Exclusive Friends of the Belgrade Theatre Events As part of your Friends of the Belgrade Membership, you are entitled to 20% off the following shows. * Discount is valid on 1 ticket if you have a Single Membership and 2 tickets if you have a Joint Membership.
Show Close to Home
Dates Weds 11 – Sat 14 July
Description The Belgrade’s Black Youth Theatre explore the stories of people affected by HIV and AIDS in Coventry. Part of the Belgrade Community & Education Company’s Creative Gymnasium programme. * This is a free performance however there will be a voluntary collection made after the show.
Fragile is a brutally compelling, new drama from BAFTA award-winning, Coventry writer, Geoff Thompson.
Fragile
Sat 8 – Sat 22 Sept
20th Century Boy
Fri 14 – Sat 29 Sept
Issue Thirteen Autumn 2012
Through a series of monologues Craig Conway’s astonishing one-man performance charts his character’s remarkable journey through traumatic abuse, self-discovery and ultimately redemption.
Music and drama in new Autumn Season
20th Century Boy, the musical inspired by the life of Marc Bolan, explodes onto the Belgrade’s Main Stage this September, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the iconic star’s death.
compelling, new drama from BAFTA award-winning, Coventry writer, Geoff Thompson. Starring film, TV and stage actor Craig Conway, Fragile charts one man’s remarkable journey through traumatic abuse, self-discovery and ultimately redemption.
Check our What’s On guide or visit www.belgrade.co.uk for more details.
The Belgrade Bulletin
Production Department & Belgrade Production Services When the season draws to a close the Production team will be busy carrying out maintenance, from repainting the stage to cleaning all the lights to PAT testing all the electrical equipment, and making sure everything looks fresh and is in perfect working order ready for the next season. BPS will also be incredibly busy over the summer as they get to work on building the sets for 20th Century Boy, with its retro 60s / 70s set with wall to wall speakers, and the set for the B2 production of Fragile, set in an ordinary domestic living room. Perhaps not quite as rock and roll but visually just as impressive. Community & Education The theatre’s Community & Education Company will be producing the last of four shows exploring the city’s health. Close to Home is devised and performed by the Black Youth Theatre and will explore the stories of people affected by HIV and AIDS in Coventry. Following the success of last year’s inaugural Summer School the theatre will also be offering two Summer Schools during this year’s holidays. Each week will be open to young people aged 8 – 15 years and will enable them to develop and share their theatre skills through an intensive programme of workshops and rehearsals.
Development The Development department were successful in securing a grant of £240,000 from Arts Council England’s Catalyst Arts fund under the Capacity Building Programme. The Catalyst Arts scheme aims to make arts organisations more sustainable, resilient and innovative by increasing their fundraising potential and attracting new money to invest in additional artistic work. It acts as funding to support additional arts activity.
20th Century Boy
Our brand new Autumn Season has now been announced and it includes five of our own Belgrade productions and a diverse range of touring shows.
As a result of the funding the Development department is expanding to take on a new Development Manager, and will be launching new fundraising initiatives in the coming months.
The season starts in spectacular style with our new Marc Bolan musical 20th Century Boy. Running on the Main Stage from Fri 14 to Sat 29 Sept, 20th Century Boy tells the story of the life of Marc Bolan and his band T. Rex and coincides with the 35th anniversary of the iconic star’s death.
Communications Now the Spring Season is coming to a close the Communications department is busy putting everything in place for the launch of the new Autumn Season. This includes creating the new season brochure, creating print for all of our own shows and liaising with touring companies on the print for shows that are visiting. They’re also busy planning how they will let everybody know about all of the great shows that are coming up. Some of the team are off to the Arts Marketing Association’s annual conference in July and the Press Officer will be embarking on a secondment to the London 2012 Festival press office for a week of work experience. Alongside the Community & Education department the Communications team are in the process of recruiting for an education officer who will work with both departments to build relationships with local schools, colleges and universities.
Book Now 024 7655 3055 or via www.belgrade.co.uk
Running alongside this in B2 from Sat 8 to Sat 22 Sept is Fragile, a brutally The Belgrade Theatre is a registered charity, no. 219163
Now you know about everything that’s happening on stage, here’s an insight into what’s going on backstage with an update from the Production department, Development department, the Communications team and the Community & Education Company.
