Entertainment News

The governing body behind the Oscars has changed its rules so that films that debut on streaming services or video on demand serves are to be made eligible for next year’s awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’ current rules say that films can only enter if they have been shown in a LA cinema for at least a week.

But with picture houses closed during the coronavirus pandemic, organisers have said that a “temporary” exception was necessary.

Many films that are due for releases have been delayed, with others going straight to digidal.

In a joint statement, Academy president, David Rubin and chief executive, Dawn Hudson, said: “The Academy firmly believes that there is no great way to experience the magic of movies than to see them in a theatre.

“Nonetheless, the historically tragic Covid-19 pandemic necessitates this temporary exception to our awards eligibility rules”.

The Academy said the exemption would end when cinemas reopen.

In recent years, the Oscars have admitted films made by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon – but only if they have also had a cinema release.

He was due to be welcomed to the Utilita Arena Birmingham for their big launch night *wipes tears from eyes*, however, with safety the priority, the good news for his fans is that British pop singer-songwriter and actor, Harry Styles will be back next year.

Well-known as a member of the insanely popular boy-band One Direction, the Redditch, Worcestershire-born star was due to perform on 15 April 2020, but he sent out an open, personal letter to his hordes of fans:

“Anyone who knows me knows that performing has always been my favourite part of working in music. However, during times like these, the safety and protection of touring crew, fans, and everyone else around the world is an immediate priority.

For obvious reasons, the upcoming tour in the UK and Europe will be rescheduled to 2021.

Tickets already purchased will be valid for these shows. In the meantime, we will be closely monitoring the situation around the world and will continue updating you in the months to come.

For the safety of yourself and others, please self-isolate. We’re all in this together.
I can’t wait to see you out on the road as soon as it’s safe to do so. Until then, treat people with kindness.

H”

Harry Styles will now be performing 1 event in Birmingham on Thursday 11th March 2021 at the Arena Birmingham.

All existing tickets will remain. If you purchased your tickets through their official box office,
The Ticket Factory, please see their FAQs or contact your point of purchase directly.

BBC hospital drama series, Holby City and Casualty have both donated fully working ventilators from its set in Elstree to be used in London’s new Nightingale Hospital.

The British-led Corporation shared the news in a tweet, with a photo of workers unloading equipment from a van.

The Holby City’s executive producer, Simon Harper, said: “We are only too willing and we wanted to help the courageous and selfless real-life medics”.

NHS staffs are still worried about the lack protective equipment they need to treat coronavirus patients.

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said that there was enough kit for everyone before he unveiled a plan for addressing shortages.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, made a sort of an apologised for the lack of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), during a coronavirus press conference at No.10 Downing Street.

After twice being asked if she was sorry, she said: “I am sorry if people feel that thy have been failed.

“But, at the same time we are in an unprecedented global health pandemic right now”.

“it is inevitable that the demand and pressure on PPE are going to be incredibly high.

“And of course we are trying to address that as a government”.

The government was slammed or not providing health workers with enough personal protection equipment, putting the lives of key workers at risk as they treated patients infected with coronavirus.

The BBC said that they were only too happy to donate the ventilators from the sets to help the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Set in a fictional city in the Wet Country, multi-award winning Holby City, and Casualty, have both paused their respective productions during the coronavirus crisis.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is set to auction items from his personal collection to raise money in aid of the NHS in the UK during the present coronavirus crisis.

Amid the personal items up for sale is one of the legend’s prise possession; a guitar which will be signed by the Sabbath frontman.

With healthcare staff struggling as the Covid-19 pandemic is believed to yet peak, he said that he will also be auctioning CDs, vinyl disks and DVD box sets.

The money raised by the auction will go straight to the University Hospital Birmingham in Iomi’s home town.

The 72-year-old said: “Coronavirus was difficult for everyone but it has shown the great work being varied out by our NHS”.

Iommi, who is a patron of the specialist cancer ward at the city’s Heartlands Hospital, came up with the idea whilst he was clearing out his studio whilst he was self-isolating during the lockdown.

“It’s about realising what we have in this country with the NHS”, the Birmingham-born star said. “It’s horrible but, in some ways, it’s bringing people together more”.

The guitar has attracted almost US$4,940 in buds since the auction went live at the start of the week.

Head of fundraising at the healthcare organisation, Justin Davy, said: “The NHS was incredibly grateful for Tony’s support at this extremely difficult time”.

Global superstar, Lady Gaga has announced that she will be heading a special concert for health workers.

