The Incredible Van Gogh Alive at Birmingham Hippodrome

The World has slim pickings for lovers of Art and Culture in our current times. Theatres are closed, with a few online performances the only way to enjoy the spectacle of live theatre. Art galleries are slowly opening, but in a severely limited capacity, and it seems there is very little ‘new’ to enjoy. But one theatre is bucking the trend and offering an experience that combines art, theatre and music in an immersive experience that is absolutely breathtaking.

The Birmingham Hippodrome is currently hosting Van Gogh Alive, the most visited multi sensory experience in the World. It combines the brilliance of the artist’s work, from his early pieces produced in Holland, to his most famous works, and his final, sometimes dark and erratic work when he was in the thrall of his final mental illness, one which finally led him to take his own life in 1890.

The Hippodrome explains more:-

Are you ready to step into a world where Van Gogh comes alive? Prepare to transcend time and space as you accompany Van Gogh on a journey through the Netherlands, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, where he created many of his timeless masterpieces. Set to an evocative classical score, a thrilling display of over 3,000 inspirational images transforms every surface that surrounds you. At Van Gogh Alive you don’t just look at his paintings, you step inside them and feel their power.

Van Gogh was prolific, in just over a decade, he created about 2,100 artworks, and so, even if you are familiar with the work, there is still much to see and admire. And you are totally imersed in it, with huge screens of ever changing art work all around you, running over your head, under your feet and all around you. The art on the screens constantly moves and changes, making your senses work overtime in order not to miss anything.

You also read the story of Vincent Van Gogh on some of the screens, the high point of his time in Paris and Arles, and his breakdown and the erratic behaviour that saw his mental health deteriorate to a point of no return. Each section in the story, which lasts around an hour in total, are accompanied by a stunning classical soundtrack. It is quite hard to describe just how beautiful it all is, and how effectively the story is told and the art is shared.

We need to support our arts and theatres as much as possible at the moment, and Van Gogh alive is a perfect way to do this and escape from 2020 for a short while.

Van Gogh Alive

Birmingham Hippodrome

Until January 18 2021

Book tickets here

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