The UK’s busiest theatre and Birmingham’s number one visitor attraction has been recognized for its contribution to the arts and culture of the region by scooping a top prize at the 2009 West Midland Tourism Awards.
The Award was presented to Birmingham Hippodrome at a prestigious dinner held at the city’s International Convention Centre and hosted by BBC Midlands Today presenters Nick Owen and Suzanne Virdee.
The Hippodrome won the award against strong opposition from fellow nominees Shugborough Hall & Estate and Guiding You in Warwickshire.
The Award comes at an important time for Birmingham Hippodrome. In the summer a Prospectus was launched detailing the vision for the Theatre’s future development. Included amongst the aims was the development of an international centre for dance; to further extend the Theatre’s reach into the community by expanding its physical and creative capacity; and to be a key anchor in the regeneration of the Southside district of the city.
Birmingham Hippodrome is a major driver in both the success and reputation of the arts in the region contributing more than £40m to the local economy. It is home to the world’s biggest pantomime and sells more tickets for dance than any other theatre outside of London. It is home to Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange as well as being the English residence for Welsh National Opera.
Commenting on the award, Birmingham Hippodrome’s Chief Executive Stuart Griffiths said:
“We are thrilled to be recognized for our contribution to tourism in the West Midlands with this award. 70% of our audiences come from outside Birmingham and nearly half of those are from outside the West Midlands. We know that Birmingham Hippodrome is a major component in encouraging tourism to the city. It is always our aim to provide a range of shows that attract a diverse range of audiences both demographically and geographically to the Theatre and ultimately to the city.”
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