Jingleclaw Photography: Richard Hubert Smith

The New Musical team at Birmingham Hippodrome

The Jingleclaw bats. They are purple, kooky and adorable.

Dancing through life after nearly two weeks in post at Birmingham Hippodrome. Opened the departments first (five star) new musical, met loads of brilliant artists & drank a lot of coffee with lovely new colleagues. A day of Jingleclaw & new musical planning to come.

First, coffee… ✨

Birmingham Hippodrome on LinkedIn: Meet our New Musical Theatre Producer James Ashfield! Born and raised in… Meet our New Musical Theatre Producer James Ashfield! Born and raised in Brum, he is joining us from the Belgrade Theatre where he worked as Producer since…

Full Circle Moment. 🥳

I'm so proud and excited to be joining Birmingham Hippodrome as their New Musical Theatre Producer.

My first experiences of theatre was at Birmingham Hippodrome and 12 years ago, it’s where I did my work experience.

That 15 year old lad would be shocked!

Curve Stage, curtain call

Another Curve hit with My Fair Lady. Wonderfully led by brilliant leads, Molly Lynch and David Seadon-Young. The show soars when the company are all together. Get me to the church on time is a real spectacle.

A loverly night! 💐

Actors during a curtain call, bowing. Green lights on back curtain.

Great night spent at Birmingham Hippodrome on Saturday at REWRITES. The Hippodrome Musical Theatre Writers Group sharing songs from brand new musicals before ‘Chosen’. A brilliant rehearsed reading of a new Zom-Com that has a BIG future ahead.

Reminiscent of early Kill the Beast! 🧟🎸

CAST

Iain Lauchlan
Craig Hollingsworth
Lois Brook
Andy Hockley
Gabriela Harris
Declan Wilson
Sam Woods
Aonghas Ewen
Reiss Hinds
Beth Gourlay
Mia King-Harmes
Caleb Griggs

Band
Hayley Gibbs
Spencer Hedges
Chris Jones

And 24 incredible members of the junior chorus.

CREATIVES

Musical Arrangements | Tim Spencer
Musical Arrangements | Liz Kitchen
Assistant Director | Vicki Stevenson

Producer | James Ashfield
Assistant Producer | Emma Worrall
Prod Manager | Adrian Sweeney
CSM | Martyn Sergent
ASM | Amie Davies & Nikita Halligan

CREATIVES

Writer | Iain Lauchlan
Director | Iain Lauchlan
Set Design | Ian Westbrook
Costume Design | James MacIver
Choreography | Jenny Phillips
LX Design | Jason Taylor
Sound Design | Chris Murray
Musical Director | Hayley Gibbs

Continued…

And it’s a joy to be making one with a dream team of artists who know how to do panto and do it so well.

The Belgrade Theatre team will be welcoming over 40’000 people through the doors this winter to spend their festive season watching Dick Whittington.

Craig Hollingsworth, hands up, wearing a blue and red outfit.

Iain Lauchlan, dressed as a cupcake, smiling.

Full cast photo

Aonghas Ewen and Andy Hockley

Panto is the first experience of theatre for many, creating lifelong memories.

It’s probably the reason your local theatre is still open & is the reason many arts pros can sustain a career in the arts for another year.

Thrilled to be opening another here at The Belgrade Theatre. ✨

I mean I’ve seen Sky’s Edge 20+ times but not counting that… Come From Away would be the one I’ve seen the most. How about you?! X

Antonio and Jill are legends! He’s from Italy, she’s from Sheffield (could it be any more obvious…)
Always get a shot of limoncello after as well!

10 musicals to get to know me:

1) Come From Away 🪨
2) Waitress 🥧
3) Standing at the Sky’s Edge 🎸
4) In the Heights ☕️
5) Oliver! 💰
6) Company 🎈
7) Hamilton ⭐️
8) The Outsiders 🔦
9) The Grinning Man 😬
10) Tick, Tick… Boom 💥

Become a theatre producer they said… the things you do for dress rehearsals…

Stationery shop at Christmas was quite the adventure! Those hosting gigs taught me so much, leading to a level of respect and appreciation for the teams that do those shifts day in day out. Learnt something from each of those jobs, wouldn’t change it either!

A) Cinema Host
B) Paperchase Sales Assistant
C) Football Hospitality Executive Host
D) Private Health Company Administrator
E) Access Company Project Administrator

How we starting life over here then? 4 Square, Zip Zap Boing, 2 truths and a lie? First day feels.

My name’s James, pronouns he/him and I had a bowl of Shreddies for breakfast. Shall we go clockwise around the circle? 😬