Birmingham Rep Open Day - Sat 29 Apr 2023
Join us on site at The Rep on Sat 29 Apr for a day of free activities for theatre lovers of all ages, and go behind the scenes of Birmingham’s only producing theatre.
From 10am-4pm, you can enjoy backstage tours, workshops, performances, technical demonstrations, heritage talks and the chance to purchase incredible garments in The Rep’s costume sale!
Events marked with a star (*) require sign-up, so please head to the welcome desk on the day to register your interest. Events cannot be pre-booked in advance.
Find out more about what you can discover…
Backstage Tours*
Join The Rep’s dedicated volunteers as they take you on a short backstage tour around Birmingham Rep’s fascinating theatre building. Learn about The Rep’s long theatrical history and take a peek at backstage spaces usually closed to the public including the huge workshop and paintshop where sets are created from scratch for Rep productions. The tour will end with a 15 minute History and Heritage talk in Suite 1.
Self Guided Tours and Production and Technical Demonstrations
During the entirety of the open day, you’ll be able to follow a self guided trail around The Rep building. Ask our volunteer team questions, and see the spaces where performances are created. Find out backstage secrets with exclusive interactive demonstrations from The Rep’s leading Technical and Production team and experience how the magic of live theatre happens! Learn from our professionals in lighting, sound, costume, technical drawing, carpentry and stage management – an experience you won’t want to miss.
Photo credit, Simon Hadley.
Costume Sale
This year, a very popular event is once again a part of our fantastic Open Day. With our costume and props sale, we are giving you a rare chance to riffle through a selection of fabrics, props and furniture and hand-made period costumes. Our expert wardrobe department has been making incredible costumes in our building for 50 years. This is your chance find a dramatic statement look and take home your very own piece of our history.
This year the sale will only be open for the morning and when it’s gone it’s gone, so make sure you get there early to grab the best finds! All funds raised will directly support the charitable activities of The Rep, ensuring theatre is accessible to everyone. Remember to think green and bring your own bags!
Early Years' Workshops*
This will be a special interactive storytelling session, designed for early years children, which takes you on a family friendly journey discovering characters from a range of Fairy Tales. Follow the breadcrumbs with Hansel and Gretel, sneak into the house of the three bears, help defeat the big bad wolf before he gets the three little pigs.
This session will take place twice so you have the option to attend from 10.30am-11.15am or 11.15am-12.00pm.
*Image shows costumes from 2022 Open Day, Costume and Props Sale.
Young Rep Performances
Our Juniors and Seniors groups will be performing extracts from their upcoming plays during the Order and Chaos Festival! Catch their performance near box office at 11.30am (Junior Young Rep) and 3.00pm (Senior Young Rep).
Arts and Crafts
Get involved and get creative at our Arts and Crafts station. For visitors of all ages.
We will also be holding a live art class* between 2.00pm – 3.30pm in the front of house foyer.
Careers in the Arts & CV Help
Chat to our People team to find out more about the range of careers available in the arts and the best ways to get into theatre, get CV advice from HR industry experts and learn about some of the great opportunities and vacancies The Rep has to offer
Creative Learning Drama Workshop*
Experience a Young Rep youth theatre session for FREE! Come and work with some of our brilliant directors to develop your performance skills and have some fun creating theatre!
2.00pm – 3.00pm (for Ages 7-11) and 3.00pm – 4.00pm (for Ages 12 -16) in The Door.
Timetable
Guided Tours*
11.00am, 12.00pm, 1,00pm, 2.00pm, 3.00pm
Self Guided Tours & Technical Demonstrations
10.00am – 4.00pm
The Foyer
11.30am Young Rep Juniors Performance
3.00pm Young Rep Seniors Performance
2.00pm – 3.30pm Live Art Class*
The Door
10.00am – 1.00pm Costume Sale
2.00pm – 3.00pm (For Ages 7 – 11) Creative Learning Drama Workshops*
3.00pm – 4.00pm (For Ages 12 – 16) Creative Learning Drama Workshops*
The Foyer
10.00am – 4.00pm Careers in the Arts & CV Help
The Mezzanine
10.30am – 11.15am and 11.15 am – 12.00pm – Early Years Workshop*
10.30am – 4.00pm Arts and Crafts
Suite 1
11.45am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm & 3.45pm History and Heritage Talk
*Sign up required (Sign up to these events when you arrive)