Birmingham Hippodrome celebrates best panto for 14 years

BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome is celebrating after its latest pantomime Aladdin proved to be the theatre’s most successful show for 14 years.

The show ended its six-week run last night (Sunday) after 74 performances. During the period, there were more than 118,000 admissions.

The show, which starred Marti Pellow, Julian Clary, Lee Mead, Matt Slack and Andrew Ryan, marked the 25th pantomime directed by Michael Harrison, managing director of Qdos Entertainment’s pantomime division.

He said: “It’s an amazing result and I want to thank the entire cast and crew who worked so hard to make this such a successful show.  The support we get in Birmingham is always astonishing – and year after year the appeal of panto seems to grow.”

Fiona Allen, chief executive, Birmingham Hippodrome, who took over the office from Stuart Griffiths last year, said: “Given the huge range of high quality seasonal treats on offer across the city, not to mention the demands made on family time, plus digital fun and blockbuster cinema, we’re so grateful people came along to the Hippodrome pantomime to make it such a success.

“I’m so proud of my team here at the theatre working tirelessly across front of house, the bars and restaurant, and the box office at one of our busiest times of the year.”

Box office records show that for 35% of the audience, this was a first time booking to the Hippodrome.  And people travelled from across the UK – from Penzance to Glasgow, and from Norwich to the Isle of Man.  

Overall, nearly 40% of pantomime tickets were issued at a discounted rate.  In addition to six assisted performances (audio-described, captioned and sign-language interpreted) over 1,200 patrons also attended the theatre’s third Relaxed Performance of the panto (made possible through donations and grants). This is a specially designed performance for those on the autistic spectrum or with a learning disability.  

Over the festive period, panto audiences generously donated more than £4,000 to be shared equally between Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Children’s Charity.

January also saw the highest ever level of patron donations for Hippodrome CREATIVE, the theatre’s growing community and learning programmes, which bookers can support when purchasing tickets.

The results have already set the bar high for this year’s show, Dick Whittington, which opens on December 19 and which will once again star comedian Matt Slack. Further cast details will be announced later in the year.