Just look at that! That’s the Hippodrome 30 years ago that is.

Seriously, I mean you’d think that rebuilding a stage might involve swapping out a few planks, maybe putting in some new struts, checking the hydraulics and giving the whole thing a new coat paint. Or something. Apparently not. Apparently diggers are involved.

I found this at the bottom of this page on the Hippodrome’s current stage appeal. They’re looking to rebuild the stage next year. I think I now understand why it’ll cost £1,137,000.

I can’t find a photo credit for this one – if I’m doing someone a disservice then let me know.

UPDATE: Thanks to Judy Cartwright for pointing out that the photo is by John Whybrow.

The workshop will take place at 2:00 – 4:30 pm, in Birmingham City University’s Baker Building, room 210, City North Campus, Perry Barr.

This workshop is a seminar in techniques, skills and games that can build or turnaround an organization’s capacity to do easy, effective wide audience development programs. Participants will learn what organizational fund raising takes and ways to test skills and build morale in a professional environment. The session will not be taped or otherwise recorded.

There will be a question and answer session immediately following the training.

John Parman first became involved in fundraising in 2003 as a grants writer and talent researcher at GlobalVision, a documentary film company in New York. He has documented success in group, online and face-to-face stewardship and cultivation. He is studying at Birmingham City University for his Master of Arts degree.

If you’d like to go, register your place at http://newgiving.eventbrite.com

An odd one this, but a goody. I daresay we’ll see more interesting fundraising efforts in this vein over the next little while. See also the CBSO’s recent Street Maestros thing.

More info than what I’ve pasted below on The Rep’s website.

There are some spooky goings on at The REP this festive season as A Christmas Carol brings its ghosts to our Main House.

We’re offering would be ghost hunters a chance to spend the night with us and find out more about the theatre ghosts and what happens when the auditorium empties.

A once in a lifetime experience for brave souls only!

Pledge to raise a minimum of £250 to support the work of The REP and get the chance to sleep over on the theatre’s Main Stage and await the things that go bump in the night…

For one night only on Friday 8th January 2010