As it's own space. I wanted to add the The Patrick Centre for the performing arts to yelp. Accessed…read morethrough the upper floor in Birmingham Hippodrome's main foyer, this is a 200-seater auditorium more intimate experience than the huge show space of the Hippodromes main theatre. Jord M and I won tickets to see Beautiful Thing at The Patrick Centre thanks to Vicky O (Our Birmingham Community Manager and thanks to the team at Birmingham Hippodrome for the Tickets!) We were here on press night! Which meant a free programme and drinks in the VIP Lloyd room before the show and during the interval. Within five minutes of our arrival, I saw actress Charlie Brooks by the stage door, and resisted having a photograph rather than crashing her conversation. My night was already made!! If you don't know Beautiful Thing, is a 1993 play by Jonathan Harvey, about two teenage boys finding love on a south London council estate. Although current for the time it was made, it is really now a play set in the 1990s with lots of nods to the culture of the day. 1990s copies of The Guardian, Hello! magazine, reading the problem page in gay magazines and finding gay venues in classified directory all add to the authenticity of the time. Charlie Brooks who plays Janine Butcher in EastEnders is BRILLIANT as Sandra, a single, hard-working mother with a string of ex boyfriends. She is funny, warm and much more loveable than the hard faced character she plays in the soap. I was really excited to see her in this role made famous in the film by Linda Henry who is Shirley Carter in EastEnders. Her son Jamie is played by the great Sam Jackson from Skins, and he really is believable as Sandra's child who is starting to want to explore his own sexuality. Acting-wise there is lots of crossover with BBC EastEnders. Their neighbour's son Ste is played by excellent Thomas Law who played Peter Beale version 4 in EastEnders. His awkward sexual awakening, and the homophobic violence from his family, remind you that this was first performed a year after being homosexual was declassified as a mental illness in the UK (in 1992.) Sandra's hippyish boyfriend, Tony, is played smoothly by Gerard McCarthy who played Kris Fisher in Hollyoaks. Tony is "right on" about too understanding about everything and you feel like he is a bit of a yes man. And finally the cast is rounded out by the talented Vanessa Babirye, as the other neighbour Leah. Leah's obsession with the music of Mama Cass provides the even more retro soundtrack to the play. While this is really Jamie and Ste's love story for me the performance of Charlie Brooks stole the show. If you get chance to see it around the country then GO SEE IT!

The Rep has been in my life for as long as I've lived in Brum, getting on for 30 yrs now. We get…read morethere once or twice a year and the productions we've seen have always been enjoyable, some of them have been outstanding. As a review about the venue I can honestly say that the Rep has got better and better over time. Tonight I was in the House for 'The Exorcist', comfortable seating and wonderful production on the stage. Last year we were in the studio for 'Beryl', one of the best plays I have seen. Again great production values and a very comfortable experience for the audience. The Marmalade bar offers great cocktails, you can dine here too. Centenary Square is a big part of the cultural quarter of Birmingham with Symphony Hall, The Rep and Library of Birmingham all lined up like ducks in a row. Whilst the Rep seems to have been here forever, it feels brand new on the inside. There's a wonderful ambience around here, it's part of the Birmingham buzz. The real challenge of living in Birmingham, is that there is so much going on and only so much time. Then again, time spent at the Rep is happy time.

This was my first visit to the Rep, and one that was eagerly anticipated, being a keen theatregoer…read more So when the opportunity arose to sign up for the double feature of The Exorcist and Seance, I jumped at the chance. My first impressions of the building itself were positive, there was a buzz about the place and the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Finding our seats was easy and the seating was generous, with plenty of legroom and offered an unobstructed view of the stage. Comfy too, having been to many performances elsewhere where fidgeting becomes the norm. The production itself was impressive, with a cast that were mostly familiar. I had been wondering how such a performance of the iconic horror tale would translate on stage and I was not disappointed. From the glare of the lights going up, to being suddenly (and loudly) plunged into darkness set the tone for the evening. The effects were spectacular, with a mix of live action, projections and more traditional effects. Yes, we get the iconic scenes, voice effects and some blood and gore. I had been trying to work out who was voicing the demon, and had the of course moment when I read my programme of Sir Ian McKellen. An eerie and unsettling tone is kept throughout, and is a treat for any horror fan. The Seance was a trippy mind game from start to finish. I don't want to spoil too much (I went in knowing nothing), as people are booked in over the coming days. What I will say is this. Your senses are deprived and the tension ramped up to boiling point. I don't scare easily but when the lights finally came on, I realised I had been holding my breath mostly. Had my eyes been open or closed? Such fun though. I also got to experience the bar, Marmalade and the atmosphere in there was fantastic. I look forward to sampling the menu on my next visit!

