When built, it became the permanent home for Barry Jackson's newly formed Birmingham Repertory Company, which began life in 1911, born from his amateur theatre group, The Pilgrim Players, founded in 1907.

[1] The theatre is situated just opposite New Street Station, from which a Birmingham Civic Society blue plaque dedicated to Sir Barry Jackson can be seen.

Construction on the vacant site began in October 1912 by Birmingham based builders John Bowen and Sons, funded entirely by Jackson.

The theatre opened its doors on 15 February 1913 with a performance of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, preceded by a reading from Barry Jackson, of the poem The Mighty Line by resident playwright John Drinkwater.

With a wealth of local talent, the theatre produced a rolling bill of plays reflecting both classic texts and new writing.

The theatre rapidly became home to one of the most famous and exciting repertory theatre companies in the country with the repertoire ranging from innovative modern dress Shakespeare, medieval moralities, Greek drama and modern experimental drama, as well as presenting many world premieres including George Bernard Shaw's epic Back to Methuselah in 1923.

In 1917, the Birmingham Repertory Company became a pioneer in the theatre industry by becoming the first UK venue to appoint a female stage manager, Maud Gill.

[11] By the outbreak of the Second World War the Rep was, alongside the Liverpool Playhouse, one of only two British theatres presenting programmes of quality drama outside London in accordance with the original aims of the repertory movement.

Despite this, the company vowed not to be affected, with the management deciding to switch performances to matinees only, which resulted in an increase in audiences as they now felt safer.

As the theatre's reputation grew, more talent was to develop on its stage with the likes of Paul Scofield, Julie Christie, John Neville, Albert Finney and Derek Jacobi.

Peter Brook directed at the Rep just after World War II and transferred with Sir Barry and Paul Scofield to Stratford.

The company celebrated their centenary year at their original home with a programme of performances, tours and creative activities for the people of Birmingham.

For a period in the early 1990s it became the base of The Birmingham Stage Company, with the City Council still hiring out the theatre to touring shows and productions.