Words by Ed King / Production shots by Pamela Raith
Evita runs at the Hippodrome from Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th March – as produced by Bill Kenwright, with special arrangement from The Really Useful Group.
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long established musical comes to Birmingham following ‘smash hit runs’ in London and beyond. Evening performances will be held at 7:30pm every night from Tues 20th to Sat 24th. Matinee performances will be held at 2pm on Weds 21st and Thurs 22nd, with a further matinee scheduled at 2:30pm on Sat 24th.
Reflecting the Hippodrome’s wider programme, provisions have been made of those who are hearing or sight impaired at the following Evita performances: Weds 21st at 7:30pm (captioned), Thurs 22nd at 7:30pm (BSL interpreted), Sat 24th at 2:30pm (audio described).
Tickets are priced at £15-49, depending o the date/time of performance and positioning within the theatre. For direct show information, including a full breakdown of dates, times and online ticket purchasing, click here.
One of the century’s most recognised female public and political figures, Eva María Duarte de Perón climbed her way from a socially and fiscally forgotten childhood to become the First Lady of Argentina.
On the way up the ladder, she was also a revered actress, model and radio star – eventually becoming co-owner Argentina’s most prominent broadcaster, Radio El Mundo. And if cancer hadn’t taken Eva Perón at the young age of 33, she may well have become Vice President of Argentina – sitting in office alongside her husband and el predidente, Juan Perón.
Wildly popular with the working classes of Argentina, Eva Perón became to stand as a beacon of hope for the proletariat – having risen up the ranks herself, yet still mistrusted by the country’s political elite and social bourgeoisie. Many argue that it was Eva Perón, standing beside her husband at many a rally and public appearance, that cemented the political progress of Juan Perón from Minister to President. 
But many also argue to the contrary, claiming the often contradictory administration – that would spawn the continuously contradictory political movement known as Perónism – was a merely a disguised dictatorship that only played ‘the people card’ for political gain and even personal glory. It is this dichotomy that Rice and Webber brought to the stage with their musical Evita, when they turned their rock opera album into a West End production in 1978. Forty years later and Evita is still touring the world, with its name sake still considered a ‘Spiritual Leader of the Nation’ after being officially awarded the title in 1952.
This current production of Evita sees Madalena Alberto return to the title role, after playing Eva Perón in the 2004 West End revival. The role of Che, who acts as the story’s narrator and filters into many supporting and ancillary roles, will be played by Gian Marco Schiaretti.
Evita @ Birmingham Hippodrome 20-24.03.18 (featured cast members may vary)
Evita runs at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th March. For direct show information, including a full breakdown of dates,
times and online ticket purchasing, visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/evita
For more on the Birmingham Hippodrome, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com
