Birmingham Hippodrome crazy for new season

Published: 13 May 2017
Reporter: Steve Orme

Jean Pierre Van De Spuy, associate director of Miss Saigon Credit: Simon Hadley
Tom Chambers who will appear in Crazy For You Credit: Simon Hadley

Actors, directors and producers from across the UK gathered at Birmingham Hippodrome to usher in a new season of shows including West End musicals, opera and ballet.

Among the guests were Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy, associate director of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Miss Saigon, Paul Kerryson, director of the musical comedy Hairspray, and Tom Chambers who is appearing in Crazy For You.

Commenting on the UK tour of Miss Saigon, Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy said, “it’s got something for everyone: it’s funny, it’s a great love story, there’s dancing and an amazing score by Claude-Michel Schönberg. I think theatre should be either thought-provoking or entertaining and this is both.” It visits the Hippodrome from 26 July until 23 September.

Discussing the new UK tour of Hairspray, Kerryson said, “I’m so thrilled that Hairpsray is coming to the Hippodrome because it’s going to look great on this stage.

“This is not just a bubblegum show—it’s a great show that deals with a lot of important issues. It’s about acceptance rather than triumph over adversity. Tracy gets bullied but she also gets her man, brings her community together and becomes the star of the show. She’s got a big heart, a big voice and big hair!” Hairspray will run at the Hippodrome from 9 until 14 October.

Chambers said, “Crazy For You is the ultimate role for me—I absolutely love it. There’s a lot of physicality—it’s like a cross between Tarzan, 42nd Street and Me and My Girl.” It runs at the Hippodrome from 24 until 28 October.

*Some links, including Amazon, Stageplays.com, ATG Tickets, LOVEtheatre, BTG Tickets, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory, LW Theatres and QuayTickets, are affiliate links for which BTG may earn a small fee at no extra cost to the purchaser.

Are you sure?