Audience members will have the chance to see inside a rare example of a purpose-built jewellery manufactory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter this September as part of BOLDtext Playwright’s ‘Gem of a Place’ show which is taking place during Birmingham Heritage Week and as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.
“One of the thrills of site-specific theatre is seeing inside amazing places that are usually hidden from the public,” says Tim Stimpson of BOLDtext Playwrights. “The Alabaster & Wilson factory closed four years ago and very little of the building has changed since it first opened in 1890.”
A&W made luxury items for the great and the good all around the world, including Princess Diana and the Queen, and visitors will have the chance to look around as part of a theatrical journey through the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Other stories being explored in the theatrical walking tour include the legacy of Birmingham’s women pen makers; the story of Kathleen Dayus; memories of the celebrated Vittoria Restaurant; and the secrets of the iconic Chamberlain clock.
The show runs three times a day on September 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18, with a BSL interpreted show at 11:30am on Saturday 17th September. Tickets can be booked at www.gemofaplace2022.eventbrite.co.uk
Funded by Arts Council England and The Barry Jackson Trust, with support from The REP, JQ Business Improvement District, and The Hive, Gem of a Place takes place on public pavements, in some buildings, and the route does include some steps. Visitors are advised to wear suitable footwear and outdoor clothing if necessary.
The Jewellery Quarter is in Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone and is extremely well-placed for public transport links and visitors are encouraged to use public transport wherever possible.
