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Birmingham had an epic weekend with its Birmingham Weekender 2024 which was produced for the city by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Bullring & Grand Central was buzzing throughout the whole bank holiday weekend, bringing crowds to the city through wind, rain and sunshine.
If you were there, you would have seen Birmingham’s streets, squares and stations were filled with colour with performances from regional, UK and international companies around every corner bringing smiles to the faces of everyone in the city and all for FREE.
Chris Sudworth, Creative Director Birmingham Hippodrome said: “A festival like this only happens when a city pulls together, and Birmingham really came out to celebrate the biggest Birmingham Weekender in years. We aimed to create a space where people knew they were in a festival from the moment they set foot in the city, and – if you wanted to – you could spend the whole day immersed in the colour, joy and world class performances around every corner.”
From acrobats covering themselves in tape to poets performing to commuters; from inflatable structures transporting you into a colourful world to all the dance in the Bullring, on the streets and in the station; and from aerial performances that brought people to a standstill to a square filled with coloured foam – Birmingham Weekender had it all.
Danielle Bozward, Bullring & Grand Central said: “It was wonderful to see Bullring buzzing with wonderful performances, a chance for our visitors to see the centre in a completely different way from high wire performers to foam filling squares to the CBSO full orchestra wowing the crowds.”
Jon Gilchrist, Artistic Director and CEO Birmingham Hippodrome said: “Free festivals like Birmingham Weekender are hugely important for the city, it’s a chance for us to celebrate and recognise the importance of arts and culture and really showcase what a festival can do for the place, the people and the local economy. Thanks to all our partners for joining with us to ensure that the widest range of our city and region’s communities could experience the best local, national and international culture, all in our public spaces.”
The weekend also saw the first Hippodrome Live!, celebrating 125 years of Birmingham Hippodrome and wowing a packed Hippodrome Square with hit after hit from West End shows including Disney’s Aladdin, Six and Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.
Chris Sudworth added: “We loved bringing the work of our Hippodrome stages outside, through the first Hippodrome LIVE as part of Birmingham Weekender. It was a real highlight for the whole team to showcase some of the West End productions that will appear here in the coming months, sharing a platform with some of the new exciting musicals being created right now at Birmingham Hippodrome. To start our 125th birthday season with this, and a new exhibition celebrating our history was a joy. Thanks to everyone who joined us.”
Birmingham Weekender 2024 was produced by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Bullring & Grand Central with funding through HM Government’s and West Midlands Combined Authority’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund and Arts Council England.
Global Streets, Without Walls and FABRIC were programme partners.
Birmingham Weekender 2024 was supported by Birmingham City Council, United by 2022, Southside District, The Arcadian, Colmore BID, Central BID, Network Rail and is part of 100 Days of Creativity.
