What a thrill to be at the launch of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, a six-month celebration showcasing the ambition and creativity of the West Midlands.

Centenary Square was transformed into our stage for Wondrous Stories, a spectacular open-air show to kick-off the festival. Featuring Motionhouse’s internationally renowned professional dance-circus company alongside a mass cast of hundreds from Critical Mass, Freewheelin Dance Company, Motionhouse Youth, Sampad and DanceXchange, we were treated to large-scale immersive action and plenty of thrills as stories, a giant book and characters tumbled out of the night sky.

Inspired by the stories of the city, past, present and future, Wondrous Stories is a show for everyone made by a local and international creative team.

It is such a privilege to see such a great collaboration of incredible creatives from Birmingham in a beautiful setting surrounded by a plethora of cultural institutions with some of the leading arts organisations from across the West Midlands.

I’d urge everyone to come along and see the show. It is on from 18 to 20 March, 6.30pm and 8.30pm in Centenary Square, Birmingham and is free and un-ticketed.