Birmingham Hippodrome’s Head of New Musical Theatre named

Birmingham Hippodrome has announced DEIRDRE O’HALLORAN as Head of New Musical Theatre.

Currently Literary Manager at the Bush Theatre, where she has designed and implemented artist development programmes and led on dramaturgy for all commissioned work, O’Halloran has also dramaturged work as a freelancer, is a regular panellist for BEAM pitching days and took part in judging this year's Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize.

Her appointment follows the announcement that Birmingham Hippodrome plans to become home to the first in-house musical theatre department in the UK.

Leading the new department, Deirdre will grow a specialist team and collaborate with creatives and partners to create new production opportunities in Birmingham and beyond. 

The dedicated department will develop, commission and produce new musicals as part of the Hippodrome’s core business, alongside offering skills development, employment, and a new Writers Lab, supporting the national new musical theatre community and more sustainable career pathways in musical theatre.

O’Halloran, who will take up her new role in October, said she’s delighted to be heading up the new department.

“Birmingham Hippodrome is a venue that is fizzing with ambition and passion for musical theatre,” she added.

“There is a huge contingent of talented and dedicated musical theatre artists in the UK and I am so excited to make the Hippodrome their home, a place to develop their craft and make brilliant new work.”

Meanwhile, the Hippodrome has announced it will continue to work with VICKY GRAHAM, who consulted on the new department, as she becomes Associate Producer (new musical theatre).