China Plate and Birmingham Hippodrome have unveiled the West Midland locations for the summer performances of new concert musical To The Streets!
Planned as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, the special shows will take place at Handsworth Park in Birmingham (19 August 1.45pm and 7.45pm, 20 August 1.45pm and 7.45pm), Windmill Hill in Coventry (University of Warwick Campus, 24 August 7.45pm, 25 August 7.45pm) and West Park in Wolverhampton (28 Aug 1.45pm and 7.45pm). Doors open at 12 noon and 6pm with pre-performances at 12.30pm and 6.30pm.
Written by Roy Williams and Tim Sutton and inspired by the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, a pivotal moment in the UK’s civil rights history, the concert performances in August will be presented within a day-long festival of experiences.
Commenting on the performances, Paul Warwick, director at China Plate, added: “We can’t wait to take this special production to parks across the West Midlands this summer. The concert performances will be presented within a festival style experience with additional performances and music to be announced. The music at the centre of To The Streets! is truly uplifting, bursting with ska, calypso and rock ‘n’ roll; absolutely perfect for a summer outdoor performance.”
The Birmingham Hippodrome’s director of artistic programme, Chris Sudworth added: “The concert musical of To The Streets! will give audiences an opportunity to hear all the songs and enjoy the vibrant choreography from the show ahead of a proposed national tour of the full stage musical, premiering at Birmingham Hippodrome in 2024. To The Streets! tells such an important story in our civil rights history with a huge amount of warmth and heart, it’s set to be a very special production.”
Doreen Foster, Warwick Arts Centre director, commented: “We’re excited to be involved in the development of this pioneering production that tells an important, yet little known, story from Britain’s recent past. We very much look forward to hosting it in the summer.”
Marguerite Nugent, City of Wolverhampton Council Arts and Culture manager, said: “Wolverhampton is excited to be part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival by bringing this outstanding musical production to the city for local people to experience.
“The themes of equality and giving voice to difference have a special resonance in Wolverhampton, which had its own Sikh bus protests in the 1960s. We are looking forward to seeing West Park come alive in August with a burst of toe-tapping music and drama.”
The performances will give audiences a chance to hear all the songs from the feel-good show ahead of a proposed national tour of the full stage musical which will premiere at the Birmingham Hippodrome in 2024.
Alongside the production, China Plate’s associate producers Aksana Khan, Diandra McCalla and Jade Samuels have been working with communities in North Birmingham to co-design a programme of events inspired by the show that will be presented as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.
Angela Thomas
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