Wondrous Stories in Centenary Square - magical opening to the Birmingham 2022 Festival

From falling angels to flying books and fabulous dance moves - Wondrous Stories has ensured the Birmingham 2022 Festival has opened in style.

Hundreds attended the magical opening performance in Centenary Square on Thursday evening - and there are more free performances until Sunday (March 20). See times below.

The hour-long open air event is an impressive show featuring song, dance and acrobatics on the ground, stage, pathways through the audience - and the air.

So whichever spot you find yourself standing in, you’re sure to get a close-up of the action.

The imaginative storytelling theme, which opens with characters tumbling out of a giant book in the sky, celebrates the West Midlands’ literary heritage - being the home of Shakespeare, Tolkien and many more besides.

Who has created Wondrous Stories and who is in the cast?

Its creator - Kevin Finnan MBE, from dance-circus company Motionhouse in Leamington Spa - also choreographed the London 2012 Paralympic Games arts performances.

Motionhouse dancers are joined by performers from Critical Mass, a collective of 300 young dancers from Birmingham and beyond - especially curated with the help of DanceXchange in collaboration with Dance Development Leaders Group and the Arts Council - to represent the diversity and ethnicity of the West Midlands.

Also performing in Wondrous Stories are members of wheelchair dance group Freewheelin’, Motionhouse Youth, Sampad and DanceXchange.

There’s live spoken word from local artists Raza Hussain and Sebbie Mudhai, digital projections from Logela Multimedia and an uplifting soundtrack from Birmingham’s Choir With No Name.

When can I see Wondrous Stories?

You can watch Wondrous Stories in Centenary Square at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (March 18 to 20). Don’t miss out.

What else is happening at the Birmingham 2022 Festival?

The full Birmingham 2022 Festival programme was announced last month and over 200 events will run from March to September, making it the biggest celebration of

creativity ever seen in the region and one of the largest ever cultural programmes to surround the Commonwealth Games.

You can find out more here: Birmingham 2022 Festival

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