Birmingham Repertory Theatre
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Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is commonly known as The Rep and it is a theatre in the centre of Birmingham, in Centenary Square.
In 1913 Barry Jackson founded the theatre on Station Street – it was permanent home of the “Pilgrim Players” his amateur theatre company. The theatre was known as The Old Rep and it revolutionized English Theatre (Shakespeare plays were performed in modern dress, many world premiers were presented and many young actors started here their careers, for example Ralph Richardson, Edith Evans and Laurence Olivier). In 1935 Birmingham City Council took responsibility over the theatre and founded Birmingham Repertory Theatre Trust.
The Rep Theatre moved to a new building in 1971. It was building with more seats, on Braod Street (nowadays a part of Centenary Square). The building was designed by Graham Winteringham and Keith Williams Architects and it won a Royal Institute of British Architects award a year after its opening. The theatre was opened by Princess Margaret and the first play shown was called First Impression (an adaptation of Jane Austin Pride and Prejudice). The theatre was refurbished and extended in 1991.
There are two theatres in the Rep, the Main stage and the Door. The Main Stage is larger. Its stage is large and epic in proportion, and the auditorium is similar to a Greek amphitheatre, with no aisles, balconies, pillars or boxes. The Door is The Rep’s studio theatre. It was renamed in 1998 and it is a venue solely for the commissioning, presentation and production of new writing. The Door also provides appropriate development space for new and often less formal or traditional, artists and forms of theatre.
This theatre houses a rich and varied programme, mostly produced by the Rep or in partnership with other regional producing theatres. It also houses the work of some visiting companies in order to complement the overall programme. The Rep's biggest selling show in 93 years was revival of the musical “The Wizard of Oz” in 2006 and it was soon overtaken by the West Yorkshire Playhouse's “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.
In 1913 Barry Jackson founded the theatre on Station Street – it was permanent home of the “Pilgrim Players” his amateur theatre company. The theatre was known as The Old Rep and it revolutionized English Theatre (Shakespeare plays were performed in modern dress, many world premiers were presented and many young actors started here their careers, for example Ralph Richardson, Edith Evans and Laurence Olivier). In 1935 Birmingham City Council took responsibility over the theatre and founded Birmingham Repertory Theatre Trust.
The Rep Theatre moved to a new building in 1971. It was building with more seats, on Braod Street (nowadays a part of Centenary Square). The building was designed by Graham Winteringham and Keith Williams Architects and it won a Royal Institute of British Architects award a year after its opening. The theatre was opened by Princess Margaret and the first play shown was called First Impression (an adaptation of Jane Austin Pride and Prejudice). The theatre was refurbished and extended in 1991.
There are two theatres in the Rep, the Main stage and the Door. The Main Stage is larger. Its stage is large and epic in proportion, and the auditorium is similar to a Greek amphitheatre, with no aisles, balconies, pillars or boxes. The Door is The Rep’s studio theatre. It was renamed in 1998 and it is a venue solely for the commissioning, presentation and production of new writing. The Door also provides appropriate development space for new and often less formal or traditional, artists and forms of theatre.
This theatre houses a rich and varied programme, mostly produced by the Rep or in partnership with other regional producing theatres. It also houses the work of some visiting companies in order to complement the overall programme. The Rep's biggest selling show in 93 years was revival of the musical “The Wizard of Oz” in 2006 and it was soon overtaken by the West Yorkshire Playhouse's “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.
