There’s so much to see in Birmingham’s thriving theatre and comedy scene.
Here’s our pick of the best shows coming up in the next few months. You’ll be spoilt for choice, with everything from flying snowmen and dancing chimney sweeps to daredevil magic and top comedians.
Gangsta Granny
New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
December 7 – 12
0844 871 3011
Price: £24.40
David Walliam’s Gangsta Granny is being brought to life by the Birmingham Stage Company, the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories. Ben spends every Friday night with his gran, which means boring cabbage soup and cabbage pie. But Granny has a secret and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could possibly imagine. For ages five and up. Read more about it here and click here for tickets.
Hairspray the Musical
New Alexandra Theatre
December 14 – January 2
0844 871 3011
Price: £17.90 – £66.15
If you’re not on your feet and dancing to You Can’t Stop the Beat by the end of this musical, there’s something very wrong. It’s the show about big hair, big girls and big hearts that’s a lot of fun, and a Christmas treat if you fancy a night out that’s not a pantomime. Starring Claire Sweeney, Peter Duncan, Benidorm’s Tony Maudsley and Brenda Edwards. Get your tickets here.
Barbara Nice’s Christmas Cracker
mac, Birmingham
December 18 & 20
0121 446 3232
Price: £11 – £13
Kings Heath’s favourite housewife is guaranteed to get you in the festive mood with her annual Christmas shindig. The comedian, aka Janice Connolly, is hilarious – and also holds a raffle and tombola and gives out mince pies. What more could you want? Barbara also has a Countdown to Christmas at the Old Joint Stock on December 4&5, for tickets click here.
Doreen’s Christmas Show
mac, Birmingham
December 19
0121 446 3232
Price: £11 – £12.50
Lazy Cow Doreen Tipton i s bravely venturing out of the Black Country to appear in person at the mac in her Christmas special. It’s a mix of stand-up, video sketches, music and surprises as our Doreen looks back on an eventful year. Get your tickets here.
Aladdin
Birmingham Hippodrome
December 19 – January 31 2016
0844 338 5000
Price: £26 – £103.50 (VIP experience)
The Hippodrome usually pulls out the stops to bring us a fantastic pantomime, and this year should be no different, with brand new spectacular sets, costumes and 3D effects. Lee Mead takes the title role, with Julian Clary and singer Marti Pellow as the evil Abanazar, plus plenty of laughs from panto favourite Matt Slack. For tickets, click here.
Cinderella
Barclaycard Arena
December 20-24
0844 338 8000
Price: £27.43 – £46.05
The world’s biggest panto, with a cast of more than 100, a 50 foot high castle, aerial acrobats and bhangra dancers. This is a panto unlike any other, although it does star veteran performers Bradley Walsh, Paul O’Grady and Dick and Dom. There are nine performances over five days, ending on Christmas Eve. Get your tickets here.
The Snowman
Birmingham Rep
January 20-24
0121 236 4455
Price: £13.50 – £35
The Snowman was first performed on stage at the Rep and has become a firm family favourite. Where else can you watch snowmen come to life and dance along with penguins, reindeer and Father Christmas? For children three and up. Click here for tickets.
The Snowman at Birmingham REP 2013/14
Macbeth
Birmingham Rep
January 26-30
0121 236 4455
£13 – £35
Top actress Anna Maxwell Martin stars as Lady Macbeth in the Scottish Play, with John Heffernan from BBC1’s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell in the title role of Shakespeare’s tragedy. For tickets, click here.
Anna Maxwell Martin in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies
The Rocky Horror Show
New Alexandra Theatre
January 25-30
0844 871 3011
£15 – £53.90
It’s Vickers in her knickers! X Factor star Diana Vickers strips down to her underwear as Janet in the cult musical, also starring Ben Freeman from Emmerdale as Brad, S Club 7’s Paul Cattermole as Eddie and Dr Scott and Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff. Take a jump to the left and click here for tickets.
