Giving amateur theatre a good name for decades, The Crescent Theatre is a small but essential part of the second city’s theatre scene. Previously located in Cumberland Street, The Crescent has been in its current canalside location in Sheepcote Street since the late 1990s, when it was reopened by Celia Imrie, and has long operated its own in-house company that stages most of the productions that grace its boards – often at an astonishingly frequent rate.
Regularly holding open auditions for anybody who wants to get involved, they also offer training for behind-the-scenes roles including sound and stage design.
Featuring a large 300-plus seat auditorium and a smaller studio space with no fixed seating, one of the best aspects of the theatre is its ambitious choice of productions. As well as the usual suspects of jazz hand musicals and John Godber plays, past productions have included work from the likes of Martin McDonagh and David Mamet.
Nor is The Crescent afraid to tackle a spot of Bill Shakespeare, and you can see a hoard of photographs from the theatre’s illustrious past plastered across the walls in the upstairs bar. Run by volunteers all year round, The Crescent’s ongoing existence is a testament to the passion of its dedicated team, and it’s a key component of Birmingham’s theatrical history.