Get Ready For The Summer of European Theatre
BE FESTIVAL, Birmingham's annual summer festival of European performing arts, returns to The REP from 4 - 8 July 2017 bringing new theatre, dance, circus and visual arts from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Greece and beyond. And tickets go on sale today.
A year on from the EU Referendum BE FESTIVAL remains as relevant as ever as Miguel Oyarzun, co-director of BE FESTIVAL says:
“BE FESTIVAL has never had more relevance and a greater responsibility than right now, one year since the referendum. Here, in the inclusive city of Birmingham, the multifaceted cultural identities and creativity of a continent will once again be celebrated through performance and art. In addition to the array of entertainment, there will be a healthy platform for debate and expression throughout the festival. We expect this year to be particularly lively and energetic with audiences and artists buzzing around the various nooks and crannies of The REP”.
Co-director Isla Aguilar also said:
“As we look further ahead to the eventuality of Brexit and beyond we must focus on building bridges within our communities with the ultimate aim of breaking down borders that serve only to divide us. At BE FESTIVAL we are immensely thankful and proud to have Birmingham residents providing temporary homes for all our visiting artists and if ever there was an example of the kind of outward, inclusive community spirit and action needed, it is here on our own doorstep in Birmingham where we can look for inspiration.”
Every day at BE FESTIVAL audiences are invited to meet in the festival HUB, bar and cafe that pops up in the backstages of The REP to take part in professional workshops and chat to the artists at the Feedback Cafés; or venture out across the city to enjoy the site specific and visual arts programmes. Every night, audiences can expect to sample four performances, eat dinner together on The REP's mainstage, and dance into the dawn with our BE Late Stage programme of live music and DJs.
BE FESTIVAL takes place from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 July.
More In
Creative Civic Change Brings Inner-City Communities Together In Partnership With Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Since lockdowns began to come into force in March 2020, both Birchfield and Welsh House Farm Big Local partnerships have remained steadfast in their delivery of Creative Civic...
The REP’s Youth Theatre, The Young REP, Is Set To Participate In Company Three’s Nationwide Project
As the UK emerges from its third national lockdown, Company Three is launching a project that puts young people and youth theatres at the heart of a big conversation about the future, featuring...
Birmingham Royal Ballet To Go Ahead With Live Streaming Adapted Version Of The Nutcracker At Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Following news of Birmingham's Tier 3 status last week, and ongoing uncertainty about what will be possible post 16 December, Birmingham Royal Ballet has taken the difficult decision to...
Audiences Asked To Save A Seat This Christmas To Raise Funds For Birmingham Repertory Theatre And Birmingham Royal Ballet
This festive season, audiences are being asked to Save A Seat as part of a new fundraising campaign by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Birmingham Royal Ballet. This December, the two...
West Midlands' Black Artists & Organisational Leads Launch More Than A Moment - Action With And For Black Creatives
Today, a group of Black artists and leaders from arts organisations across the West Midlands, launch a pledge for action: More Than a Moment: Action with and for Black Creatives. It marks the...
Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre Announce Adapted Version Of The Nutcracker
Following last week's sold-out performances of Lazuli Sky, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre are excited to announce a specially adapted production of the classic Christmas...
"It's Not Just A Theatre Company - It's A Movement" - Lightpost Appoints New Artistic Leaders
Mathias Andre and CJ Webley, two previous members of Lightpost Theatre Company, have now successfully been employed in leadership roles. In 2015, Birmingham Repertory Theatre took part in an...
The REP Launches REP RELOADED To Provide Pioneering Digital Engagement For Young People Across The West Midlands
Birmingham Repertory Theatre has built a trailblazing national reputation for its innovative engagement projects, including city-wide Youth Theatre groups and creative learning in schools across...
"Shakespeare Has A Unique Way Of Connecting The Universal To The Individual" - Romeo & Juliet Rehearsal Blog
In fair Verona Birmingham, we continue to rehearse many scenes... Since joining us as part of Adult Drama Company and featuring in Scenes From A Brummie Iliad, Corinna Haycox talks to...
#YourLifeMatters – Theatre Helps Young People Explore Harsh Realities of Youth Violence
Over the summer The REP and our Lightpost Theatre group have been working with First Class Legacy to deliver a summer programme for young people. The programme culminates next week with a performance...
"Creating an emotional reaction in an audience, through your work, is fairly addictive" - In Conversation with Rachael Mainwaring
In advance of our REP Foundry Night on 14 June, we caught up with our brilliant 2019 Foundry Artists. Next up is Rachael Mainwaring... What made you first want to create...
"Being able to perform a piece of original work at a place that means a lot to me is something very special" - In Conversation with Sam Cole
In advance of REP Foundry Nights on 7 & 14 June, we caught up with our brilliant 2019 Foundry Artists. Next up is Sam Cole... What made you first want to create theatre? I have always...
"The most exciting thing about REP Foundry is that anything is possible" - In Conversation with Ashlee Elizabeth Lolo
In advance of REP Foundry Nights on 7 & 14 June, we caught up with our brilliant 2019 Foundry Artists. First up is Ashlee Elizabeth Lolo... What made you first want to create theatre?...
“It’s a love letter to theatre” - Designer Robert Innes Hopkins Chats About The Set Of Edmond de Bergerac
Edmond de Bergerac is the triumphant hit comedy that has taken France by storm, and now as the play gets its first outing in the UK, we had a chat to Designer Robert Innes Hopkins about the show...
Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert, Announces Birmingham Repertory Theatre's Exciting 2019 Spring and Summer Season
Roxana Silbert has today announced plans for the theatre's Spring and Summer 2019 season. Speaking of the forthcoming programme, Roxana said: “Revolution is something Birmingham was...
Lottery Boost Set To Strengthen The Mental Health, Wellbeing and Skills of Birmingham's Young African Caribbean Men
Young African Caribbean men across Birmingham will benefit from National Lottery funding totalling almost £750,000, thanks to a life-changing scheme initiated by Birmingham Repertory Theatre...
"I have always been making theatre in some form or another": Meet REP Foundry Artist, Bethany Kapila
Meet our final REP Foundry artist, Bethany Kapila as she considers who inspires her and what drove her to want to create theatre. What made you first want to create theatre? I have always...
"The stage is set, the performers are ready; the only thing needed is an audience" - The Making of Woyzeck
As the opening night of The REP's production of Woyzeck draws closer, the atmosphere backstage has become an electric combination of nervous anticipation and excitement. For one final time, before...
"We've drunk lots of tea, eaten lots of samosas and shared lots of stories" - Furnace Artist Manjeet updates us on how her project is taking shape
In the latest in our series of blogs, we catch up with Manjeet Mann about her project with Ashiana Community Project, Run The World, and how the performance is taking shape. Today marked the end...
"Expect a completely unique experience!" - Introducing our next Furnace Artist, Sarah Hamilton Baker
We'd like to introduce our next Furnace artist, Sarah Hamilton Baker, who is working with the community at Focus, a visual impairment charity in Birmingham. I first started working with The...
"I’m hoping Run The World will chart empowerment, strength and solidarity" Furnace Artist Manjeet Mann tells us more about her project
We're continuing our series of blogs highlighting the work of our Furnace Artists, who are working in communities around Birmingham to create theatre with, for and about that community. Next...
"I love the power that theatre has to tell stories" - The latest from Furnace Artist Jay Crutchley
Community is at the heart of what we do and we are especially proud of our Furnace community engagement programme, that sees theatre makers from The REP working in five different Furnace...
"Fantastic. Caring. Enthusiastic." In Conversation With Defending MonologueSlam Champion, Ruby Richards
MonologueSlam, the industry showcase for actors, returns to The REP Friday 18 May for an action-packed evening of live entertainment. We caught up with returning and defending champion, Ruby...
"It talks about things we don't talk about much" - Cathy Tyson tells us more about The String Quartet's Guide To Sex And Anxiety
Ahead of the opening night of The String Quartet's Guide To Sex And Anxiety, we caught up with Cathy Tyson to talk about the show. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the show?...
"I feel passionately about the power of shared stories and experiences" - We catch up with Furnace Artist Rachael Mainwaring
Community is at the heart of what we do and we are especially proud of our Furnace community engagement programme, that sees theatre makers from The REP working in five different Furnace...
“When someone sits and watches the performance, it is about what is happening to them in their head" Hofesh Shechter on Grand Finale
“Many times people want to know what I meant in a particular dance piece,” says Hofesh Shechter, “And I think it doesn't really matter. What matters is what happens on stage...
"It’s a really exciting time to be in Birmingham and The REP is a big part of that": Meet REP Foundry Artist Will Jackson
What made you first want to create theatre? I was really lucky when I was little and my mum took me to see Cats in London. There was a bit when Old Deuteronomy (who's this really old, mangy...
Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert, Announces Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s Exciting 2018 Autumn and Winter Season
Roxana Silbert has today announced plans for the theatre's 2018 Autumn and Winter season. Speaking of the forthcoming programme, Roxana said: “It is with enormous pleasure that we...
"I first encountered the book whilst recovering in hospital having broken my foot dancing naked with some bananas"
Paul Hunter, Artistic Director of Told by an Idiot on the story behind their latest show, Napoleon Disrobed. Napoleon Disrobed is based on the novel The Death of Napoleon by Simon Leys. I first...
"I’ve been surrounded by inspiring women throughout my life": Happy International Women's Day
In celebration of International Women's Day and the inspiring women who are integral to The REP, two of our 2018 Furnace artists, Rachael Mainwaring and Manjeet Mann share what it means to be a...
‘Theatre is a real team effort – using skills to achieve a common goal. I relish that.’: Meet REP Foundry artist Michael Southan
Michael Southan on becoming a REP Foundry artist What made you first want to create theatre? When I think back to my school days of studying drama, it was theatre's ability to...
'I realised the great power theatre can have to connect people': Meet REP Foundry artist Lorna Nickson Brown
Lorna Nickson Brown on becoming a REP Foundry artist What made you first want to create theatre? When I was a teenager, I performed in a play called The Laramie Project. It was a verbatim...
“If you’re going to play Medea, then you really have to go for it” - Neil Bartlett on Medea: Written in Rage
This month a reimagining of the Greek myth, Medea: Written in Rage, comes to The REP. Neil Bartlett, translator and director, tells us more about the production. Tell us about the story of Medea...
Disabled Access Day At Birmingham Repertory Theatre - A Blog By Billy Coughlin, Agent For Change
We caught up with our Agent For Change, Billy Coughlin, who chatted to us about Disabled Access Day and Ramps on the Moon. In a nutshell, I am responsible for working with all departments at The...