The multi-award winning singer is set to perform alongside Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Sir Elton John in a TV concert which will celebrate health workers amidst the coronavirus crisis.

She revealed that she was hard at working contacting prominent business people that she knows to ‘dip their hands into their pockets for a good cause’.

She said: “I’ve been making lots of phone calls and contacts helping to fundraise with the World Health Organisation and Global Citizens and we are really excited about the show because we didn’t want it to be a fundraiser.

“We wanted everyone to put wallets back and enjoy the show and we have already raised $35million for the solidarity response”.

Along with the group Global Citizen, Gaga has already raised $35m (£28m) for the World Health Organisation. The funds will allow the organisation to buy protective equipment for health workers and to support the efforts to develop drugs and vaccines.

Lady Gaga has also announced that she has co-curated a concert to recognise the efforts of health workers in the fight against Covid-19

Comedian, actor and writer, Stephen Fry, will star in a new online radio play to raise funds for the theatre industry as it deals with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Emily Atack, famed for her role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the multi-award winning E4 The Inbetweeners, multi-award winning actress, singer, model and composer, Sheila Atim, Sarah Hadland of BBC TV’s Miranda and Russell Tovey, who is best known for playing the werewolf, George Sands, in another BBC production; the supernatural drama Being Human, will all appear in ‘The Understudy’, based on the novel by David Nicholls.

Fry said: “I am just so delighted to be working on Henry Filoux-Bennett’s superb adaptation of David Nicholls’s ‘The Understudy’.

“I do hope lots of you will listen in and combine a good time with support for our wonderfull theatre industry”.

Nicholls added: “I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘The Undertaker’ and was hugely excited to see it come to life on a new online stage and with such a great team”.

The play will be broadcast online in two parts, in May, to members of the public who have bought a £5 ‘ticket’.

All of the actors taking part in the production will record their individual lines seperatley at their individual homes.

1980’s pop superstar, Rick Astley, is set to play a huge, one-off concert after he posted details of the massive gig, which is due for the Manchester Arena, on social media.

In a video message, the singer, probably best known for his greatest hit; ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, said that it is the very least he could do to say ‘Thank You’ for all the NHS and Emergency Services who are working on the frontline in the fight against the worldwide epidemic.

He said: “I promise you that my band and I will give it our all to give everyone there a great night out”.

Shows and concerts have been called off around the world and venues have been forced to close for week, possibly months, - or, even longer – due to the pandemic.

Astley’s concert is due to take place on October 28.

International movie superstar, Idris Elba, spent the time playing his guitar whilst he, and his wife, Sabrina, revealed that they passed their coronavirus quarantine.

The star of Luther, Mandela, Fast, Pacific Rim and Thor: The Dark World, spent two weeks in isolation after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus while shooting in New Mexico for a new film due for Netflix.

They kept themselves entertained whilst housebound as they got involved in the latest Tik Tok challenge – dubbed ‘Bored in the House’.

Idris, 47, made the most of the lockdown as he played his guitar whilst he was chilling out on the sofa.

Although they both passed their coronavirus quarantine period, they are currently stuck in the US awaiting a flight back to the UK.

Living his life with his own personal mantra of; “Let music build a bridge and let dance help you cross it” Dhol King Gurcharan Mall BEM, CEO, is the epitome of ‘If music be the food of life, then play on’.

The multi-award winning internationally renowned dhuol drumming master is a living legend in his relentless drive to promoting Dhol and Bhangra music throughout the world for over 52 gold-laden years.

The only recognised Asian artists of note, in the world, to hold three world recordsand who also received 8 ‘Lifetime Achievements Awards’ – including one from The Phoenix Newspaper three years ago.

A Bhangra historian, artistic director, organiser, teacher, singer, music producer, writer, choreographer and ambassador, Gurcharan, best known affectionately as King G, has not only been ‘banging the drum’ for the dhol drum, he has, since 1963, been promoting his home city, Birmingham, around the world to highlight the vast musical and cultural diversity his UK hometown has to offer the world.

And only recently he was further recognised; this time awarded with the “biggest honour for my 52 years of hard work sacrificing my family life in the pursuit of introducing the Dhol drum and making it popular worldwide”, as he put it.

At the Professional University, he was blessed and honoured to receive a special award for introducing the Dhol and making popular around the world, which was presented to him by RandeepSingh Kohli, president of World Book of Records – London, at the University, in Punjab, in India.

