Indeed this theatre is smaller than most in the bigger cities…read morebut it is cosy and prices reasonable. And as well as many amateur performances, you can also find some real gem performances by professionals or artists. They don't offer free tickets for people with disabilities that need assistance, but access is good and the staff very helpful and friendly.

A smaller more intimate theatre compared to those in Birmingham (Alexandra, Rep etc,.) but well…read morepresented and organised. Modern on the inside, the cafe is really lovely and spacious. Good array of snacks for the interval and a well-stocked bar. Went to a daytime matinee with kids - which was really good fun - but would love to go back of an evening to see what kind of atmosphere/clientele then. I think it helps that the show we went to see was hilarious and really entertaining , not only did my son love it but the adults could not help joining in too(then again I am a big kid still at heart). We watched a musical production of 'The Ugly Duckling' which was very much in the pantomime type audience participation vein. My son started off thinking he was way too cool to join in, but after the first half hour he was clapping his hands and screaming out loud with the best of 'em. The other thing I liked is that they were not too pushy with the whole merchandise sales. There was a booth in the foyer for the kids to buy from - little keepsakes etc,. but they were just kind of there - not being shoved in your face as I have witnessed at other similar events. Location is really convenient too, right next to a multi-storey and near the main shops in the centre of Lichfield. Will go back for a more 'serious' production and let you know my update soon.

Located not too far from Brindley Place and Broad Street, this is a small and local not-for-profit…read moretheatre. The auditorium is small, so you feel very close up to the shows, and with only a small number of seats, your bound to get up close and not miss a thing. With regular diverse entertainment covering comedy, drama, local acts and music there is bound to be an upcoming show whatever your tastes may be. The theatre is playing host to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in July 2012, as part of the 2012 summer tour. Facilities include FREE wi-fi, and a very nice coffee lounge with good seats. If you buy tickets online or by phone there is a 5% transaction fee, but this doesn't apply if you buy show tickets in cash. (Sundays they are only open if they have a show on, otherwise they are open Tues-Sat 10am-8pm).

I loved the @crescenttheatre from the moment I walked in. What a fantastic independent theater…read morewhich is run partly with donations and volunteers. I love the lounge area where we come and have civilised coffee which is affordable and not at theatre prices. They have a fantastic array of productions and and now they have a cinema too. This shows classics like Back to the Future and WALL.E. To top it all, they now have a loyalty card! Just on one edge of Brindleyplace, please do go check it out!

I have performed at this theatre many many times and have always been welcomed with open arms…read more The staff both on the cafe and box office and in the actual theatre are always inviting, helpful and friendly. The actual theatre is a very good size, housing about 150 people in cinema life seats in a tiered setting. the stage is a flat foor at the bottom of the tiered seating area and is fairly large and deep, allowing for a lot of scenery. the backstage area is very nice, however everyone needs to be very quiet as it is housed right underneath the seats above! each dressing room can hosue baout 10 people getting changed and is complete with bathroom, tv to see what is happening on stage and reasonable wardrobe space. there are two large dressing rooms, two smaller ones and one up a flight of stairs. Very good use of space in the theatre and is always clean.

Nice change from The Grand Theatre. Ticket prices about £8.00. Small venue.read more

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.

Have watched shows at the Alex many times in my life, was even in a drama club there when I was…read moreyoung! The most recent time was to see Avenue Q. It's not incredibly glamorous or impressive, more cosy- and there's nothing wrong with that! There are lots of places to purchase sweets and drinks (including alcoholic ) and the queues go down quickly. I purchased a bottle of water and some chocolates and this came to £5.50. The show looked and sounded great. We had seats in the stalls and this gave us a great view. It was a little too warm. The theatre isn't huge but that adds to the atmosphere!

I LOVE going to the theatre. From Community pieces to large scale extravaganzas, you just can't…read morebeat the razzle dazzle of a trip to see a play. We are truly spoilt with arts venues in Birmingham. From the big touring shows at The Hippodrome to the fantastic gems at places like The Crescent and The Blue Orange Theatre, there is something going on every single week in the City. The REP is a truly fantastic theatre. I have seen a plethora of pieces here (most notably "The Northern Lights") and they have all been memorable. The theatre itself has even had a facelift with the construction of the Library, giving you even more of a reason to visit. As well as one-off plays, the REP hosts several events as part of Birmingham's cultural festivals. Keep an eye out on their website for more details of special events which go on throughout the year. In terms of the actual performance space, I have never had a bad view (even when buying the cheap seats) here. The ticketing has always been straight forward and problem free and it's easy to find out what's scheduled via their print materials and their site. The seating is comfortable and the theatre is accessible for those with mobility issues. As you would expect, drinks are expensive. It wouldn't be a trip to the theatre if you didn't have a good gasp at the price of two drinks, but saying that it's still cheaper than many of the other big theatre spaces I've been to around the UK. I have reviewed the Brasserie before for afternoon tea (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/searcys-birmingham?osq=REP+Brasserie), but you can also grab pre-theatre menus here (which would work out a little cheaper than the regular menu). Check out what's coming up, book your tickets and give this fantastic venue a visit (but make sure to bring plenty of money if you want a drink before/during/after the play).

