History
The idea for an arts centre in Cannon Hill Park was the result of a meeting between local residents Mollie Randle, her husband, theatre writer and director John English and local politician Frank Price in the late 1950s. Eventually 8.6 acres of land in Cannon Hill Park was made available by Birmingham City Council in 1962 for this purpose. It also housed the Cannon Hill Puppet Theatre under John M. Blundall.
In 1965 director Mike Leigh went to work at the theatre and had the opportunity to start experimenting with the idea that writing and rehearsing could potentially be part of the same process. Between 1972 and 1987 it was the home of the Birmingham Youth Theatre, a company aimed at encouraging and nurturing talent amongst people aged 15 to 23 in the wider community. This company was founded by local teacher Derek Nicholls, who later became Director of the MAC. Success stories from the youth theatre include Adrian Lester and Andrew Tiernan.
The centre closed in April 2008 for a £14.8 million refurbishment. It reopened on 1 May 2010 with a weekend of events and activities to reintroduce people to the new and newly refurbished spaces.
Read more about this topic: Mac (Birmingham)
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