We offer free last minute rehearsal spaces. Our studios can be available Monday – Friday between 10am – 5pm. Email creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com by 11am Wednesday with requests for the following week. Please drop us a message with a bit of info on what you’ll be using the space for, as well as how many people will be in attendance. This ensures we can book you into the most appropriate space available!

The Artists' Lounge is a relaxed space for Creatives to be at home in the Hippodrome with drinks making facilities, a lounge and library (open weekdays 10am – 5pm). Best accessed through our Thorp Street Reception Entrance. 

We've also now set up Hippodrome Creatives as a Community over on the Hippodrome's Instagram account! We'll be sharing the latest on what we're up to, updates on the Artists' Lounge, content and news! Click here to join!

Playspace - Applications open for December and February slots! 

For three days every month, Playspace offers a different artist or team access to space at Birmingham Hippodrome to explore an idea. Applications are open for December 2025 and February 2026 slots.

Playspace offers -

• Three days of free rehearsal space - Access costs support
• A small materials budget
• An outside eye if useful / a team member to attend if sharing is held

Some examples of what artists have used Playspace for (you don't need to necessarily fit neatly into one of these!)

• Explore a piece of work in the early stages of development (first reading, trying scenes out in a studio space)
• Workshop a piece of work that is in the mid-stages of development
• Rehearsal and small sharing in the rehearsal studio

Apply by filling out the form linked in the button below by Sunday 26 October, 12pm.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the team at creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com

Creatives Social with BLACK POWER DESK - Wednesday 22 October

About the show - 

BLACK POWER DESK is a powerful reimagining and exploration of what it means to love and fight for freedom. In an often male-dominated world, two sisters, Celia and Dina – both rooted in self-empowerment and fiercely committed to their community, both loyal and motivated by love – are divided by grief and radical politics. A moving story of sisters who need to reconnect for the sake of their community. But will the fight for their community be worth the damage to their sisterhood?

Find out more about the show here!

Pre-show event at Hidden by Motionhouse - Friday 10 October 

We would like to invite you to Motionhouse: Hidden on Friday 10 October at 7.30pm. This invite includes a complimentary ticket and attendance to a pre-show event, including speeches from Birmingham Hippodrome and Motionhouse in celebration of the Curtain Raiser performance (which will take place ahead of the show) and pre-show drinks.

Holly, from our Communications Team will be there on the night to welcome you.

Tickets will be allocated at a first come basis.

Internationally renowned dance-circus company Motionhouse returns to Birmingham Hippodrome, with its brand-new production Hidden.

Thought-provoking and poignant, Hidden explores how, in an increasingly divided world, light can come out of darkness in times of crisis.

At the cutting edge of live performance and digital integration, Hidden is a powerful blend of artforms. Gravity-defying choreography, an emotive soundscape and a shape-shifting set combine with groundbreaking projections to create an immersive world on stage. The fearless performers throw, catch and lift each other with immense precision, thrilling audiences with heart-in-the-mouth moments in this action-packed new production.

Triple C - Disabled Artists Networking Community Event 

We’re excited to be hosting Triple C’s next Disabled Artists Networking Community event on Wednesday 29 October, 3pm - 6pm (doors open from 2:15pm).

DANC events bring together deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent (DDN) artists and creatives with representatives from the arts and screen industries to hear from each other, meet up, and network. Artists and creatives can share solutions, find out about each other’s projects, make connections, and swap contact details, all with the goal of increasing inclusion and employment within our industry.

This event is open to DDN creatives who work in the arts and screen industries and to representatives from arts and screen industry organisations.

Event Schedule:

2:15pm – 3pm – Arrivals, registration, tea and coffee, settling in

3pm – 3:45pm – Welcomes, find out who’s in the room

4pm – 5:30pm – Networking - attendees will be split into three smaller groups

5:40pm - 6pm - Showcase

6pm – Departures

Hood Futures Studio - The Ends Through the Lens

We're looking forward to hosting Hood Futures Studio's "The Ends Through the Lens" exhibition on Friday 21 November at Birmingham Hippodrome. "The Ends Through the Lens" is an exhibition of new work from six Black photographers and filmmakers documenting life in the ends. With food and artist talks, together we'll explore the significance of documentation in a context of demolition, displacement and erasure.

Keep an eye out on their socials to find out more! 

SPILTMILK - Wonderland Early Career Trainee Opportunity

SPILTMILK are offering a paid Early Career Traineeship alongside upcoming rehearsal and touring of Wonderland - a magical festive show made with and for older adults in care settings, including those living with Dementia.

The Traineeship will include shadowing rehearsals, learning repertoire, gaining experience of working in care home, hospital and professional studio settings, as well as shadowing 4 tour dates.

Deadline: Tuesday 14 October 

Find out more and apply here!

Musical Theatre Network – Future Producers of Musicals in the Midlands networking event

Are you (or could you be) a producer of musical theatre in the Midlands? Musical Theatre Network, China Plate and Royal & Derngate are hosting a free event for future producers on Saturday 22 November. They will be sharing some industry insights, signpost relevant opportunities, and give you the chance to meet other producers/future producers, and discuss what would help you achieve your ambitions in this area.

Find out more here! 

VERVE - Work in Poetry Applications Open

Are you developing a bold new poetry performance? Testing out something strange, hybrid, or genre-breaking? VERVE Poetry Festival are launching a scratch night as part of their 2026 festival and are looking for poets, performers, and artists working in and around poetry.

Deadline: Friday 31 October

Find out more and apply here!

Jerwood Foundation Grant - Applications Open

The Jerwood Foundation Grant is open for applications for projects starting, or opening to the public: 1 January 2026 - 1 October 2026.

Open Call: Assembly 2026

The New Art Gallery Walsall and Multistory are now accepting applications for Assembly 2026. Assembly is an annual exhibition programme of newly commissioned work by emerging artists based in the Black Country, held in partnership between Multistory and The New Art Gallery Walsall. 

This opportunity is open to visual artists, who are currently living and making work in the Black Country (within the Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton boroughs.)

Deadline: Wednesday 15 October 

Find out more here!

If you'd like us to share any events, sharings, shows, readings or anything you're working on in this newsletter, please get in touch through creatives@birminghamhippodrome.com.

We include many opportunities in the monthly newsletter, some sent to us and some we come across online. While we do read through all opportunities included, these are not endorsements for the companies or organisations they're published by. If you have questions or there are any issues with opportunities shared in the newsletter, please get in touch with the organisations directly.

Thank you for being part of the Hippodrome Creatives community. See you soon!

Maria-Magdalena (New Work & Artist Development Coordinator)