The Old Repertory Theatre

The Old Rep is a historic Grade II listed theatre, located on Station Street in Birmingham, England. Upon opening in 1913, as the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, it became the United Kingdom's first purpose-built repertory theatre and the permanent home for Barry Jackson's Birmingham Repertory Company, which had been officially established in 1911, having evolved from his amateur theatre group ‘The Pilgrim Players’, which had been founded in 1907. A man of considerable means, Jackson funded the entire construction of the theatre and established his professional, resident company there, which soon became a major powerhouse within the British theatre due to the actors it produced and its innovative stagings of the works of both Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, resulting in some considering it to be Birmingham’s answer to The Old Vic. In its heyday the theatre became a launchpad for young actors wishing to gain experience in the theatre and to hone their craft through the then thriving repertory system. Such luminaries included: Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans and later Paul Scofield, Albert Finney, Derek Jacobi and the director Peter Brook. In June 2024, it was officially announced that The Crescent Theatre, which celebrated its centenary in the same year, would be taking over the running of the historic theatre in August 2024, alongside its own theatre complex in Brindley Place. The theatre is situated just opposite New Street Station, from which a Birmingham Civic Society blue plaque dedicated to Sir Barry Jackson can be seen. For a relatively small street consisting of 9 buildings, Station Street also houses additional buildings of historic importance including, Britain's oldest working cinema; The Electric, The Crown Public House, which was given Grade II listed status in March 2024 and the former Market Hotel which was also given Grade II listing in November 2024, bringing the total number of listed buildings to 3.