Six Summer Saturdays 2012 @brumhippodrome

Kicking off this weekend Six Summer Saturdays in back and, as with each passing year, seems to get better and better. The summer events surprise, shock and above all do a great job in putting smiles on the faces of unsuspecting Brummie shoppers as performers pop up in unusual places to entertain the crowds. Here’s a list of what to expect…

Fierce and Flatpack

Various venues throughout Birmingham – 22 – 27 March

Alternative Valentines

Valentine’s Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, it’s an opportunity to express their undying love and affection for another by showering them with tacky gifts, flowers and chocolates that on any other day could only be seen as a form of apology. To others it can be a hateful affair. Whether it’s because of love lost, a love never had or a great dislike for all commercial occasions (we’re looking at you, Grandparents Day), February 14th can stir up a lot of unhealthy thoughts and feelings. With this in mind, we wanted to offer you all a life-line. From live music to film, we’ve devised a list of options of both anti- and alternative Valentine’s Day events to help see you through that rather ridiculous and overly hyped day.

Ikon Winter Events Schedule

November 2010 – February 2011

Advance booking required in some cases.

Birmingham’s Ikon gallery has announced its programme of events for November 2010 to February 2011, with a number of special days targetted at families and children on the cards.

Flip Festival – 4th to 6th November

Flip Festival
4-6 November
Various venues
flipfestival.co.uk

Animation has infiltrated our lives in a big way; from television cartoons, to X-box addictions, from sordid Japanese Anime, to multi-million pound Hollywood films. Filp Festival is celebrating this media in a unique, informative, and accessible way.

The three-day event, starting on the 4th November, is run by the Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton in partnership with University of Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The event hosts a variety of full screenings and shorts, as well as workshops and presentations from industry insiders- a must for any aspiring animators.

Six Summer Saturdays tomorrow at the Hippodrome Piazza

On Saturday 24th July 2010, the Birmingham Hippodrome launched Six Summer Saturdays. Running until Saturday August 28th, the project is aiming to entertain Brummies all over the city by presenting a selection of fantastic outdoor theatre performances in various locations.

Six Summer Saturdays launched in style with the Vogue Ball, encouraging the audience to join the celebrations with the motto, “Step up, step out and release your inner diva!”  Subsequent to this, the following weekend boasted a diverse array of acts, from the quirky Creeping Carnival (all the way from Switzerland) to the raving grannies prowling around the High Street.

This weekend the line up is equally as varied with something eccentric to suit everyone. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect:

Mr Lucky’s Party by Avanti Display

Afternoon tea has never been so eventful… A couple begin a celebration in the middle of their tea party, and party hats and cake magically appear. As they tuck into each course of their meal, the weather goes from glorious to gloomy, as do their moods. With only an evocative soundtrack for accompaniment, the piece is described as “meticulous in character” and concludes with a shocking twist that is pure Avanti in style.

Hippodrome Piazza, 1pm and 4pm

Rock a Hula!

Who needs the Bahamas when Birmigham is offering a Hawaiian beach party? Come along and dance to some 50’s tunes whilst perfecting your hula hoop technique.

Hippodrome Piazza, 1.30pm-4pm

The Wheel House by Acrojou

Go on a”cylindrical journey” with two zany travellers and experience the clanking and clutter of their bizarre universe. You are guaranteed to giggle and perhaps to defy gravity too.

Cathedral Gardens, 2pm and 3.30pm

Musical Ruth

To see a lady you’ll never forget, be sure to take a stroll along the High Street and catch a glimpse of Sister Ruth. Driving an electrically powered vehicle that doubles up as a whimsically decorated grand piano, this is one nun that you’ll never quite be able to forget.

High Street, 1pm-4pm

Be sure to visit http://www.sixsummersaturdays.com for more information, competitions and for details about more upcoming events this Summer.

Flatpack 2010

Birmingham is getting a great reputation for putting on fab festivals throughout the year and March 2010 is the turn of one of the best FLATPACK. This year the event takes place from 23-28 March and it looks like they are planning some pretty spectacular stuff.

Bringing film to unexpected places and spaces in locations across Birmingham (including warehouse spaces, art galleries, a social club, a specially constructed cardboard cinema and the sites of some of the UK’s first Odeons designed in the 1930s) the festival is promising:

Bus trips to art deco cinemas, the weird world of puppets, immersive art happenings, Murnau rescored, optical illusions, idea theft and creepy 70s television.

Rare screenings and new commissions share the limelight with talks and screenings from a suitably eclectic programme to inspire all.

The full programme will be available at the beginning of February.

Flip Animation Festival

The 6th Flip Animation Festival takes place at the beginning of November in Wolverhampton and across venues throughout the West Midlands. This year promises even more treats than previous with films, speakers and special events in abundance.