It was a great show, we saw hamilton, good quality sound and comfortable seats, we had a nice tub…read moreof popcorn and the staff were friendly and helpful, hamilton is a great show and white it's in town I recommend you see it!

A grand old theatre, dating back to 1899, yet very comfortable, with great bars and the option of a…read morepre-show meal too. The Hippodome has brought wonderful shows to Birmingham for generations. Long May that continue

It may have had something to do with the choice of play or the fact that I visited the Old Rep…read moreduring an unseasonal heat wave, but I find it hard to get too excited about the place. Yes, I like the fact that it is a bastion of high culture in a pretty seedy part of town. It just lacks a bit of sparkle. The 383 seat theatre is home to Birmingham Stage Company and stages an eclectic mix of dramatic productions. It also played home to the Birmingham Repertory theatre company during The Rep's recent refurbishments.

Ventured down here with Simon H thanks to tickets from Dave M for Edinburgh Fringe previews…read more Walking down the street you wouldn't realise that a theatre was here. Considering the works going on for the new shopping centre it doesn't look as good as it should but once that's done all should be fine! The staff were pleasant and friendly and the foyer was nice and open. On entering we quickly received our tickets and were directed upstairs to the theatre. Our seats where right at the front so we had a great view of the stage. The seats aren't the most comfortable in the world and there could be more leg room but you're only there for a few hours so it's not too bad. At the half time break we went and had some refreshments in the back bar. It was well-stocked and there's a good choice of ice-cream. I like the venue, it's old school decor brings a bit of history to the place but the seats could do with an update!

Our son bought us tickets to see Frank Skinner. He paid for seats in the grand dress circle. We…read morewere so cramped in the seats we had to leave before Frank came on due to my husband's pain in the legs they were so cramped.

I like the New Alexandra Theatre. I've been a few times, most recently to see The Rocky Horror…read moreShow, and each production has been very professional, value for money and a great evening. It is surprisingly large on the inside and there have been recent renovations to the bar area, and the staff are always helpful and friendly. It is in a reasonably accessible location with several car parks nearby, and it is surrounded by nice restaurants and pubs with easy access to the city centre.

Birmingham Royal Ballet has to be one of the biggest jewels in Birmingham's cultural crown…read more Although the company itself has been around since the 1930s, it's only been a Birmingham-based ballet company since 1990. Since then, it's won critical acclaim from all over the world for its performances, as well as its Education and training programmes. One the UK's top ballet companies, its performances always dazzle, and its commitment to this art form is evident, with ambitious excellence at the heart of all their productions. Their medical team also runs The Jerwood Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Dance Injuries, which contains state-of-the-art diagnostic and fitness equipment.

I'd finished watching a Canadian band that I'd supported called The Wilderness Of Manitoba who were…read moretouring the UK. They said that I should catch them again when they played the next week at The Edge in Digbeth. I though I knew my city inside out, but obviously not, as I'd never heard of The Edge. When the night came, I took a wander down the back streets of Digbeth looking for the venue. It took me a while to find it, as it is set back a bit from the road by a long drive. Once inside I found the place had an underground feel to it. A makeshift bar was selling drinks at well-below pub prices, the walls and floor were decorated with 3-D objects and while the band played their set un-amplified, people listened quietly or slipped outside to have a cigarette on one of two sofas underneath a palm tree. The Edge has developed since then, but they are keeping true to their name by continuing with edgy shows, exhibitions, performances and performance workshops that you won't see elsewhere.