Tag: Stirchley

A night at the opera…at the Baths!!

I’ve had an email from Midland Opera, a local opera group with members living in all parts of Birmingham but several living locally in Selly Oak, Selly Park and Bournville.

On the 24th and 25th November, for the first time, they will be performing Bizet’s Carmen at the Stirchley Baths Community Hub, which we all know is a  fantastic space. The company will be singing in English, with a small orchestra, Bournville Youth Singers, and professional soloists presenting the world’s favourite opera on 24th and 25th November at the Baths.

There have been so may versions of this story of love, jealousy and revenge but be prepared for Midland Opera’s take on the character of Carmen.  Is she the seductress or is she the abused woman?  Come and find out, enjoy the sumptuous singing by professional soloists, and also be entertained by members of Bournville Youth Chorus.

Ticket details on the attached flyer, and can be purchased from Midland Opera’s website.

The day the Vikings came to Stirchley…

Over 430 Fun Palaces took place around the world as local communities organised events that bring arts, science and culture to the heart of the community. Last Saturday the rain didn’t stop over 600 people visiting Stirchley Baths Community Hub  and Stirchley Library for the annual Stirchley Baths Fun Palace event. A fantastic team of community volunteers all rallied round in preparation (including putting over 50 chairs in the cinema room!) and on the day. Having previously sent the community to outer space and back again last year, this time it had been decided very enthusiastically that this year we would be exploring the history of the Vikings.

Read more

Happy New Year from Stirchley Baths….

It’s our first birthday on January 14th.

Come and celebrate with us from 3.30pm – 5pm – there will be tea, cake, films and an opportunity to look round the building for those who haven’t been before.
More details to follow but you may want to put the date and time in your diary !

Everyone is welcome – regular users, supporters and new friends.

Hope to see you on January 14th.

Warm Regards
Stirchley Baths Team

December 2016 – Update

xmas16

We’ve had such great successes from the Official Opening in Jan 2016, our fantastic volunteers , the wide range of community  uses and users from A(rabic) to Z(umba) and all in between, being on telly (twice!!) and winning several local and regional awards …not bad for the first 12 months.

I would just like to take this opportunity on updating you all on a couple of things

  • Christmas and New Year Closing – We will be closed to the public from Monday  December 19th  and reopen on Tuesday January 3rd. The Main Hall Floor requires urgent attention from the original contractors. This has been a long drawn out and frustrating negotiation but hopefully now the remedial works will be done to the required standard.
  • Friends Meeting House – Many of you may have already noticed that work has started on the Friends Meeting House next to Stirchley Baths. A building company called Red Rose Birmingham  purchased the building from the Co-op and are refurbishing and converting it into apartments.  It’s great to see the building being brought back into use but please note that the sale agreement also means that the car park spaces in the centre car park  directly facing the Friends Meeting House are for their use which will reduce our available car parking spaces. I understand from Red Rose that they will be placing their container across these parking spaces as from next week and there will be skip lorries and other deliveries to site. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but it is not within our control.
  • Lead Theft  – Unfortunately we have experienced a second bout of lead theft from the roof at the Baths. The Police have been informed and fortunately we have some good clear footage from the centre’s  CCTV system. If you see anything please let us know.
  • Christmas Giving – In previous years the Selly Oak District Office have always proactively done something for local good causes. This year at Stirchley Baths we have two collection boxes in the Main Entrance Foyer area
  • First Night Campaign – donation of items which assist families that have to flee their home because of domestic abuse. They often have little or no time to pack so items that can be used on their first night in a refuge such as toiletries, puzzles, books, crayons, pencils, chocolate
  • B30 Foodbank based at Cotteridge Church – donation of foodstuffs to provide help to people in crisis. Urgently needed food items include cooking rice, cereals, biscuits, tinned spaghetti –fruit-tomatoes, custard and sugar

I do hope you are able to support these important causes – “drop in with a tin of something, toothpaste or toiletries” . Collection boxes are in operation as of today 7/12/16.

Hope you  have a great Christmas and New Year and thank you for all your support in making this year such a wonderful success.

Our next big event will be our First Year Birthday Celebrations on January 14th 2017 and the launch of the Community Cinema Club.

Best Wishes

Karen

 

 

 

 

Stirchley Dances – Saturday 25th June 16, 1 – 4 pm

Stirchley Dances

You Could Be Dancing!

The Dancing Mat, a commissioned artwork for the Stirchley Baths Heritage Programme, is nearing its launch with an event ‘Stirchley Dances’, on Saturday 25th June 1 – 4pm. This is a free event open to all, celebrating the heritage and current day dancing in Stirchley. John and Eileen Horlick from the Stirchley Tea Dance Group who worked with me to record steps from dances that would have been danced at Stirchley Baths in the 1940’s will officially open the dancing mat at 1pm in the foyer. After this there will be dancing in the main hall by the Tea Dance Group, Swing Express and Barn Dance Fitness, the latter two who hold weekly classes at Stirchley Baths. You can either come along and enjoy watching the dancing or join in. It doesn’t matter whether you are a complete novice, enthusiast or highly experienced – this is a celebration of all things in Stirchley.