Birmingham billboard celebrates city's comedy legends
A digital billboard is now on display in Birmingham, depicting some of the city's comedy legends.
Joe Lycett, Meera Syal, Lenny Henry, Frank Skinner and Julie Walters appear in the mural, which has been commissioned to promote the Sky Comedy Rep festival.
The organisers explain: "The City of Birmingham has long sat central in the world of The Arts and boasts a thriving creative, cultural and comedy community.
"Today a new digital mural has been unveiled in the city centre to celebrate some of the city's comedy legends. The pop art-style mural features Joe Lycett, Meera Syal, Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Skinner and Dame Julie Walters as well as landmarks from around the city including the Bull Ring, Town Hall and Rotunda.
"The striking mural has been designed by Midlands-born artist David Hodge and has been commissioned by Sky Comedy Rep ahead of the second season of the Park Life Festival - a festival of new comedy writing taking place at the Birmingham Rep Theatre from 22nd - 27th May."
The Birmingham Comedy Legends mural will appear during a two-week period with the most notable site being at New Street. It will also be featured across a number of Ocean Outdoor digital sites in the city centre.
David Hodge says: "It really is a thrill to be asked to create this tribute to so many famous names from the world of comedy in the city where my own creative journey began. Funnily enough where the billboard is situated is only a few yards from where lots of us young clubbers, designers and creatives used to meet back in the '80s on a Saturday in the tearoom in Rackham's. Somehow it brings me home and makes my creative journey reach another landmark moment."
The Park Life Festival will showcase the plays of eight comedy writers across six nights, with stand-up comedians hosting each showcase. You can find out more and book tickets via birmingham-rep.co.uk