Birmingham

Birmingham, England's second largest city, has a long theatre history, typical in its early days of many English provincial towns. Two theatrical booths existed before 1730, but the first permanent building was erected in Moor Street about 1740. A theatre in King Street opened in 1751, another in New Street in 1774. The last was twice rebuilt after fires, in 1792 and 1820. The father of Macready became its manager in 1795. Touring companies were first introduced in 1849, but the resident stock company lingered on until 1878. The theatre closed in 1901, was rebuilt and reopened in 1904, and finally demolished in 1957. Another theatre, the Prince of Wales's, was destroyed by enemy action during the Second World War. The Birmingham Repertory Theatre opened in 1913.

The Alexandra, built in 1901 and for its first year known as the Lyceum, staged in its heyday mainly melodrama, pantomime, music-hall, and revue. In 1927 it became a repertory theatre, and though rebuilt in 1935 its policy remained unchanged until 1946, when regular spring and autumn visits from touring companies were introduced. In 1964 this theatre housed the first performance by the National Theatre company of Othello, with Laurence Olivier in the title-role. The building was bought by the Birmingham Corporation in 1968, and it became a ‘touring only’ theatre in 1976. Extensively renovated in 1979, it now has a seating capacity of 1,562.

The Birmingham Hippodrome, which opened in 1900 as the Tivoli, taking its present name in 1903, was for many years a variety theatre. It had a somewhat chequered career and in 1968 was in danger of demolition. It is now a major lyric theatre housing opera, ballet, and other large-scale productions, being used extensively by the Welsh National Opera company. It was bought by the local authority in 1979 and is now run by a Trust, having been extensively altered before its reopening in 1981. In 1990 it became the permanent home of Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet.