Room on the Broom

Room on the Broom comes to the Birmingham Hippodrome from Wednesday 3 March to Sunday 7 March 2027, playing in the Patrick Studio. It's Tall Stories' stage adaptation of the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, directed by Olivia Jacobs with music by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw.

If you know the book, you know the story: a kind witch and her cat fly on their broomstick and pick up animal hitchhikers along the way — a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird and a frantic frog — until the broomstick snaps in two just as a hungry dragon appears. Tall Stories brings it to life with their house style of puppetry, songs and humour, and they describe it as being for audiences aged 3 to 103.

It's not a new one for them. They first staged it in 2008, and it went on to be nominated for an Olivier Award in 2013 for Best Family & Entertainment production. Since then it's toured the UK and Ireland, and travelled as far as North America, Australia (playing the Sydney Opera House), Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Poland. The company is also behind The Gruffalo Live On Stage, The Smeds and The Smoos Live On Stage and The Elmer Adventure.

There are plenty of times to choose from across the five days. Wednesday 3 March has a 10:30am show; Thursday 4 March and Friday 5 March both run 10:30am and 1:00pm; Saturday 6 March and Sunday 7 March have three each, at 10:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Tickets start from £14.50 and go up to £19.50.