PRESS RELEASE

WALLOP MRS COX

A ‘MADE IN BIRMINGHAM’ PRODUCTION!

The Birmingham musical WALLOP MRS COX returns to the City this summer where it
will receive its Birmingham Hippodrome premiere from Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12
June 2010.

WALLOP MRS COX, a co-production between Birmingham Hippodrome and

BMOS Musical Theatre, is written and composed by Birmingham born Euan Rose and
Laurie Hornsby and is set in Birmingham’s famous Bull Ring market. Brummagem
history is relived through the eyes of Emily Cox, mother of thirteen and matriarch of the
community. Five actresses play her as she ages from a young girl to an old lady, living
through change, turbulence and two world wars.

The 70 strong local cast are currently in rehearsal at the Hippodrome, making this a
truly ‘Made in Birmingham’ production. Among them are three members of the Cox
family from Bromsgrove, Todd (13), Domonic (11) and their sister Annie-May (11);
three pupils from the same High School in Hollywood with their drama teacher Craig
Hall; and Edna Cobley from Quinton, who at 80 is the oldest member of the company
and still tap-dancing!

Members of Birmingham Hippodrome staff are also in the production: Jenny Ellis, Front
of House Manager who lives in the City Centre, Sharon Walker, Customer Services
Assistant from Kings Heath and Emma Phillips, Press and Marketing Assistant from
Erdington.

Emma Phillips, who has worked in the theatre’s Press & Marketing team for two years
said: “I always wondered what it would be like to stand in front of an audience and belt
out a song and dance so I decided to audition for a part in the show earlier this year. I
was really excited when I got through and now I’m really looking forward to treading the
theatre’s famous stage for the first time as a performer.”

WALLOP MRS COX is especially designed for Birmingham Hippodrome’s vast stage
and features the songs Hello Bull Ring, The Back of Rackhams, Twenty Four Hours a
Day and the show’s anthem Birmingham.

WALLOP MRS COX, which stars Heart FM’s popular breakfast show presenter Ed
James, combines professional theatre with the local community and is a great
opportunity for the people of Birmingham to enjoy a musical about their own City.

WALLOP MRS COX runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 June.
Tickets are priced from £11-£25. Perf times Tues-Sat 7.30pm; Wed mat, Fri & Sat mats
2.30pm. Telephone 0844 338 5000 or book online on www.birminghamhippodrome.com. Calls
vary from 5p per min. 5% transaction charge.

-ENDS-

18 May 2010

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Mandy Rose, Birmingham Hippodrome 0121 689 3069

Email: mandyrose@birminghamhippodrome.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• BMOS has roots firmly embedded in Birmingham just like Wallop Mrs Cox. The Birmingham
Operatic Society (Founded in 1886) merged with Midland Opera Society to form BMOS in 1923.
Through the 20’s and 30’s the company performed in different venues across the city before
performing regularly at Birmingham Hippodrome from 1957. In recent years the company has
performed 42nd Street, West Side Story and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
• Birmingham Hippodrome is the most popular single theatre in the UK, welcoming over 500,000
paying visitors every year.
• Birmingham Hippodrome contributes over £40m to the local economy every year and is the
busiest visitor attraction in the city centre, one of the top five paid-for visitor attractions in the
region and one of the top 20 in the UK.
• Birmingham Hippodrome is unique in being the home of a classical ballet company, Birmingham
Royal Ballet (currently celebrating 20 Years in the city), and a national dance development
agency, DanceXchange.
• Birmingham Hippodrome co-produces International Dance Festival Birmingham.
• Birmingham Hipodrome supports Birmingham's bid to be the UK's first City of Culture in 2013.
Find out more and make your voice heard by clicking here.
• Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Trust Ltd is an independent registered charity (No. 510842) and
is unsubsidised receiving no annual public funding.