Birmingham Hippodrome Celebrates International Women's Day

To celebrate International Women's Day (Friday 8 March) Birmingham Hippodrome is hosting an amazing day of free talks, exciting exhibitions, phenomenal shows, pop-up performances, and a special makers' market!

During the day you can visit the theatre's Gallery Two to see interesting illustrations from up-and-coming female artists from Birmingham. The exhibition, Once Upon a Time in Birmingham: Women who Dared to Dream, depicts 30 of Birmingham's most awe-inspiring women from the recently published book by The Emma Press, and will be on display until Thursday 18 April.

Visitors can also pop along to the Makers' Market to pick up a unique piece of jewellery, ceramics or artwork from some of the city's creative female artists and makers, such as Vicky Neville and Karen Beard.

Elsewhere in the building, heritage volunteer Sophie Lewis will be hosting a talk about exceptional women who have contributed to the Hippodrome's success. Listeners will hear fascinating facts about the women who have shaped the theatre's history.

During the evening there will be an eclectic mix of performances to enjoy, from free contemporary pop-up performances to world-class opera on the main stage. There are still tickets available for Welsh National Opera's Roberto Devereux so don't miss your chance to see this powerful performance. See a fierce female lead in this tragic opera by Gaetano Donizetti containing some of Donizetti's most vibrant and powerful melodies.

In the foyer Fresh Fridays, a weekly free pop-up performance programme, will feature a full-length performance from critically acclaimed theatre company NOVAE Theatre at 6pm. After receiving rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, It's Not a Sprint is a whirlwind one-woman show looking at the highs and lows of life as a millennial.

Hit the Ode, a monthly poetry night in the Patrick Studio also has an International Women's Day special. The night features readings from actor, writer, poet and co-founder of NTD Productions Rosie Fleeshman alongside music project AG MA, and international writer Malika Booker.

International Women's Day takes place on 8 March every year and focuses on a particular theme. This year's campaign theme is #BalanceForBetter and is a call to action for driving gender balance across the world.

Chris Sudworth, Associate Director (Programme & Artist Development), commented: We're really excited by everything we have on offer throughout the building for International Women's Day - on our stages, in our galleries and foyers. In keeping with the #BalanceForBetter theme, our programme focuses on highlighting the difference that pioneering and powerful women make in the city and beyond, to make the world a better, fairer and more equal place.

We hope to welcome guests to our building on International Women's Day for a celebration of great people and we hope to inspire some future female leaders.

www.birminghamhippodrome.com/international-womens-day

To post a comment, you must register and login.