60 years of Belgrade Theatre
CITY THEATRE CELEBRATES MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY...
THE Belgrade Theatre is celebrating its 60th birthday this week.
The theatre is celebrating the landmark in a number of ways, with a diverse and busy programme of events throughout 2018.
But it will also be looking back on a rich history which has seen many famous names grace its stage.
Over the years, it has helped launch the careers of theatrical luminaries including Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Trevor Nunn, Richard Briers, Rosemary Leach and David Suchet and many more besides.
On a local level, the Belgrade has built a reputation for helping to nurture homegrown talent, with some alumni such as Clive Owen going on to enjoy international acclaim.
The theatre is using World Theatre Day today to mark the occasion and the beginning of its packed programme of shows and events for the year ahead.
Not only will the events highlight the theatre’s rich history, but also look forward to the role it will continue to play in Coventry’s future, particularly as the city prepares to become UK City of Culture in 2021.
A rich history Since becoming the UK’s first civic theatre to open after World War II in 1958, the Belgrade has specialised in staging both home-produced and touring shows.
It has also expanded, particularly through the construction of its B2 studio, which marked its tenth anniversary in 2017.
And the Belgrade’s Springboard and Critical Mass schemes have provided a platform for emerging writers and performers in Coventry to present their work in a professional context.
A spokeswoman said: “From the beginning, the Belgrade’s ethos has always been to stand proudly at the heart of everything that Coventry is and does, catering to hugely varied audiences, and cultivating close relationships with communities throughout the region.
“Through a combination of groundbreaking education and outreach work – historically including the pioneering Theatre in Education programme – and a huge variety of youth and community drama groups, it works with countless children and adults across the region, providing them with early and often lifechanging experiences of theatre.”
Mini arts festivalOne of the key events highlighting this community partnership is an event taking place at the former Coventry Evening Telegraph Building in July .
Read All About It is a mini festival running from July 10-14, which will bring together professional performers from Mercurial Dance with the Belgrade’s own youth and community groups as part of a large-scale immersive experience drawing on real-life stories from the city.
As a registered charity the Belgrade is also reaching out to theatre-goers and is asking audiences to add a voluntary donation of 60p to ticket purchases to help ensure projects such as Read All About It are able to continue.
Birthday celebrations will get into full swing in the autumn, with a Diamond Anniversary Gala and several home-produced shows. Many other events are in the pipeline, including a birthday quiz and live BBC broadcast on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. n Who have you seen perform at the Belgrade over the years and what was your favourite show? Email news@coventrytelegraphnet
From the beginning, the Belgrade’s ethos has always been to stand at the heart of everything Coventry is and does... Belgrade spokeswoman