In addition to that he was presented with another ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ (his 8th L.A.A) for introducing the Dhol worldwide by Joginder S Jogi from Punjab Youth Club Origination at the Punjab Press Club Jalandhar and became the only Asian performing artists in the world to receive three world titles:- the Dhol Guinness World Record from 315 to 632 – the Bhangra Guinness World Record from 2,167 to 4,411 – and for introducing and making the Dhol drum popular worldwide (World Book of Records London) – 2 great titles on 1 certificate.

King G says: “God is great for blessing me that I am the ONLY Asian artists in the world who got 3 World Records and also who received 8 Lifetime Achievements Awards & 1 of them is yours 3 years ago”.

A founder member of Apna Sangeet and founder of:- Nachdey Hasdey, Nachda Sansaar, Hard Kaur, Dhol Blasters, Bhangra Blasters and Band Baja, King G Mall, a living legend within our midst, is stopping at nothing to spread the love of his musicical gift – the Dhol Drum – throughout the world.

New research has revealed the secret education behind some of today’s biggest stars, showing there may be more to certain celebrities than meets the eye.

With awards over for another year adult education charity, City Lit, has researched the topics and qualifications the big winners studied before they were famous, to showcase how education can help prepare you for life on the big stage.

Lizzo

Hip hop, pop and R&B star Lizzo, who recently took home a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance, studied Classical Music at the University of Houston, where she also developed her craft as a flute player.

Awkwafina

Similarly, Nora Lum, the actress also known as Awkwafina, who scooped a Golden Globe for Best Performance in a Motion Picture in Music and Comedy, majored in Journalism and Women’s Studies at the University of Albany in New York, before turning her attention to acting and comedy.

Roger Deakins

Experienced and acclaimed cinematographer, Roger Deakins, the winner of the Critics’ Choice Award for his work on the film 1917, was originally on a different path altogether. After studying to be a Graphic Designer at the Bath Academy of Art, Roger’s persistence and dedication to photography on the side eventually saw him admitted to the National Film School and his career took off from there.

Boon Joon Ho

It’s a similar story when looking at the reigning Critics’ Choice Best Directors. Parasite director, Boon Joon Ho, who shared the award with 1917’s director Sam Mendes. He has a degree in Sociology from the University of Yonsei in South Korea, whilst Mendes achieved a first-class degree in English from the University of Cambridge.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger, who scooped the Oscar for Best Leading Actress for her starring role in Judy, boasts an English degree from the University of Texas, again flying the flag for those in the showbiz industry who were very accomplished before becoming a global star. 

While some of these international stars benefitted from seeing out their education to the end, some of this year’s big players made a huge success of themselves through more unorthodox routes.

Billie Eilish

Pop artist, Billie Eilish, is a prime example. The young American musician is currently dominating the music industry and was recently crowned Best International Female Artist at the Brits without pursuing any further education. In fact, the global superstar was largely home-schooled in her youth and was taught the basics of song writing by her mother from a young age.

Chris Jones, Director of Sales and Marketing at City Lit, said: “From seeing the broad spectrum of educational journeys some of the very best in film and music went on before realising their fame, it is clear that the skills and knowledge you learn through school, college and university can help you to achieve huge success.

“At City Lit, we pride ourselves on the huge range of courses we offer, with more traditional subjects available alongside a variety of subjects and skills to suit anyone’s interests and desires to learn.”

City Lit also has its own share of famous faces gracing its corridors, with David Bowie, actors Steven Berkoff and Richard Wilson, authors Jake Arnott and Jenny Colgan, comedian Jimmy Carr and Britain’s first female Muslim comic, Shazia Mirza, all attending the college.

To mark World Theatre Day (Friday 27 March), the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) invited people to join a live ‘watch along’ from their living rooms on Saturday 11 April of a recording of their 2017 production of Shakespeare’s comedy ‘Twelfth Night’, featuring Adrian Edmondson as Malvolio and Kara Tointon as Olivia.

The production will premiere on Marquee TV on Saturday 11 April, with the watch-along starting at   (UK time).

Marquee TV, the international multi-genre performing arts streaming service, working with the RSC and other arts organisations, is responding to the current closure of theatres by offering everyone a no obligation free 30 day trial to watch some of the best in theatre, dance and opera.  There are already 17 RSC productions available to stream, including ‘Richard II’ and ‘King Lear’ with, respectively, David Tennant and Antony Sher in the title roles.

Marquee TV will also be streaming ‘premieres’ of productions that are new to the platform, including ‘Twelfth Night’, each Saturday. 

