Southside contributes to new plan for musical theatre ‘centre of excellence’

Impressive plans to create a national ‘centre of excellence' for musical theatre in Birmingham are being discussed with Southside Business Improvement District (BID).

The BID, which has Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre in its area, has been asked to provide input into a feasibility study looking at turning the exciting idea into reality.

The study into a possible National Centre for Musical Theatre has been commissioned by the Hippodrome, Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Birmingham City University and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Julia Robinson, manager of Southside BID, said she was “delighted” to have been asked to take part in the feasibility study.

Ms Robinson said: “This is a very exciting development, not only for our area, but for Birmingham and the rest of the country as well.

“Birmingham has a very rich tradition of live theatre, not only on our doorstep with the Hippodrome, but throughout the rest of the city centre. A National Centre for Musical Theatre would be ideally located in Birmingham.  

“From Southside’s perspective, we have a strategic ambition to drive sustainable development to provide new spaces for cultural businesses especially on Thorp Street and Station Streets, where there are currently cultural heritage buildings at risk. It’s good for us and the entire city, so everyone wins.”

As part of the feasibility study, individuals and organisations are being invited to give their expertise and advice to help draw up a business case for a world-leading facility for musical theatre in the UK.

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, said: “Birmingham’s far-sighted plans for a new National Centre for Musical Theatre will help drive the growth of this important art form nationally and internationally, as well as offering the opportunity to nurture the next generation of creative talent in the West Midlands.”

Musicals make up 10 per cent of performances across UK theatres, but account for a quarter of their revenue. The new centre would deliver training to help to fill the national industry skills gap and further enhance the West Midlands as an exciting location to live and work as an artist.

Richard Parker, elected mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “Even Birmingham’s greatest TV export, Peaky Blinders, is now a stage musical so I can't think of a better place to have a National Centre for Musical Theatre.

“We need to unleash the enormous talent we have in the West Midlands by providing the training opportunities local people need to land jobs in our growing creative sector.”

Jon Gilchrist, artistic director and chief executive of Birmingham Hippodrome, said more than half of the 600,000 tickets they sell annually are for musicals.

He said: “We hope that one day soon our stages will be filled with the work of artistic talent developed here in Birmingham.”

Councillor Saima Suleman, the cabinet member for culture at Birmingham City Council, said the proposal was an "incredibly exciting opportunity” for the city and wider region.

And Professor David Mba, vice-chancellor, Birmingham City University, added: “Bringing musical theatre education to Birmingham would help the region meet the industry’s skills gap.”