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From George VI to Victoria

FOR Roxana Silbert Birmingham Weekender raises the curtain on a whole new experience taking her from festival lover to festival planner.

The Argentinian born Silbert was appointed Birmingham Rep’s artistic director in 2011 and has breathed exciting new life into the venerable institution since it moved into both its second century and back into its refurbished home after its two years closure in September 2013.

But in a career which has seen her as an associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and West Yorkshire Playhouse and artistic director of Paines Plough Theatre Company as well as literary director at the Traverse Theatre, Roxana Dilbertmissing from her CV, until now, has been the world of street festivals.

She recently did a fine job directing a five star Rep co-production of The King’s Speech,  which then toured until last month, but now has to turn her attention from George VI to Victoria, or more specifically Victoria Square, along with Centenary, Chamberlain and Oozells Squares as well as planning a myriad of events popping up in shop windows, department stores, shopping centres and city streets.

Roxana Silbert, artistic director of Birmingham Rep and creative director of Birmingham Weekender

“I have never programmed a festival before. I love going to festivals but this is my first time and I have loved it,” she said, “I was a little bit reluctant at first because outdoor theatre is not one of my areas of speciality but one of the great things about being here is that these opportunities to do something new open up, and also it I such an incredibly supportive environment so although I am named creative director I have had so much support from the rest of the organisations that it was shaping something that was coming through quite organically.

“It has also been amazing because you suddenly realise how much talent there is in this region, I mean world class talent. People keep saying it in speeches (launching the festival) and it really is true. You suddenly look at that programme and think that would be OK anywhere in the world.”

With 200 artists and 70 companies, all free of charge, the festival’s creative director sees it as an extraordinary offer but added: “It is really important that the people in the region know that the work is there and the work is for them and that it is accessible and available to them. And what is brilliant about it is we can make it free so what the Birmingham City Council and Arts Council support has allowed us to do it to offer it for free.”

She said that had also been other support from retailers and from organisations involved in Birmingham Arts Partnership with everything from marketing to rehearsal rooms and all the other backroom facilities and support without which the festival would never get off the ground.

And get off the ground it will on September Friday, 25 September running through to Sunday evening.

It is expected to be a busy weekend in Birmingham, the first when the rebuilt New Street Station the Grand Central shopping complex will open its doors for the first time, while South Africa play Samoa in the Rugby World Cup at Villa Park and the catwalks will be back for Style Birmingham Live with fashion shows throughout the weekend in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s Gas Hall. 

Roger Clarke 

Full Birmingham Weekender programme details and listings will be released in August on www.birminghamweekender.com and in the Weekender brochure, which will be widely distributed around the city.

It is envisaged it will be necessary to pre-book a small number of events due to limited spaces available, please check the website for more details.

Follow @BhamWeekender, like www.facebook.com/BhamWeekender share your photographs via www.instagram.com/bhamweekender #BhamWE

Birmingham Arts Partnership (BAP comprises 14 arts companies and venues located in and around Birmingham city centre. Its members are: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra,  Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Birmingham Hippodrome,  Birmingham Museums Trust, Birmingham Opera Company,  Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet,  DanceXchange , The Drum, Ex Cathedra, Ikon, mac birmingham, Town Hall Symphony Hall  and Sampad Arts   

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