Unfortunately, Birmingham does not have its own special theaters award. Despite the fact that the city has around 10 large professional theatre venues that stage their own productions and host touring companies from other cities, countries, etc. But there are also smaller, independent venues, community and amateur theaters, as well as theaters at universities and schools. This means that it is impossible to determine the exact total number of theaters without access to the official register. However, this does not mean that Birmingham’s theaters are left without awards at the city level. More details can be found here: birmingham-trend.com.
Honoring the spirit of the city
Incidentally, the last time the city honoured a local theater was not so long ago, in 2025. We are talking about the Birmingham Hippodrome, one of the oldest and most respected theaters in the city. In 2025, the deep connection between this cultural institution and Birmingham was revealed in a new way.
Of course, it has always been there, but this year it was officially confirmed when the Hippodrome was awarded the Birmingham Awards in the field of arts and culture. This award is presented to those who shape the cultural soul of Birmingham.
Established in 2015, the Birmingham Awards arose from a simple but ambitious desire: to recognize people and institutions that make an exceptional contribution to the life of the city. Unlike purely artistic or economic awards, these awards encompass the full diversity of Birmingham — its entrepreneurial dynamism, social activism and, of course, cultural richness.
Each year, an independent jury, based on nominations from the public, recognizes initiatives that embody the city’s values. These include inclusivity, creativity, solidarity, and innovation. Among the many categories of this local award, which honours the spirit of Birmingham, the Arts & Culture Award holds a special place.
It is awarded not only for artistic excellence, but also for the ability of culture to unite, inspire and change the everyday lives of the residents of the UK’s second city. It was for all these charms and virtues that Birmingham Racecourse was chosen as the winner of the Birmingham Awards in the Arts & Culture Award category in 2025.
Why “Birmingham Racecourse”
The Birmingham Awards jury recognized the Hippodrome for its outstanding cultural influence and ongoing commitment to the local community. Every year, the theater hosts over 600 performances and attracts around 600,000 spectators, making it one of the most visited theaters in the UK outside London.
However, the figures are not the main achievement of the theater. The philosophy of this cultural institution attracted attention. The Birmingham Hippodrome is not limited to staging major international productions — musicals, ballets, operas, or pantomimes — it also opens its doors to all lovers of theatrical art.
Free festivals, educational projects in schools, programs for young artists and inclusive initiatives allow thousands of people, who are sometimes far removed from the world of theater, discover the stage for themselves and recognize themselves in it. Receiving the Arts & Culture Award in 2025 was recognition of a theater that does not exist on the periphery, but is located in the very heart of the city, its lively, attentive and generous centre.
A history spanning more than a century
If anyone still has questions about why Birmingham Hippodrome received this award, the answer is quite simple: because it is a cultural centre that gives every resident of the city and its visitors the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable theatre performances, art, and culture. The venue is an independent, non-profit, cultural, charitable organisation that reinvests its surplus into enriching the cultural life of the region.
What’s more, the Birmingham Hippodrome offers something truly priceless: it offers emotions, that unique feeling of “goosebumps”, and this happens not only in the theatre when a performance is on stage. It happens throughout the city. To give you an idea, it hosts over 600 performances for more than 600,000 spectators. The theatre attracts another 250,000 people to various free events, such as theatre festivals.
At the same time, it promotes accessibility and education through its network of over 30 schools and arts programmes. As a powerful centre without regular government funding, the Hippodrome supports the cultural heart of Birmingham, making it a bold and inclusive world-class city.
The history of the Birmingham Hippodrome begins at the end of the 19th century. In 1899, the venue opened as a venue for variety artists and circus acts. A few years later, it was renamed the Hippodrome, already declaring its ambition to become a hub for entertainment and popular culture in Birmingham.
The current building, opened in 1924, with its imposing façade and grand auditorium, was a turning point. It quickly became an indispensable landmark for the people of Birmingham. Over the decades, the theatre has undergone periods of transformation, renovation and financial challenges, but it has never lost sight of its primary purpose: to offer high-quality artistic events.
Regardless of the times, the theatre had to live through, whether in peacetime or during the Second World War. When war was declared in September 1939, the Hippodrome was forced to close temporarily, but reopened within two weeks with a variety show, recognising the need for entertainment.
In general, during World War II, the Birmingham Hippodrome, this large entertainment venue, became an important stimulus for morale, hosting variety shows during the German Blitz in Birmingham. The theatre survived the bombing, although it was damaged by bombs in October 1940. Nevertheless, the Hippodrome continued to operate, providing cultural entertainment for the city’s residents and supporting their morale during the harsh realities of wartime.
Since 1979, the Hippodrome has been managed by the independent charitable foundation Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust, which strengthens its ties with the community and artistic independence, and often invests in projects in collaboration with Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council.
A stage, open to the world
This coexistence between the spectacular and the familiar, between the global and the local, makes this place unique. The Hippodrome is both an open door to the world and a mirror of the city itself, diverse, changing and deeply human.
What particularly distinguishes Birmingham Hippodrome and explains why it was awarded the Birmingham Award is precisely its social activism. Accessibility programmes, adapted performances, educational events and partnerships with local associations demonstrate a clear commitment to making the theatre a place that is open to everyone.
In a city as multifaceted as Birmingham, the Hippodrome plays the role of a cultural crossroads, where stories intersect and are told, both on stage and in the auditorium.
By awarding the Birmingham Award in the field of theatre arts and culture, the city honoured not only this institution, but also the vision of culture as a collective force. This award emphasises that the Hippodrome has become a symbol of the city, a source of local pride and a driver of social cohesion.
This award has become more than just a distinction; it has become a statement that in Birmingham, culture is not a luxury, but a beating heart. And Birmingham Hippodrome is one of the most important rhythms of that heart.
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