Sylvia, Cats and The Car Man at the Hippodrome this autumn

Birmingham Hippodrome has a packed autumn programme, beginning this week with the musical Sylvia and continuing with Matthew Bourne's The Car Man, Blood Brothers and Cats before The Nutcracker returns for Christmas.

Sylvia, 6 to 10 October

Sylvia tells the story of Sylvia Pankhurst, the suffragette, socialist and anti-fascist campaigner, and her fight for votes for women. The production, which began life at the Old Vic in London, blends hip hop, soul and funk. A fundraising gala performance will take place on 8 October.

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man, 13 to 17 October

Matthew Bourne's dance company New Adventures brings its thriller The Car Man, inspired by Bizet's opera Carmen and set in a small American town in the 1960s. Bourne is one of Britain's most successful choreographers, known for his all-male Swan Lake.

Stewart Lee, 18 October

The comedian Stewart Lee brings his show Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf to the Hippodrome for one night.

Blood Brothers, 20 to 24 October

Willy Russell's musical about twins separated at birth and brought up in very different circumstances in Liverpool is one of the longest-running musicals in the history of the West End.

In the Patrick Studio

The Hippodrome's smaller Patrick Studio hosts the musical JEEZUS! from 21 to 24 October, and Off-Key, a coming-of-age drama about friendship, ambition and Black girlhood, on 30 and 31 October, as part of Black History Month.

Cats, 27 October to 7 November

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, based on TS Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, returns over the October half term, which in Birmingham runs from 26 to 30 October.

The Nutcracker, 20 November to 12 December

Birmingham Royal Ballet's much-loved production of The Nutcracker, a festive favourite, returns to the Hippodrome, the company's home theatre, from 20 November.

Swan Lake success

The autumn season follows Birmingham Royal Ballet's run of Sir Peter Wright's Swan Lake at the Hippodrome, which ended on Saturday. The production now transfers to Sadler's Wells in London later this month.

About the Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome on Hurst Street is one of the busiest theatres in the UK, welcoming hundreds of thousands of people each year. It is the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet and hosts touring musicals, dance, comedy and opera, as well as the free Birmingham Weekender festival, which drew more than 100,000 people to the city centre in August.

Tickets

Tickets are available from the Hippodrome's box office and website. The theatre offers accessible performances, including audio-described, captioned and relaxed shows, and discounts for some groups, including young people.

Getting there

The Hippodrome is a short walk from New Street station, in the heart of Southside and close to the Chinese Quarter and the Gay Village, with many restaurants nearby for a pre-show meal.

Theatre for families

Autumn and winter are among the busiest times of year for theatres, with half term shows and Christmas productions drawing families from across the region. Many parents say a trip to see a musical or ballet is a special treat, and theatres often offer family tickets and shorter, relaxed performances for younger children or those who find a traditional theatre setting difficult.

Supporting the arts

Theatres like the Hippodrome are charities, and they rely on ticket sales, donations and fundraising events, such as the Sylvia gala on 8 October, to fund their work with schools and communities across Birmingham.