175 TODAY! TOWN HALL CELEBRATES MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY WITH FREE BIRTHDAY CARNIVAL OPEN DAY
SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2009, 11AM-4PM
TOWN HALL, BIRMINGHAM
ADMISSION FREE
On Sunday 4 October, Town Hall Birmingham celebrates its 175th anniversary by throwing open its doors for 175 Today! Birthday Carnival Open Day. This FREE fun-packed day of music, dance and crafts for all the family includes performances by The Notebenders and the Infusion Ensemble, mask making and craft activities, dance workshops and even a visit from The Gruffalo! The carnival day is part of a weekend heralding the start of a special series of events which runs until December to mark the 175th anniversary of Town Hall Birmingham, one of the oldest concert halls in the world.
On Town Hall?s stage there will be performances from the world-music inspired Infusion Ensemble, the trailblazing Soweto Kinch Ensemble and jazz favourites The Notebenders. There will also be a chance to try out the dance moves for nutkhut?s Bollywood Steps created by Simmy Gupta, which forms the centrepiece of the Town Hall?s anniversary celebrations (9 & 10 October).
A variety of craft-making activities will be on offer on the foyers including mask making, wind socks and garlands, as well as traditional mehndi hand painting. The Tourist Ensemble?s alien tourists will wander through the crowds as will The Gruffalo and stilt walkers, creating a real carnival atmosphere.
Town Hall Birmingham is one of the oldest concert halls in the world. At the centre of British musical life since the day it opened in October 1834, the much-loved venue marks its milestone 175TH anniversary with a special series of events including concerts, talks, dances, films and more, running from October to December. The series celebrates Town Hall?s unique and continuing heritage with events from traditional to contemporary, reflecting the wide range of performance the hall has always presented. From Tea Dances to talks, Salsa to Silent Movie, A Christmas Carol to a Carnival Open Day, there?s sure to be something for everyone. The opening weekend begins with the official 175th Birthday Concert: Handel?s Messiah on Saturday 3 October, performed by The Sixteen and conducted by Harry Christophers with a classic line-up of British soloists. Other series highlights include three of Birmingham?s best-loved bohemian bands – The Old Dance School, The Toy Hearts & The Destroyers (11 October). The centrepiece of the anniversary series is three free performances (9 & 10 October) of nutkhut?s Bollywood Steps created by Simmy Gupta. This outdoor dance spectacle features dazzling dance numbers, stunning architectural lighting of Town Hall, fireworks, colourful costumes and water effects, hundreds of local schoolchildren, youth dancers and dhol drummers, and a moment of mass participation for the entire audience during a magnificent wedding scene.
175 Today! Birthday Carnival Open Day is at Town Hall Birmingham on Sunday 4 October. Admission free. For further details of Town Hall?s 175th anniversary series visit www.thsh.co.uk/175th or phone the box office on 0121 780 3333.
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Note to Editors
Town Hall & Symphony Hall website: www.thsh.co.uk
Town Hall 175th anniversary: www.thsh.co.uk/175th
nutkhut?s Bollywood Steps, 9 & 10 October: www.bollywoodstepsbirmingham.co.uk
RELATED PRESS RELEASES
Town Hall 175th anniversary series press release http://www.thsh.co.uk/page/contact-us/press-office/town-hall-celebrates-175th-anniversary/
nutkhut?s Bollywood Steps media pack http://www.thsh.co.uk/page/contact-us/press-office/bollywood-steps-media-pack/
SERIES EVENT LISTINGS
Thu 1 Oct, 11.30am & 3pm
TOWN HALL DANCES with the Garry Allcock All-Stars Band
Sat 3 Oct, 7pm
TOWN HALL 175TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT: HANDEL?S MESSIAH
Harry Christophers conducts The Sixteen
Sun 4 Oct, 11am-4pm
175 TODAY! BIRTHDAY CARNIVAL OPEN DAY
Mon 5 Oct, 7.30pm
175TH BIRTHDAY ORGAN CONCERT: THOMAS TROTTER
Fri 9 Oct, 8pm (learn the steps from 7.30pm)
Sat 10 Oct, 3pm (learn the steps from 2.30pm), Sat 10 Oct, 8pm (learn the steps from 7.30pm)
Victoria Square, Birmingham
nutkhut?s BOLLYWOOD STEPS created by Simmy Gupta
Introduced by Bobby Friction
Part of the People Dancing programme, part of the West Midlands Culture Programme for London 2012. Bollywood Steps has been awarded the Inspire Mark which recognises innovative and exceptional projects directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Part of Birmingham?s Light Night on Saturday 10 October.
Sun 11 Oct, 7pm
THE OLD DANCE SCHOOL, THE TOY HEARTS & THE DESTROYERS
Mon 12 Oct, 3.30pm
A HALL FOR ALL SEASONS: 175 YEARS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Illustrated talk by Lyndon Jenkins and Beresford King-Smith
Wed 21 Oct, 7.30pm
A HANSOM BUILDING: TOWN HALL, ANCIENT AND MODERN
Talk by Barry Adams and Anthony Peers
Sat 24 Oct, 7pm-2am
175TH BIRTHDAY SALSA BALL: GRUPO X ALL-STARS IN A TRIBUTE TO TITO PUENTE
Compere Rohan Brown
Sat 31 Oct, 7.30pm
HALLOWEEN SILENT MOVIE SPECIAL: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925)
Improvised organ accompaniment by Nigel Ogden
Mon 2 Nov, 2.30pm & 6.30pm
TOWN HALL, BIRMINGHAM AND WORLD WAR II
Talk by Professor Carl Chinn with live music from Garry Allcock and his All-Stars Band
Sun 15 Nov, 3pm
CELEBRATING DARWIN: IS HUMAN EVOLUTION OVER?
Talk by Professor Steve Jones
Sat 21 Nov, 7.30pm (doors open 7pm)
ALAAP, HEERA AND MONA: 175TH BIRTHDAY BHANGRA BASH
Fri 27 Nov, 8pm
STEELEYE SPAN – 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Sat 28 Nov, 7.30pm
Sun 29 Nov, 4pm
ELGAR?S THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS
With Ex Cathedra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Wed 2 Dec, 7.30pm
CAPSULE 10TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT
Mon 7 Dec, 7.30pm
A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS, PERFORMED BY CLIVE FRANCIS
Wed 9 Dec, 7.30-m
SIR WILLARD WHITE: ROBESON RE-EXPLORED
Sponsored by Jamaica National Building Society
WEBLINKS
Town Hall: http://www.thsh.co.uk/page/town-hall-birmingham/
Town Hall history: http://www.thsh.co.uk/page/town-hall-birmingham/history/
Town Hall and Symphony Hall are managed together by Performances Birmingham Limited, a registered charity. Between them, the two halls present an exciting and varied programme of over 600 concerts and events a year, designed to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. Over 500,000 people visit Town Hall and Symphony Hall annually, and a thriving education/community department reaches a further 20,000 people of all ages.
Town Hall Birmingham re-opened in October 2007 following a £35m renovation funded by Birmingham City Council (£18.3m), Heritage Lottery Fund (£13.7m), European Regional Development Fund (£3m).
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TOWN HALL SYMPHONY HALL BOX OFFICE 0121 780 3333
ON-LINE BOOKING www.thsh.co.uk
(£2 fee per transaction is charged on all bookings
except purchases made in person at THSH Box Office)
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Fiona Fraser/Lyle Bignon
Press & PR Manager/Asst Press & PR Manager
E Fiona.fraser@thsh.co.uk / lyle.bignon@thsh.co.uk
T 0121 644 5008 / 0121 644 6028
Issue date: 16 September 2009