Performance

Victoria Square, Birmingham city centre

Wednesday 16 May - Saturday 19 May, 9.30pm-10.30pm

Wings Of Desire

Archived

Starring: Goldie // 2Faced Dance Company // CIRCA // seeper

A love story bridging heaven and earth will unfold before your eyes in this outdoor spectacle, featuring the most amazing transformation of a Birmingham building ever seen.

Angels gather on rooftops as the whole of Victoria Square comes alive with jaw-dropping circus acrobatics and exhilarating dance.

Music resounds and surprises come from all corners as the intensity builds to the ultimate finale moment – a sequence of glorious technicolour projections, bathing the beautifully-restored Town Hall in magical moving imagery.

Australia’s world famous Circa meets Britain’s urban hot ticket 2Faced Dance Company in this dramatic and awe-inspiring production, starring internationally-renowned film and TV star Goldie and featuring interactive performance experts seeper.

No need for tickets – just turn up and be amazed!

Running Time: 50 minutes

Watch the trailer here

Download the flyer for the show here

Screenplay by Wim Wenders, Peter Handke and Richard Reitinger
From Wim Wenders’ Film WINGS OF DESIRE
Adaptation by Alan Lyddiard
Collaboration by Tamsin Fitzgerald, Yaron Lifschitz, Alan Lyddiard, David Massingham and seeper
In partnership with Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham

Read some of the reactions from the World Premiere performance here.

The architectural projections will be created by seeper. The video below shows their creation, filmed during the final Wings of Desire rehearsal.

Credits & Thanks
Damiel // Russell Layton
Damiel stunt double // Graeme Clint
Cassiel // Clive Llewellyn
Marion // Emma McGovern from Circa performing Corde Lisse
Angels // Bhawna Bhawsar, Jill Dowse, Rosie Kay, Dave McKenna, Michael Spenceley

Director // Yaron Lifschitz
Adaptation, Dramaturgy & Direction // Alan Lyddiard
Assistant Director // Ben Knapton
Creative Director // David Massingham
Architectural Mapping // seeper
Producer // Hannah Sharpe
Choreography // Tamsin Fitzgerald
Creation of Community Choreography // Dave McKenna
Composer // Duncan Grimley
Film Designer // Louis Price
Costume Designer // Yann Seabra
Lighting Designer // Chahine Yavroyan
Technical Director // Simon MacColl

Thanks also to the people and organisations of Birmingham that have contributed their stories, including: Annice Boparai, Hina Chavda, Sipho Eric Dube, Kate Gordon, Brian Homer, Bunny Johnson, Simran Kular, Aiden Malone, Carol Pearce, Polarbear, Amanda Ricketts, Ravneet Sehra, Syd Wall, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Ormiston Academy, Homer Creative.

Thanks also to those participants taking part in the performances.

Thanks to: Birmingham City Centre Partnership, Birmingham Library & Archive, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Council House Birmingham, One Victoria Square, Town Hall Birmingham, Waterloo House (Birmingham) Ltd.

With thanks to QED Productions for the supply of projection equipment.

Wings of Desire is an outdoor performance. In the case of wet weather, some elements of the production may not be performed.

International Dance Festival Birmingham’s right to present this stage work based on Wim Wenders’ film, WINGS OF DESIRE, and Wim Wenders’, Peter Handke’s, and Richard Reitinger’s screenplay of the same title is licensed by Rosica Colin Limited, London in conjunction with Verlag der Autoren, Frankfurt, Germany.

Booking Information

This event is free of charge – no need to book, just turn up and enjoy!

