Historic The Alexandra theatre turns 125 today(Wednesday May 27) and to mark its milestone in Birmingham city centre, here’s a round-up of photos from the archive.
The theatre in Suffolk Street Queensway was built in 1901 by William Coutts for £10,000 and he originally named it The Lyceum.
It was later renamed The Alexandra in 1902 when the venue was bought by Lester Collingwood, and it has become fondly known as ‘The Alex’ ever since.
These historic photos provided by The Alexandra show how it has transformed over the decades, but always at the heart of the community.
Celebrities treading the boards at The Alexandra have spanned acting and music greats, comedians and even politicians when Birmingham MP and later Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain chose the venue to give a speech in 1918.
Audiences have been treated to everyone from Marlene Dietrich in 1973 to Les Dawson, Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, last year, and Frank Skinner.
The Alexandra, now part of Ambassador Theatre Group(ATG), will celebrate its 125 years over the coming months.
Expanding over the years to fit more people, it has continued to get bigger and bigger.
A ‘bridge’ over John Bright Street was added in 1969 to create the new main entrance that is so familiar today in Suffolk Street.
The theatre was run by the Salberg family for almost 60 years but then had many different owners, sold to Apollo Leisure in the 1990’s and then to SFX Entertainment in 1999 for around £160 million.
Now under ATG, it brings some of the biggest touring shows in the UK and world to Birmingham, especially at Christmas-time, when it traditionally is home to a big-budget West End musical.
Its latest season of shows includes Call The Midwife star, Helen George, starring in High Society this summer from August 17 to 22.
Fans of the recent BBC drama The Night Manager won’t want to miss The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, from June 30 to July 4 starring Ralph Little. It’s another gripping John le Carré tale brought to life on stage, taking you through the fog-shrouded terrain of Cold War espionage.
Audiences can also dust off the feather boas and get ready to do the Time Warp again when Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show arrives in July.
The Alexandra keeps the party going into July when it transforms into the best pub in the world for The Choir of Man, making its Birmingham premiere. A talented group of instrumentalists will perform songs from artists like Luther Vandross, Sia and Adele in an uplifting celebration of community and friendship.
Wax on. Wax Off. The Karate Kid The Musical brings the legendary 1984 film to life on stage from July 21 to 25. It reimagines the famous film with spectacular choreography and an original score.
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap murder mystery returns from September 3 to 12 as the nights get chillier for those seeking some not so cosy crime.
And for those of you wondering what the festive big budget show is for 2026, it’s Mean Girls, on from December 14 to January 2.
Theatre Director, Simon Creed, said: “The coming months at The Alex are jam-packed with brilliant productions and we’re thrilled to continue bringing world-class theatre to Birmingham – there’s always something for everyone to enjoy.
“With our 125th birthday, it’s super exciting to be sharing the celebrations with theatre lovers and newcomers alike.”
For a full list of upcoming performances, visit The Alexandra website here.