The RSC is inviting everyone to join the ‘watch along’ by posting their comments live on Twitter during the performance. People can get involved by following the RSC - @theRSC - and by using the hashtag  #AlmostLiveFromTheRSC

Directed by Christopher Luscombe and set in 1890s England, ‘Twelfth Night’ originally opened in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in November 2017. As with all of its Shakespeare productions since 2013, the RSC also broadcast Twelfth Night into cinemas across the world and into schools for free.

Christopher Luscombe, director of ‘Twelfth Night’, said: “In these testing times it’s wonderful that theatres are sharing such a range of their productions online. I do hope Twelfth Night will help to keep everyone entertained. As the play centres on two lost souls trying to find their way in an unfamiliar world, it may well speak to us all as never before! I was blessed with a fantastic cast and production team on this show, and I’m thrilled that their work is being celebrated - especially at a time when live theatre has had to be put on hold. A ‘watch along’, with the audience commenting on Twitter, sounds like a great idea to me - it’ll be fascinating to hear what everyone has to say!”   

Marquee TV’s Susannah Simons said: “Twelfth Night is just the right play to lift the spirits, and this is a wonderful production.  We are thrilled to be able to bring it to a wider audience, cross garters and all.”

Winners of two prestigious BBC Young Musician competitions will play for free to global audiences, from the centre of Birmingham’s cultural heart, when Lauren Zhang and Xhosa Cole each perform concerts in a brand-new initiative from Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) Birmingham.

THSH is closed but the iconic concert halls cannot be silenced and, in the coming weeks, performances by Xhosa and Lauren will be broadcast on Facebook, enabling audiences to come together in the safety of a digital space.

Nick Reed, Chief Executive of THSH, said:

“Music has the power to bring people together.  Our Facebook Watch Parties are ensuring that audiences can do just that. Self-isolation does not need to mean people are isolated from their communities. Town Hall Symphony Hall is committed to bringing live music to our city and beyond and these Facebook Watch Parties will provide an opportunity for our friends to continue their discovery of the best of Brum’s musicians.”

On Monday 30 March, experience the ‘total phenomenon’ that is Lauren Zhang on the Watch Party.

Lauren Zhang began studying piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire while attending Birmingham’s King Edward VI High School, and is now considered as one of the world’s finest musicians. When she won the BBC Young Musician 2018, Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said: "I can honestly say that Lauren is up there with the best – she is a total phenomenon”. Lauren is soloist with the BBC Orchestra, the BBC Proms and Proms in the Park, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Mozart Players and the European Union Chamber Orchestra.

Toks Dada, THSH Classical Programme Manager, said:

“At just 16-years-old, Lauren Zhang won BBC Young Musician 2018 at Symphony Hall. Almost two years on, I'm delighted that the Birmingham pianist continues to visit and work with our halls. It seems entirely appropriate that Town Hall Symphony Hall has turned to a member of Generation Z, who has grown up in a digital age, to perform classical music to an online audience – encouraging global connectivity at this time of self-isolation.”

On Friday 10 April, join the Watch Party for Xhosa Cole’s Quintet.

Saxophonist Xhosa Cole, described by The Daily Telegraph, as ‘one of the hottest properties in British jazz’, won the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 with his ‘heartfelt’ performance. Handsworth-born Xhosa first played the tenor at Andy Hamilton's Ladywood Community Music School and joined the Jazzlines Ensemble as part of THSH’s Talent Development Programme. He regularly performs around Birmingham and teaches the city's next generation of talent.

Mary Wakelam Sloan, Jazz Programme Manager, said:

“Throughout its history, jazz has connected with communities across the world. And this performance by a musician as creative and inspiring as Xhosa will reach out to thousands of people. I’m immeasurably proud that the Jazzlines Talent Development Programme has risen to these challenging times with this innovative response, and we thank Arts Council England and PRSF for their support, enabling us to support Birmingham’s freelance musicians during these testing times. This Watch Party will show how jazz has the power and the passion to bring us all together digitally, wherever we are.”

Jazzlines is a unique programme of creative jazz music and talent development from the charity that runs THSH. It offers performance opportunities to emerging and established contemporary jazz musicians as part of a thriving, artistically excellent programme in venues across the city and commissions cutting-edge new work, providing support to ensure future performances and a legacy for new projects.

Jazzlines’ FREE Friday jazz gigs will be performed in Symphony Hall’s brand-new performance space when it opens this autumn. This unique space, for talented local artists to have even more opportunities to perform as part of a daily programme with free and affordable performances, is part of the £13.2 million redevelopment of the world-renowned venue’s foyer.