Victoria Square, Birmingham city centre

B1 1BD, United Kingdom

Your Comments

  1. I am sooo looking forward to tonights show.. going to be worth the late night :-)

    Said Shaz on at 15:32pm on 16th May 2012

  2. Fantastic, a great show, what an amazing night. Thankyou.

    Said Mark Caley on at 23:17pm on 16th May 2012

  3. I just saw your show in Birmingham. It was great! Glad I got to see it on my work trip before I return to the States.

    Said Tom on at 23:21pm on 16th May 2012

  4. What a Great Show in Birmingham last night got some great photos to upload on my Facebook.

    Said simon wade on at 07:35am on 17th May 2012

  5. Fantastic show, so many jaw dropping moments and very thought provoking. A must see ...

    Said Graham Francis on at 20:40pm on 17th May 2012

  6. After I first saw Wim Wender's Wings of Desire, it became my favourite film. The best ever made about falling in love. The show in Victoria Square this evening was the most beautiful, moving and stunning piece of performance art and visuals I have seen in a public space. Wim Wender's will be proud. People of Birmingham, you have 2 more nights..to SEE angels in your city centre.DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. Even the few drops of rain I imagined were the tears from an angel.
    I am a spiritual entity living a human life.
    LOVE IS LIFE.
    Thank you to all those who made this show possible.

    Said Russell Gill on at 23:07pm on 17th May 2012

  7. Just got home after being as blown away as the Town Hall! Astonishing. Fantastic, all of it. Thank you - GO AND SEE THIS IF YOU CAN!!!!!

    Said sally hunt on at 23:19pm on 17th May 2012

  8. Excellent stuff!! The mapped projections were amazing, reeeeeeally good sound system too with awesome music. Thanks for bringing this to us.

    Said Matt Fisher on at 00:03am on 18th May 2012

  9. I took my daughter to see the show on Wednesday. It was absolutely brilliant, outstanding performance. For all those who missed it you don't know what your missing. Keep up the good work

    Said Cynthia on at 08:22am on 18th May 2012

  10. Staggering. Simply staggering.

    Said Wayne Fox on at 09:11am on 18th May 2012

  11. Saw this last night and it was brilliant! A special event and it's obvious a lot of work went into all the performances. The laser show on the side of the town hall was spectacular. Thank you.

    Said Nina on at 10:34am on 18th May 2012

  12. it was fantastic event i have never seen such unforgetful show.i feel nw am in uk not in my vilage .

    Said happy sehjra on at 11:50am on 19th May 2012

  13. Enroute from Ireland via London and Manchester. Excited!
    Break legs.

    Said Jo Mangan on at 15:53pm on 19th May 2012

  14. Does anyone know what the piano soundtrack was right at the very beginning of the session? I've heard it before but I couldn't place it.

    Said Robert on at 23:30pm on 19th May 2012

  15. Astounding and awesome on many levels - indeed one of the best performances I have ever witnessed. I feel proud that this happened in Birmingham and that it was of Birmingham. I am very glad I got my lazy self into the city tonight. Now where is that Turkish barber in Sparkbrook..

    Said rondema on at 00:42am on 20th May 2012

  16. That ... was something else. And blown away that about halfway through they played my favorite song in accompaniment to the acrobatic gymnastics:

    http://youtu.be/s3gdBxEaokE?t=2m15s

    Said John Kirriemuir on at 03:23am on 20th May 2012

  17. i have to say that last nights show was amaizing. it was the perfect setting as an outdoor theatre. it oppened our eyes as to how wonderfull the old building are at night time when they are lit up. everyone involved were fantastic. great to see you back in birmingham goldie. the light show at the end was so realistic with the town hall crumbling. well done everyone & thank you. anna machin xx

    Said anna machin on at 14:49pm on 20th May 2012

  18. What a fantastic show. Well done Birmingham. And all for free!

    Said Jan on at 15:01pm on 20th May 2012

  19. Thank you so much to all who contributed to the making of "Wings of Desire", it was fantastic! I've never seen anything like it, it was an awe-inspiring and moving experience. I love the original film, and this was a great adaptation. Beautiful.

    Said Teresa Vigay on at 20:20pm on 20th May 2012

  20. A couple of days after seeing this terrific show, still wowed by it and taliking about it. One of the great things about it was the audience! A complete cross-section of our city, complete diversity. Fabulous.

    Said Sally Hunt on at 21:57pm on 20th May 2012

  21. Only saw half the show because of the rain, but that light show was fantastic, great crowd, would love to see more shows like this, perhaps a new year light show instead of fireworks. Very good!

    Said Adam on at 11:45am on 21st May 2012

  22. Brilliant show! Shame it was rained off on other night. Please repeat it!!! Thank you.

    Said Patricia on at 19:06pm on 5th Jun 2012

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