In October we will be producing American family drama The Dark at the Top of the Stairs which will run in B2 from Sat 20 Oct to Sat 10 Nov. Written by William Inge, who dedicated the play to his friend, rival and contemporary Tennessee Williams, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1957 and was made into a successful film in 1960 with Angela Lansbury. Christmas sees the return of our traditional family panto from Weds 28 Nov to Sat 5 Jan 2013, with Iain Lauchlan replacing Andy Hockley as the Dame in Sleeping Beauty. In true Belgrade style, Sleeping Beauty will be magically brought to life with stunning sets, spectacular costumes and sparkling performances.
Over in B2 the grown-ups can celebrate Christmas with our annual B2 Xmas Show, which this year sees the return of the critically acclaimed musical comedy, Crackers from Mon 8 to Sat 22 Dec. We’ve got some great visiting shows with us this season too, including Calendar Girls, starring Lesley Joseph and Sue Holderness, the West End Ike and Tina Turner musical Soul Sister, John Chapman’s comedy Dry Rot and all male Shakespeare company Propeller are returning with Twelfth Night.
Craig Conway and Geoff Thompson
Exclusive Friends of the Belgrade Theatre Events Backstage Tour Date: Saturday 1 September Time: 10.15am Meeting Place: Box Office Ever wanted to see what’s behind the scenes at the Belgrade Theatre? Come on our backstage tour exclusively for Friends of the Belgrade Theatre.
Throughout September we’ll be celebrating the fifth anniversary since we re-opened the Belgrade following the extensive, £14m redevelopment project in 2007. We’ll be holding a number of exciting events to mark this occasion so please keep an eye on our website for all the details nearer the time.
Friends of the Belgrade Theatre benefit from receiving 20% off individual tickets. See back page for season diary.
Hamish Glen on the 5th anniversary of the theatre’s reopening This September marks five years since the Belgrade reopened following the completion of its £14 million redevelopment project, including the creation of B2, and refurbishment of the existing listed building. We caught up with Artistic Director, Hamish Glen to find out his thoughts and highlights of the last five years and his hopes for the theatre moving forward. What do you think have been the theatre’s main achievements over the last five years? I think one of the main achievements has been how well the capital development has been received by the people of the city, and in particular how popular our second space, B2, has proven to be. I think that the flexible space is one of the finest in the land and has excited both audiences and theatre makers alike. The development of the theatre has also resulted in a transformation of the quality and reputation of the work we make, as well as its profile nationally and within the business, which is another major achievement.
What have been the main challenges the theatre has faced since reopening and how did you overcome them? The main challenges are always dull, namely money. We have been really well supported by the city and the Arts Council, but reopening a building with a much bigger space to heat, light and staff and with a second performance space, while funding initially stood still and then subsequently fell has been the biggest challenge. I didn’t overcome them, we overcame them with a staff whose commitment, energy, imagination and spirit is as good as anywhere I have worked and this, with the huge support of the local audiences, has allowed us to prosper in these challenging economic times.
“It is vital that the theatre continues to tell local stories.”
Finally, I think it has been a major achievement to re-establish the community and outreach work of the theatre, recapturing the ambition that was won, with world wide recognition, by the theatre’s Theatre in Education team in the 70s. What have been your personal highlights? There have been so many; Trevor Nunn’s production of Scenes from a Marriage, the original production of One Night in November and the response of audiences to a show that bears witness to the history of the city have been highlights. Also, the visual ambition of Don Juan Comes Back from the War, Ian McKellan’s benefit night to celebrate the very place, date and time of his first professional appearance and most recently our production of The Father, which I thought was magnificent. One Night in November, 2008 Since reopening the Belgrade has been producing work specifically for the people of Coventry, such as We Love You City and One Night in November. Why do you think it is important to do this and is it something that you plan to continue doing? A theatre is in the end a local and public place, like a football ground, church or park – a place where people can gather and discuss their lives, so I think it is vital that the theatre continues to tell local stories. We are in the process of planning a new play from Alan Pollock, the third and final play in his 2
Coventry trilogy alongside One Night in November and Too Much Pressure and I have had early chats with BAFTA award-winning Coventry writer Geoff Thompson about commissioning a new play from him set in the city. We are also planning to bring back One Night in November for another run on the Main Stage, and then hopefully a tour.
