Town Hall

Acclaimed at its opening in 1834 as the finest music hall in the country, since that time the imposing neo-classical design of Town Hall has dominated Birmingham City Centre’s Victoria and Chamberlain Squares. A Grade 1 listed landmark, Town Hall reopened in 2007 following a £35m renovation.

Venue Specific Information

Town Hall
(Victoria Square, B3 3DQ)

During ArtsFest 2012 Town Hall will showcase a selection of its associate artists as well as providing the chance for community artists to perform in the prestigious venue. Applications will be considered from artists in all performing arts genres. Audiences visiting Town Hall during ArtsFest will have the chance to purchase refreshments from the venues fully licensed bar.

Availability:

Saturday 8th September: 12.00 – 19.00
Sunday 9th September: 13.00 – 19.00

(Please note that these times are provisional at this stage and may be subject to change).

Performance Area:

Town Hall has a large raised stage with a wooden floor 15 metres wide by 8 metres deep. The stage has full disability access via a stair lift backstage which rises up to stage level.

Audience Capacity:

850

Equipment / Facilities Available:

- Small PA system with flown loudspeakers from the centre of the canopy

- Allen and Heath GL2800 mixer operated from the rear of the circle
supported by CD and minidisk recorders and cassette player facilities

- DBX 166XL compressor / limiter, Yamaha SPX2000 multi effects processor and 2 Yamaha Q2031B stereo 31 band graphic equalizers

- 4 x RCF 310 monitors available

- A selection of microphones

- Steinway Grand Piano (this will be situated on the stage for the duration of all performances)

- Organ

- 50 music stands

- Conductor’s podium and music stand

- 100 orchestral chairs

(Please note that the venue does not have a backline, DJ or projection facilities available during ArtsFest).

(Please note that the PA system is suitable for speech and very light instrument amplification only and can only be used for this purpose. There are no ground stacks or monitor mixer).

(Please also note that the Town Hall has an acoustic canopy made up of a series of reflectors in a checker board style, suspended over the stage and auditorium that move to preset positions to alter the acoustic character of the hall. The venue also has acoustic blinds over the main windows that can be used to vary the acoustic character of the hall).

Lighting:

- Basic colour washes will be available

Staffing:

There will be a sound technician at the venue in addition to a Duty Manager, stewards and in-house security. An ArtsFest Volunteer Venue Officer will be in charge of the venue on behalf of ArtsFest and will liaise with all artists before the event and on the day.

Additional Notes:

The venue has eight dressing rooms, however please be aware that different groups will be using these and performers should not assume they will have sole use of them.

A water machine is available backstage for artists to use.

Rappers / MC’s:

Rappers and MC’s are asked that they only apply to this venue if their performance is accompanied by live music or backing tracks.

Venue Access:

Access for artists will be via the venues main entrance on Victoria Square. This entrance has full disabled access. Artists with large or heavy instruments or equipment will be allowed access to Town Hall’s loading bay to drop this off at the venue. Access to the loading bay is by taking a left turn off Paradise Circus, immediately after Great Charles Street. Space in the loading bay is limited and artists will be asked to remove their vehicle as soon as they have unloaded. The exception to this is blue badge holders as three spaces are available within the loading bay. Blue badge holders will be able to remain parked within the loading bay for the duration of their performance.