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.

The Birmingham Town Hall is a lovely and unique building is a superb example of Victorian elegance…read moreand optimism. Built as a Greek Temple (as you do) it has served to entertain for over one hundred years. Recently by lottery funding it was refurbished to its former glory in 2007. Famous composers such as Elgar and Mendelsohn have had their works premiered there, all the greats of rock n'roll have played there and films have been shot inside. It used to be the home of the C B S O until Symphony Hall was built. The decor inside is beautiful, look up at the ceiling, look along at the wonderful organ which the city organist plays for lunch time concerts at least every month. Like i said it was refurbished a few years ago so the acoustics are state of the art as well as naturally excellent depending on the entertainment. The box office is only open when there is something on but it is easy to get tickets online, by phone and from the Symphony Hall 5 minutes away. There are lifts for wheelchairs so access is good for all. Yes this is a place I have been to many times and the most recent was the TEDxBrum event. The Town Hall is also no more than 5 minutes walk from New Street train Station.

It may look oddly like an imposing Greek temple lumped in the centre of Birmingham, but the Town…read moreHall is a sterling venue for music and comedy too if you weren't already wise to the fact. It boasts a lineup that competes with the Symphony Hall where music for the grown-ups is concerned, but this wouldn't matter if it wasn't accommodating; thankfully though, it's one of the best settings for a gig I've had the pleasure of enjoying. Once you're nestled inside the hall, either on the seated balcony tier or down on the floor which is overlooked by the stage, the atmospherics and acoustics afforded by the place are only fully appreciated when the act you've paid to see starts to play. Having caught the likes of Midlake, Marina & the Diamonds and Tim Minchin here, I have to say it's a more intimate gig-going experience than the grandiosity offered by Symphony; in fact, it's somewhere between the Symphony and Glee if you're thinking about checking out the listings. For some reason, the pipe organ at the rear of the stage makes me want to liken the place to a church - a place to worship your musical heroes, maybe! I'm so angry with myself that I missed PJ Harvey play there back in the late noughties. As a venue, the Town Hall has also hosted classical music concerts, awards evenings and 'evening with' type events with established figures from literature and the arts.

I was invited to the grand opening of the Heineken bar at Symphony hall this week and thought it…read morewould be rude to refuse. So I grabbed a couple of friends and headed down after work. The bar is located on the third floor entrance but is usually only available to Symphony Hall ticket holders. It's a nice open space from which you can see views of the city. The Heineken is served at minus 1 degrees which is very refreshing. They also serve limited wine options and a couple of other drinks. Bostin Brass played a great set during the event and there was a nice relaxed atmosphere. If you are going to see a show I would recommend that you have a look. Why not?

Birmingham Symphony Hall is, without a doubt, the best classical concert venue in the Midlands -…read moreblessed with a superior local orchestra (one of the best outside of London) and conductor, fine acoustics, and a nice, traditional concert atmosphere. You would never expect such a traditional-looking venue when you approach and enter the larger building that is the Convention Centre. When I visited in February they were tearing down the front of the Convention Centre, not interfering with the concerts. And I can't blame em, the old front sure was ugly enough. ;) - It's located a 10 minute walk from the New Street area. A pity that my latest concert, though featuring an attractive programme and an internationally recognized soloist, was rather sparsely attended: The place was half-empty. How is it possible that a 1+ million town cannot fill a symphony hall on any given night? Weird.

This is a lovely local theatre with quite a range of shows from comedy to music and panto to local…read moream dram productions. There are facilities for a pre-show meal and you can also have functions such as wedding receptions in the restaurant. The seating can be a little cramped afer a while, but it isn't a problem generally.

I use this every year for the fairly new CAMRA beer festivals. Gets a bit hot and could do with…read moredecent air con - they do use some big fans but it's still sticky.