'Roof of Stars’ planned to reflect visiting celebrities in Birmingham city centre

Visitors to the area outside the Birmingham Hippodrome are set to be ‘dazzled’ by a new light installation, part of a permanent light-art project across the city centre.

The ‘Roof of Stars’ will see a glittering bank of lights suspended above Thorp Street, between the Hippodrome and Chung Ying Gardens Chinese restaurant in the city's Southside Business Improvement District.

The overall project has been named as the Birmingham Light Festival and will run from 19 to 22 February 2025, with the Southside investment costing in the region of £20,000.

Lawrence Barton (pictured), chair of Southside BID, explained that the installation next to the Hippodrome will be designed to create a ‘sense of place’ on Thorp Street – home to both the theatre’s Stage Door and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

He said: “The inspiration are the theatre stars who regularly use the entrance, and we are extremely excited about this imaginative new project.

“We are looking to animate Thorp Street with light to create a more welcoming area, a space that feels safer and better reflects the hub of creativity on this road.”

Birmingham Hippodrome is a partner on the ‘Roof of Stars’ installation, providing electricity and working with the successful applicant to explore the most appropriate methods for sensors and timers.

This will ensure that the duration the light is displayed can be controlled and minimised to avoid unnecessary light pollution in daylight hours.

As well as Southside, other light art installations have been commissioned, one in the Jewellery Quarter BID and one in Colmore BID.

The Birmingham Light Festival has been organised by Alex Nicholson-Evans, who holds the role of city curator at Colmore BID. She has commissioned Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces (OPUS) to install the light-art.

She said: “We really want to encourage people from across the region to visit the city-centre and experience Birmingham in a different way during the Festival. To be curious, to explore and to have a great time in this fantastic city!”