What are your artistic plans and aspirations for the theatre for the next five years?
The aspiration remains the same, namely to honour the innovation, radicalism and internationalism that marked the original opening of the Belgrade in 1958 and ensuring that the theatre is one of the country’s great producing theatres. Plans are always suspect, I think, in the ultimately pragmatic art of running and making theatre, so I think in these times we should be making work that can uplift the spirits perhaps more than some of the work I have chosen, with a greater chance to attract a large popular audience, but without losing sight of the theatre’s original ethos.
Are there any particular plans relating to the theatre’s commercial activities, Belgrade Production Services and Events and Conferencing?
There are no particular plans but to continue to celebrate how these parts of the organisation have helped secure the financial base of the theatre as two new income streams for the building, while retaining the skilled staff we are so lucky to have at the theatre.
Meet the Team Lexy Rooney Development Officer – Individual Giving/Trusts & Foundations Having looked after the Friends of the Belgrade Theatre membership scheme since its launch in April 2009, I thought it was about time I formally introduce myself. What is your role at the Belgrade Theatre? I am a Development Officer in the Belgrade’s Development department which is basically the fundraising department of the Belgrade. As a registered charity the Belgrade is reliant upon donations from individuals, trusts and businesses. My role is split into two aspects; I oversee the management of the Individual Giving initiatives, such as the Friends of the Belgrade Theatre, the Name a Seat scheme and donations at box office. I also prepare and submit applications to Trusts and Foundations requesting funding for our work on stage and in the community.
nor is parting with your hard earned money, but the projects that the Belgrade do both on stage and in the community are worth it. Once people understand that the Belgrade is a charity they are usually keen to support the work.
How long have you worked here?
Have you ever experienced any real disasters?
I have been at the Belgrade for just over four years. I began shortly after the reopening as an intern, assisting the newly formed Development department.
Fortunately not! I hope it stays that way.
How did you get into your job? When I returned to Coventry after University, the Belgrade had just reopened so I sent my CV in hoping that they might be taking on new staff. My CV was picked up by the Development department; while the department was not hiring as it had only just been formed I was taken on as an intern. Following some successful funding applications, it was decided that the department needed to expand so the Development Officer role was created and fortunately I was offered the position. What are the most exciting and challenging parts of your job? It is really exciting when a project that I have received funding for takes to the stage. I also enjoy seeing the young people benefit from attending a youth theatre group that I have fundraised for. Seeing them develop and grow during the project is extremely rewarding. It is also great sitting in on rehearsals or visiting the set building workshop/wardrobe department with the Friends of the Belgrade. I enjoy seeing the “behind the scenes” activities just as much as they do. Without the Friends events I might not get to see them as the offices are quite far away from the stage. The most challenging part of my job is encouraging people to donate to the Belgrade. Asking for money is never an easy thing,
What are your favourite shows that you have seen at the Belgrade Theatre? My favourite home produced shows are always the pantomimes; the Belgrade does them so well and it’s not Christmas without seeing the Belgrade panto. Another favourite was We Love You City. I enjoy watching physical theatre and thought the way that they interlinked the action on the pitch to the stories in the streets was excellently executed. What shows are you most looking forward to seeing in the new season? I’m looking forward to Propeller returning this season with Twelfth Night, they create an amazing atmosphere with their productions. I am also pleased to see the return of late night comedy, B2 is the perfect venue for comedy such as Barnstormers. As mentioned before a highlight will be our panto, this year it’s the classic Sleeping Beauty. Pantomime season is always a great time at the Belgrade; well known faces reappear and the atmosphere is electric, plus it means that Christmas is on the way. Can you tell us something we might not expect about your job? That it even exists in a theatre. Most people aren’t aware that the Belgrade is a charity and therefore would not think that they would have a fundraiser on staff.
Special Offer for Friends If you recommend a friend or family member to join the Friends of the Belgrade Theatre, you receive your next membership half price. Recommend two people and you get a free membership.
* Offer only valid once recommended friends or family member joins the Friends of the Belgrade. The new member must mention your name at the time of joining.
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