The press reception at the theatre last night was full of festive cheer as over 40 members of the media, birmingham bloggers and broadcast journalists arrived for press night.
The mulled wine was steaming and the hot mince pies were being eaten before curtain up. Nick Owen arriving with just minutes to spare after presenting Midlands Today and dashing across the city, Steve Denyer from Heart, Dan Morrisey from BRMB, Jo Malin from Radio WM and Suzanne Virdee from Midlands Today were all spotted.
Click here to read what the press say about the production (updated as they appear)
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Monday, 21 December 2009
Panto is now open
Whilst shoppers braved the Bull Ring on Saturday the auditorium at the Hip was packed out with mums, dads, grandparents and children as the curtain went up for the first time on the UK's biggest pantomime.
After months of planning and recent rehearsals the company finally took to the stage over the weekend with four performances of Sleeping Beauty. And, as I write this blog, patrons are flooding through the foyer to take their seats for this afternoon's matinee.
Always a great start to Christmas week, it's a magical way of diving into the festivities of the season and forgetting all your troubles to enjoy a couple of hours at the panto with friends and family.
It's press night tonight so if you are in the audience this evening look out for some familiar newsreaders and local radio presenters.
After months of planning and recent rehearsals the company finally took to the stage over the weekend with four performances of Sleeping Beauty. And, as I write this blog, patrons are flooding through the foyer to take their seats for this afternoon's matinee.
Always a great start to Christmas week, it's a magical way of diving into the festivities of the season and forgetting all your troubles to enjoy a couple of hours at the panto with friends and family.
It's press night tonight so if you are in the audience this evening look out for some familiar newsreaders and local radio presenters.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Curtain nearly up on panto!
It's been a very hectic week for the cast of Sleeping Beauty. As I write this the company are doing a technical run-through on stage and later tonight there's a full company dress rehearsal. Can't believe after all these months of planning the pantomime will be opening tomorrow and just under 2,000 people will be seeing the first performance.
Front of House have already had a delivery of 4,000 3D glasses which will be given out to patrons at every show and I've been told that all the booster cushions we supply on request have been steam cleaned ready for families to use!
Special mention must go to the Hippodrome crew who have worked hard during get-in and are busy working the dress rehearsal at the moment.
And as I write this the Twitpanto is being performed on Twitter which has a great audience and cast!
The curtain goes up for the first time for Sleeping Beauty at 2.30pm tomorrow so if you've got your tickets for this performance we look forward to welcoming you to the start of the panto season.
Front of House have already had a delivery of 4,000 3D glasses which will be given out to patrons at every show and I've been told that all the booster cushions we supply on request have been steam cleaned ready for families to use!
Special mention must go to the Hippodrome crew who have worked hard during get-in and are busy working the dress rehearsal at the moment.
And as I write this the Twitpanto is being performed on Twitter which has a great audience and cast!
The curtain goes up for the first time for Sleeping Beauty at 2.30pm tomorrow so if you've got your tickets for this performance we look forward to welcoming you to the start of the panto season.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
To absent friends
The Dame is a special part of the pantomime season and I just wanted to take this opportunity to mention our absent friend Peter Robbins, who if you came to any of the Cinderella performances, you would remember him as one half of the Ugly Sisters. Peter , together with his fellow ugly sister Nigel Ellacott, entertained audiences here for many years and became a regular feature of Birmingham's Artsfest.
Backstage there was always one dressing room people visited and that was Nigel and Peter's , always a brew on the boil, a chocolate biscuit and an ear for any problems.
In their amazing and hilarious costumes they made the front pages of Birmingham papers every time they visited and on walk-about, they gathered crowds of all ages!
Peter sadly passed away this year and Nigel will be carrying on and treading the boards as Dame in Snow White at Ilford.
Here's to all the Dame's in panto this Christmas!
Click here to find out more about pantomime via Nigel's website.
Backstage there was always one dressing room people visited and that was Nigel and Peter's , always a brew on the boil, a chocolate biscuit and an ear for any problems.
In their amazing and hilarious costumes they made the front pages of Birmingham papers every time they visited and on walk-about, they gathered crowds of all ages!
Peter sadly passed away this year and Nigel will be carrying on and treading the boards as Dame in Snow White at Ilford.