The cast of The Rocky Horror Show – Paul Cattermole, Ben Freeman, Diana Vickers and Liam Tamne
Gary Delaney
Glee Club, Birmingham
February 7
0871 472 0400
£14
Dorridge’s finest returns for a homecoming gig of his latest tour, There’s Something About Gary. Often seen on Mock the Week – and incidentally, married to Sarah Millican – he’s a master of the one-liner. He is also playing The Comedy Junction in Sutton Coldfield on March 17. Glee tickets are here.
Private Lives
New Alexandra Theatre
February 8-13
0844 871 3011
£15.40 – £41.40
A major revival of Noel Coward’s classic comedy stars actor and Strictly Come Dancing champion Tom Chambers, alongside Laura Rogers. Expect to be transported back to the 1930s for an elegant evening of wit and glamour. Get your tickets here.
Tom Chambers and Laura Rogers in Noel Coward’s Private Lives
Impossible
New Alexandra Theatre
February 16-20
0844 871 3011
£15 – £48.90
Yes, that really is a man on fire, hanging upside down in a strait jacket. It’s just one of the death-defying stunts performed live on stage as some of the world’s greatest illusionists gather for a thrilling show. Get your tickets here.
Impossible, the West End magic show coming to Birmingham including a man setting himself on fire while hanging upside down in a strait jacket
Ed Byrne
Birmingham Town Hall
February 19
0121 345 0600
£19
Irishman Ed returns to Birmingham with his latest show in which he’s Outside, Looking In. Expect perfectly-timed laughs. Click here for tickets.
Ed Byrne: Outside, Looking In
Adam Hills
Birmingham Hippodrome
February 28
0844 338 5000
£21
The clever and witty star of Channel 4’s The Last Leg is on tour with his new show Clown Heart. Wonderfully crafted comedy at its best from the Australian, so get your tickets here.
Adam Hills
Mary Poppins
Birmingham Hippodrome
March 9 – April 23
0844 338 5000
£25 – £114.50
One of the best musicals around and feelgood fun for the whole family, it’s practically perfect! Children will love the idea of a nanny who takes her charges on fantastic adventures, and their parents will appreciate the heartwarming message – and the dazzling choreography, effects and songs. For ages three and upwards. Click here for tickets.
Mary Poppins with Zizi Strallen as Mary with Colby Mulgrew as Michael Banks and Madeline Banbury as Jane Banks
Richard Herring
Glee Club, Birmingham
March 15
0871 472 0400
£15
Happy Now? is the name of Richard’s latest thought-provoking tour. It applies to the fact he is now settled down with a wife and baby, but is he finally happy now? Or does responsibility for the lives of others come with its own terrors? Tickets for Richard’s shows always sell out so get your tickets here while you can.
Richard Herring
The Rotters’ Club
Birmingham Rep
April 2-9
0121 236 4455
£14 – £18
This is the first time Birmingham author Jonathan Coe’s book has been adapted for the stage. It’s based on his own experiences of growing up in the city in the 1970s, around the time of the IRA pub bombings and strikes at Longbridge. Relive the music, the rebellion and the teenage angst by clicking here.
The All Star Stand-Up Tour
Birmingham Town Hall
April 13
0121 345 0600
£20
Now this is great value for money, with four top comedians on the same bill. That’s Gary Delaney, Pete Firman, Jarred Christmas and Sean Hughes. That’s right, four for the price of one! Rush here for tickets.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
New Alexandra Theatre
April 18-23
0844 871 3011
£16.90 – £47.90
Don’t we all aspire to be a little bit like the elegant, extrovert Holly Golightly? Now singer Pixie Lott is following in Audrey Hepburn’s footsteps in this new stage play with music, based on the iconic 1961 film. Sail away down the Moon River by clicking here.
Pixie Lott as Holly Golightly in new stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Rob Delaney
Birmingham Rep
April 23
0121 236 4455
£20
Source: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/