Alexandra Theatre to re-open following 16 months of closure

The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham is reopening its doors after being closed for a total of 491 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Audiences will be welcomed back with a dazzling reopening season, which also celebrates the 120th birthday of the iconic Birmingham venue, from Tuesday 20 July 2021. 

The pandemic resulted in the longest closure in the much-loved theatre’s history – dwarfing the mere 22 days the venue closed during World War Two – but, after huge amounts of behind the scenes work, the lights are being switched on and the curtains raised.

Sixteen months on from theatres across the country being forced to close their doors overnight – and following more than a year of Government-enforced delays – The Alexandra has once again proven its resilience and enabled theatre-lovers to return as normal at the earliest opportunity.

Cheryl Taylor, Acting General Manager of The Alexandra, said today: “I am beyond excited that we are finally reopening our doors to our wonderful customers, casts and crews.

“The pandemic hit us in ways we could never have imagined, but we stayed strong and resilient. Our unwavering faith and loyalty to our industry and our city has not been shaken – only strengthened – through these difficult months.

“With a star-studded programme of sensational shows, I’m also delighted by the return of our price promise tickets alongside our new Local Heroes ticket scheme – our way of saying thank you to some truly remarkable people.

“The Alexandra has been at the heart of our community for 120 years. This has been our longest period of closure but now we’re back again, stronger than ever and ready to lift the curtain on another 120 years of world class live entertainment.”

The Alexandra will open with Strictly favourites Anton & Giovanni on 20 July, starting a series of one-night performances, including sold-out Frank Skinner (22 – 23 July) and Jane McDonald (14 August). Drama is calling as The Cat and the Canary pays a visit from 3 – 7 August before must-see, sensational musicals take to the stage throughout the remainder of the year.

Among these are Birmingham premieres Heathers and Bedknobs & Broomsticks, as well as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – the cast of which were at The Alexandra and set to go on stage when the first national lockdown was imposed.

Also set to wow audiences are returning favourites; The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Dirty Dancing and 9 to 5 The Musical. The festive season sees the Jersey Boys work their way back to the city and there’s a bumper season of one night only performances.

To celebrate its 120th year and the vital part the theatre plays in the heart of Birmingham culture, The Alexandra has announced that it will be giving away 120 prizes across its social channels throughout the remainder of the year.

The latest government advice means it will now be possible to reopen the theatre at full capacity. As a ‘See It Safely’ approved venue, audiences can feel reassured knowing The Alexandra is COVID-secure and will always follow the latest government advice. Some of the safety measures put in place include e-ticketing, enhanced cleaning and sanitising stations.

Visitors can also book with complete confidence knowing that, if there are any further suspensions, tickets will remain fully valid for further exchanges or refunds.

For a full calendar of shows and events, please visit atgtickets.com/Birmingham.