On Saturday 9 September 2023, from midday until 4pm, visitors will be welcomed at The Alexandra for a day of ‘unwrapping creativity’ at one of the second city’s oldest play houses. As part of the free ‘Heritage Open Days’ events across the UK, The Alexandra, Birmingham will join unique heritage attractions around the country for the second year running, to welcome visitors behind the scenes of a 122 year old working theatre.
For one day only, this event will be a day of creativity for the local community to get involved with. The Alex will welcome visitors who have an interest in the theatre and heritage buildings, along with families and community members looking to fill their weekend with enjoyable activities. With plenty of activities available to get involved with, this is a unique opportunity to see the theatre during ‘dark weeks’, when no shows are on stage and the theatre is usually closed to the public.
On this Open Day, visitors can try out crafting, with an array of ‘making’ sessions, organised through local charity, Creative Arts Showcase. Visitors can give ballroom dancing a whirl in the Piano bar, as lessons are hosted throughout the day or try some technological wizardry as visitors literally ‘light up the stage’ with our state-of-the-art lighting systems used in professional theatre productions. There is the opportunity to tour behind the scenes of the theatre with expert guides, delve into the archives on display, dating back six generations of theatre-lovers and ask the things people want to know about The Alex and its history. There will also be a sensory breakout space, face painting, a candy floss machine and much, much more.
Birmingham’s beloved theatre, The Alexandra, was built in 1901 by William Coutts and throughout its vast history, has become home to first class entertainment, welcoming West End touring productions, musical legends, famous comedians and more recently, popular podcasters and influencers. Located in the heart of the city, the theatre welcomes hundreds of performances each year, seating up to 1,300 audience members for each show. The ‘Alex’ as it is more affectionately known, has survived two world wars and the Covid-19 pandemic where the theatre was closed for 491 days.
Simon Creed, Theatre Director, The Alexandra, Birmingham said:
“We are delighted to be throwing open our doors for this year’s Heritage Open Days, to welcome local communities to our heritage building, that houses so many special memories for theatre lovers and history buffs. We think there will be a little something for everyone on this Open Day, so bring your best creativity, and an adventurous spirit, and join us in celebrating this 122-year-old building and the millions of hours of entertainment it has bestowed upon six generations of Brummies. Here’s to six more generations learning to love the theatre and being creative.”
Liam Montgomery, Marketing and Projects Manager, Heritage Open Days said:
“Whether it’s art, music, writing, or another outlet, creativity moves us and shapes our history and culture. We’re excited to put the spotlight on the people and places who give England’s heritage the X-factor and inspire festival-goers to engage with thousands of years of creativity.”
To enjoy this one-off, Heritage Open Day event, visit The Alexandra Heritage Open Day event page. Please note session availability *may be limited.