Birmingham Hippodrome has set up a new work and artist development department to make the theatre a “vibrant and supportive home for West Midlands creatives”.
The department will be led by Sophia Griffin and Maria-Magdalena Mineva. The theatre has also brought back Writer’s Block, a scratch night giving artists space to test out ideas, share works in progress and collaborate with one another.
The Hippodrome is partnering with Talawa and Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre to offer two co-commissions for West Midlands artists of African or Caribbean heritage.
For three days every month, a scheme called Playspace will allow a different artist or team access to space at the Hippodrome to explore an idea with no pressure to create a piece of work.
Griffin said, “the new work and artist development department is a key part of Birmingham Hippodrome's new five-year strategy, aiming to make it the most accessible venue of its scale and to contribute to increasing the production and distribution of new creative work in and from the city.
“We’re here to support the brilliant artists in the region to play, experiment and ultimately support them to make new work for our stages and beyond.”