Here's to all the Dame's in panto this Christmas!
Click here to find out more about pantomime via Nigel's website.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Sleeping Beauty Photocall
It was busy backstage this afternoon as everyone got ready for the press photocall of Sleeping Beauty.
All nine principals including Ray and Joe put on their eleborate costumes for the call which saw radio and print journalists turn up to cover it.
The call took place by the theatre's Christmas tree earlier this afternoon and passers by, curious as to what all the cameras were flashing for, came into the foyer to take thier own pictures and get autographs from the cast.
Click here to see the movie taken at the call and listen to a special message at the end from Ray and Joe!
All nine principals including Ray and Joe put on their eleborate costumes for the call which saw radio and print journalists turn up to cover it.
The call took place by the theatre's Christmas tree earlier this afternoon and passers by, curious as to what all the cameras were flashing for, came into the foyer to take thier own pictures and get autographs from the cast.
Click here to see the movie taken at the call and listen to a special message at the end from Ray and Joe!
Friday, 11 December 2009
The real magic of Panto
Pantomime and Christmas is all about families and for the last 7 years the theatre has been helping to do just that by running its 'Raise A Smile' Panto Appeal.
Thanks to generous public support from theatre patrons and other private, charitable and business donors, Birmingham Hippodrome's popular Panto Appeal 'Raise a Smile' has enabled hundreds of patients and their families to attend Hippodrome pantomimes for free.
Working with Birmingham Children's Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Young Persons Unit and other charitable groups across the region, money is being raised to cover the cost of tickets, programmes, and gifts for families who have had a tough 2009 and help provide them with some much needed light relief at the panto this Christmas.
200 patients and their families enjoyed last year's pantomime and a surprise meet and greet with the cast after curtain down. The look on the children's faces - I'll never forget that.
Let's hope we can bring that panto magic to lots of children and their families this year.
If you want to find out more Click here
Thanks to generous public support from theatre patrons and other private, charitable and business donors, Birmingham Hippodrome's popular Panto Appeal 'Raise a Smile' has enabled hundreds of patients and their families to attend Hippodrome pantomimes for free.
Working with Birmingham Children's Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Young Persons Unit and other charitable groups across the region, money is being raised to cover the cost of tickets, programmes, and gifts for families who have had a tough 2009 and help provide them with some much needed light relief at the panto this Christmas.
200 patients and their families enjoyed last year's pantomime and a surprise meet and greet with the cast after curtain down. The look on the children's faces - I'll never forget that.
Let's hope we can bring that panto magic to lots of children and their families this year.
If you want to find out more Click here
Thursday, 10 December 2009
The Fight Sequence
Have just been sitting about 6ft away from Ray Quinn in a studio at Birmingham Hippodrome who has been rehearsing the fight sequences with Fight Director Karl Magee.
Ray, who plays the Prince is fighting the horrible Slimeball, played by Alex Woodhall, in a very complicated fight scene which sees Ray doing all sorts of jump and spins. (I can now understand just how fit he had to be to do Dancing On Ice last year).
I was there for about an hour watching all of this and in that time they did the sequence over and over until it was perfect (about ten times). In fact the Fight Director made Ray and Alex do five press ups each time they got something wrong!
When I left the studio I caught the lift with Ray who told me ".. he had been working on the scene all day, it was physically hard but glad they had got as far as they did with it"
It looks pretty impressive to me and can't wait to see the dress rehearsal next week when the scene comes together with the rest of the cast.
Here's a sneaky peek of Ray in rehearsal this afternoon. Click here
Ray, who plays the Prince is fighting the horrible Slimeball, played by Alex Woodhall, in a very complicated fight scene which sees Ray doing all sorts of jump and spins. (I can now understand just how fit he had to be to do Dancing On Ice last year).
I was there for about an hour watching all of this and in that time they did the sequence over and over until it was perfect (about ten times). In fact the Fight Director made Ray and Alex do five press ups each time they got something wrong!
When I left the studio I caught the lift with Ray who told me ".. he had been working on the scene all day, it was physically hard but glad they had got as far as they did with it"
It looks pretty impressive to me and can't wait to see the dress rehearsal next week when the scene comes together with the rest of the cast.
Here's a sneaky peek of Ray in rehearsal this afternoon. Click here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)