Souvenir Card, not intended for postal use Size: 22.1 x 14.4 cm Not sent. |
Picture: façade after the 2000 rebuildingFront Text: inscription: "Hippodrome" Reverse Text: "Main entrance at night. After Redelevopment (2001)." Publisher: Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Size: Modern Not sent. |
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