Oh. My. Gawd. The Friends immersive exhibition is now in Birmingham
The wait is finally over as doors open at the NEC in Birmingham to welcome fans who can immerse themselves in the world of hit comedy show Friends.
The Friends Experience is making its UK debut in Birmingham (Hall 10, NEC) after successful runs in Paris and Brussels.
Despite the passing of nearly three decades since the comedy showed broadcast its first ever episode in 1994, the fan base for Friends continues to grow as a new generation of fans discover repeats of the show on streaming platforms around the globe.
The comedy sitcom followed the lives of of six friends – Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler, Monica and Phoebe – and the show became one of the most popular televisions series of all time – raking in $1billion per year – with over 60 Emmy nominations.
The show left many fans misty eyed when the poignant final episode aired in 2004, and when a Reunion Special hosted by James Corden was beamed around the world in 2021 featuring original actors Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, the response was warm and rapturous.
Fans now have the chance to step into the world of the legendary show thanks to an immersive exhibition called The Friends Experience, which has been put together by Warner Bros, and recreate their favourite scenes and celebrate some of the most iconic moments from the popular sitcom.
The exhibition has already thrilled fans across America in cities such as New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Long Beach, Detroit and Boston. The show now makes its UK debut in Birmingham after successful openings in Brussels and Paris.
Featuring a variety of nostalgia-packed, interactive recreated sets including Monica’s kitchen, the iconic fountain which features in the opening credits as The Rembrandts’ song ‘I’ll Be There For You’ belts over the montage, the hilarious pivot scene where Ross and his pals try to carry a sofa up a narrow staircase, and the famous Central Perk café are vividly recreated for fans to roam about and soak up the atmosphere.
The exhibition also includes memorabilia, props, design concepts, and costumes such as the hilarious Holiday Armadillo worn by Ross in a festive episode of Friends.
The experience provides guests with plenty of opportunities to explore the show’s history and walk in the footsteps of the characters and relive much-loved moments such as peeking around Rachel and Monica’s purple door, relaxing in Chandler and Joey’s recliners or singing ‘Smelly Cat’ while playing Phoebe’s keyboard in Central Perk.
The Friends Experience offers a rare and special opportunity for fans to magically merge into the world of a timeless television show that continues to entertain and connect with people.
Tickets for The Friends Experience in Birmingham can be purchased via the website.