Elected to America’s country music Hall of Fame, the worldwide revered singer, Kenny Rogers, was known throughout for standout hits which included the likes of; ‘The Gambler’, ‘Lucille’, ‘Lady’ and ‘Coward Of The County’.t

But he would probably be best known for his multi-award winning hit, with fellow Country music legend, Dolly Parton – ‘Islands In The Stream’ – which was written by Britain’s own multi-award winning superstar brothers the Bee Gees.

Released in 1983, from his (Kenny Rogers) album; ‘Eyes That See In The Dar’, the Platinum-winning song, which in fact, was written with Mowtown legend, Marvin Gaye, in mind, was voted as the best country music duet of all time.

Born in Houston, Texas, in the USA, the singer and songwriter, who also dueted with Scottish singing star Sheena Easton, as well as co-wrote with Mowtown superstar, Lionel Ritchie (who, himself, wrote the afore mentioned ‘Lady’), the three-time Grammy Award winner was also awarded with a special Lifetime Achievement award for his 6 decades-spanning career in the music industry.

On hearing of his death, Ritchie tweeted: ‘Today I have lost one of my closest friends.So much laughter, so many adventures to remember. My heart is broken…My pryers go out to Kenny’s family’.

“My heart is broken”, Parton said. “We all know that he (Kenny) is in a better place than us”

A hugely versatile character, he also made a name for himself as an actor in some leading films and television shows.

He was 81.

ENJOY BIRMINGHAM’S HOTTEST JAZZ MUSICIANS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME: COME TOGETHER ONLINE FOR A JAZZLINES FACEBOOK WATCH PARTY

Following government advice, Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) is closed. But the iconic concert halls cannot be silenced and, in the coming weeks, the venues’ much-loved FREE Friday jazz gigs will be broadcast to Facebook, enabling audiences to come together in the safety of a digital space.

Watch Parties were launched by Facebook in 2018 as a new way for people to watch videos on Facebook together in real time. Once a Watch Party is started, participants can watch videos, live or recorded, and interact with one another around them in the same moment.

Nick Reed, Chief Executive of THSH Birmingham, said: “Music has the power to bring people together. Our forthcoming Facebook Watch Parties of the FREE Friday jazz gigs ensure that audiences can do just that. Self-isolation does not need to mean that people are isolated from their communities and through Town Hall Symphony Hall’s Jazzlines, we’ve built an incredible community with a shared passion for jazz music. Town Hall Symphony Hall is committed to bringing live music to our city and these Facebook Watch Parties will provide an opportunity for our friends to continue their discovery of the best of Brum’s musicians”.

On Friday 27 March, join the Watch Party for Olivia Murphy and Olly Chalk’s duo.

Saxophonist and composer Olivia Murphy regularly plays on the Birmingham scene and is a member of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra. Her sextet has also recently played at Birchfield Jazz Festival and The Spotted Dog, and in November recorded new material for a 2020 release. She will play alongside jazz pianist Olly Chalk, who is currently undertaking a Master of Music (MMus) programme in jazz piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance.

On Friday 3 April, join the Watch Party for Joey Walter’s Me & 3.

Saxophonists Joey Walter, a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, and Ben Markland, a music technology tutor and workshop practitioner with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, have been playing together along with Tom Martin for eight years. They recently welcomed Rosie O’Callahan on baritone to the quartet, Me & 3. Alongside their usual repertoire, featuring composers such as Bob Mintzer, Mike Mower and Jeff Driskill, they will be playing some new arrangements and original material by Joey.

On Friday 10 April, join the Watch Party for Xhosa Cole’s Quintet.

Saxophonist Xhosa Cole won BBC Young Jazz Musician 2018 for his “heartfelt” performance.

Xhosa is an embodiment of the success of numerous music outreach programs within Birmingham, including THSH's Jazzlines. As a saxophonist, flautist, composer and producer, Xhosa has played, studied and collaborated with a wide range of world-class musicians and composers.

Mary Wakelam Sloan, Jazz Programme Manager, said: “Jazz thrives on challenge and innovation, and I’m immeasurably proud that the Jazzlines Talent Development Programme has risen to these challenging times with this innovative response. We thank Arts Council England for their support, which in turn has enabled our support of Birmingham’s freelance musicians during these testing times. Town Hall Symphony Hall values the crucial contribution musicians make to the city’s creative life, its economy and the enjoyment of local people and visitors”.

