On Saturday 5 February 2022 Birmingham Repertory Theatre will be hosting a spectacular Gala Dinner to celebrate 50 years on the city’s famous Centenary Square.

The award-winning theatre opened in the square in October 1971 and since then the theatre has welcomed countless stars and acclaimed new productions to its stage.

Patrons can join award winning actor, Adrian Lester CBE and friends for a wonderful celebration of Birmingham and its internationally renowned producing theatre, alongside an extraordinary menu devised by renowned chef Glynn Purnell.

Often called the ‘Yummy Brummie’ Glynn Purnell started cooking professionally at the age of 14. After training with top chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi, he went on to launch ‘Jessica’s’ in 2003, which was awarded Birmingham’s first Michelin star in 2005. Glynn is now the proud owner of two establishments in Birmingham, ‘Purnell’s’, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2009, and ‘Purnell’s Bistro & Ginger’s Bar’.

Glynn has become a household name after winning The Great British Menu twice and then later appearing on the show as a mentor. He can regularly be seen hosting Saturday Kitchen on BBC1. Glynn said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be involved in this fantastic celebration. It is such a wonderful achievement to be celebrating 50 years of a Birmingham institution. Purnell’s is 14 years old, so we still have a long way to go to catch up!

"We have got a really exciting menu in place for the event, which shows off some of the best of what Birmingham has to offer, and a suitably theatrical finale for the dessert!”

Birmingham born Adrian Lester CBE, Trustee of the Board at The Rep added: “The Rep was one of the main reasons I applied to drama school.

"It was the first theatre I visited as a child and the first theatre I ever performed in. The impact The Rep has goes far beyond the economic contribution it makes to my home city – it is an essential and vital pathway for aspiring talent and for creating truly world class productions.”

This special Gala event promises to be a truly memorable evening of fantastic food, stellar entertainment and an auction of unmissable items and experiences that will help to raise vital funds to secure the future of The Rep.  

Tickets are £200 per person or £2,400 for a table of 12. To book your tickets or table, please email development@birmingham-rep.co.uk.