Birmingham Hippodrome’s Young Community Drop-In Sessions have been developed by our Young Advocates.

Suitable for anyone aged 14+, these sessions have been designed to be creative outlets for young people and offer spaces to relax, connect with others and feel welcome.

Each drop-in session invites some of the best people currently working in the creative industries to host workshops looking at a range of art forms, skills and careers.

Join us on Friday 1 November from 11.30am!

We are really excited to be running this session in partnership with More than a Moment.

More than a Moment: Acting With & For Black Creatives, has worked with over 50 local arts organisations to advocate for Black artists and is led by award-winning, Elizabeth Lawal, recognised as one of Birmingham Mail’s 30 under 30 and one of The Stage’s 100.

More Than a Moment are bringing three workshops to this Young Community Drop In that explore both the future and the past! Expect VR, AR and new ways of storytelling:

Afro-Centric Movement and History with Sipho Eric Ndlovu
Get ready to move with purpose! In this electrifying workshop, Sipho Eric Ndlovu leads you through the powerful intersection of Afro-centric movement and history. Discover how African dance is more than just movement—it’s storytelling, it’s resistance, it’s identity! Together, we’ll explore the vibrant histories behind these movements and connect with our roots in a way that speaks to the future.

What to Expect:

  • Movement as History: Learn the deep cultural significance behind Afro-centric movements and how they tell powerful stories of resilience and strength.
  • Express Your Identity: Use your body to reclaim and express your identity, blending traditional dance with your own creative flow.
  • Create Together: Collaborate with peers to craft a performance that celebrates African heritage and the spirit of unity.

VR & Theatre-Making for a Beautiful Future led by More Than a Moment team (Dalton Demare and Elizabeth Lawal)
Step into the future of performance with VR & Theatre-making! In this innovative workshop, we’ll explore how Virtual Reality is tranforming the theatre and you can build your own VR set, imagine creating entire worlds on stage where your audience can step inside the story with you.

What to Expect:

  • Hands-On VR: Get hands-on with VR tools that push the boundaries of traditional theatre, allowing you to create digital worlds and experiences.
  • The Future of Storytelling: Learn how theatre and technology can come together to build performances that are more immersive, interactive, and exciting than ever before.
  • Collaborate & Create: Work with fellow creators to develop a short performance using VR technology, reimagining what’s possible for theatre.

Afro-Futurism & Anansi Storytelling: Building Historical Characters with Augmented Reality
What happens when the stories of the past meet the technology of the future? We’ll use Augmented Reality (AR) to breathe new life into iconic African characters like Oludah Equiano.

What to Expect:

  • Play with AR to build interactive, digital versions of historical African characters, bringing their stories to life in a new way.
  • Afro-Futurism in Action: Dive into the world of Afro-futurism, where the past inspires bold visions of the future, blending technology storytelling.
  • Reimagine Legends: Take the stories of characters like Equano creating your own interactive narratives that celebrate history and the future.

There will also be an exciting appearance from Side eYe, the Somali led company behind the Edinburgh Fringe sell out show ‘Dugsi Dayz’, winner of the BBC Writersroom Popcorn Award AND named a breakout hit by Rolling Stone. Side eYe Productions are committed to uplifting stories from primarily Black Muslim women and debut theatre makers. Their new show, Desperate Times, which has already sold out our Patrick Studio is testament to challenging mainstream theatre norms and creating opportunities for all.

Side eYe will be bringing a workshop that explores creating and putting on a show from all angles:

Behind the Scenes Creating a Theatre Show with Side eYe Productions
This engaging and hands-on workshop invites participants to explore the world of theatre production by collaboratively creating a live scene. With Side eYe Productions and members of the “Desperate Times” creative team, participants will gain insight into the roles involved in putting together a show—from producing and directing to acting, lighting, and technical operations.

We hope to see you there!