Jazzlines is a unique programme of creative jazz music and talent development from the charity that runs THSH. It offers performance opportunities to emerging and established contemporary jazz musicians as part of a thriving, artistically excellent programme in venues across the city and commissions cutting-edge new work, providing support to ensure future performances and a legacy for new projects.

Jazzlines’ FREE Friday jazz gigs will be performed in Symphony Hall’s brand-new performance space when it opens this autumn. This unique space, for talented local artists to have even more opportunities to perform as part of a daily programme with free and affordable performances, is part of the £13.2 million redevelopment of the world-renowned venue’s foyer.

In these uncertain times, many registered charities are relying on the generosity of their supporters more than ever. A large part of THSH’s success has been made possible with our audience’s support. To find out how to donate, visit https://www.thsh.co.uk/join-and-support

Following government advice, Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) is currently closed. 

The Box Office remains open Monday to Friday, processing a large volume of refunds and contacting audiences with updates as soon as they are able to do so. We continue to ask that you do not call the Box Office while we manage the impact of this pandemic.

As we agree with event organisers that performances will be postponed or cancelled, we will contact those customers who are affected as soon as possible. We are making every effort to find alternative dates for postponed performances within the next 12 months. Thank you for your patience while those conversations take place. 

These iconic concert halls have the power to change lives, entertain and uplift through music. They cannot be silenced. In the coming weeks, the venues’ much-loved FREE Friday Jazzlines Gig will be broadcast to Facebook along with a collaboration amongst European Concert Halls to stream from venues across the continent. Music has the power to bring people together and we are pleased to support audiences as they come together in the safety of a digital space.

Is my performance cancelled?

You can find the most up-to-date information on cancelled or postponed events here: https://www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/coronavirus-covid-19-update

We are making every effort to find alternative dates for cancelled performances within the next 12-months. Thank you for your patience whilst those conversations take place. 

How can we support?

As a registered charity, a large part of Town Hall Symphony Hall’s success has been made possible by our audiences. If you would like to support us in these uncertain times, you can do so here: https://www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/coronavirus-covid-19-update

Can I have a refund now?

We are only issuing refunds where it has been agreed that a performance or event is cancelled. As soon as this information is available, we will contact you directly. If you’re unable to make rescheduled dates, refunds will be available.

I haven’t had an email or phone call?

The Box Office team are processing a large volume of refunds and contacting audiences with updates as soon as they are able to do so. Thank you for your patience and understanding.  

When will I get the money?

Once a refund procedure has been initiated, we will begin processing refunds. Funds will be with you as soon as possible.

Can I buy tickets for other shows?

Yes, though we can’t guarantee shows will proceed given the current health climate.

How can I join the Facebook Watch Party?

Log-in to Facebook and find ‘Town Hall Symphony Hall’ on Facebook. The broadcasts will happen at 5PM on Friday 27 March and Friday 3 April. Once a Watch Party is started, participants can watch videos, live or recorded, and interact with one another around them in the same moment. 

Full listings can be found here: https://www.thsh.co.uk/whats-on/season/watch-party

How long will you be closed for?

Given the uncertainty, we are unsure how long we may be closed for. For the latest updates, visit https://www.thsh.co.uk/your-visit/coronavirus-covid-19-update

A Birmingham GP practice and its patients will be appearing in the latest TV series of the popular Channel 5 show GPs: Behind Closed Doors, which begins next Wednesday (18 March 2020) at 8pm.

Hall Green Health, which is based on the Stratford Road, in the Hall Green area of Birmingham was selected as the first practice in the West Midlands to appear on the show.

This series, the seventh, is set to start and will run for nine months. Previous series have filmed at GP surgeries in ​Bradford, Bristol, Slough and South London​. 

The show will provide a fascinating insight into this busy practice, taking viewers into the private world of a local GP surgery to find out what happens during appointments.

Filming began in April last year (2019), and the practice was fitted out with 44 cameras; with four shooting at any one time, five-days-a-week. They have captured a consultation room, a minor operations room and a treatment room, as well as waiting area, reception and records desks, and all the patients featured have provided their consent to be filmed and appear on the TV show.

John Hood, Practice Manager at Hall Green Health, said: “We’re so excited that the show is set to start next week. The filming provided the team with an opportunity to demonstrate the many new ways of working we have developed and implemented to improve the service to our patients. It was a great opportunity to showcase and share some of the things that have really worked for us.

“The patients were also fantastic; first for agreeing to be filmed, and second for being brave enough to discuss personal, important issues on camera. This allowed showcasing typical problems faced by patients in the 21^st century.”