Issue Eight Spring/Summer 2011
Goodnight Mister Tom Set during the dark and dangerous build-up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows the sad William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and builds a remarkable and moving friendship with the elderly recluse Tom Oakley. All seems perfect until William is devastatingly summoned by his mother back to London. A tale of two broken souls at very different ends of the age scale, Goodnight Mister Tom celebrates the value of love and proves that friendship knows no barriers. Goodnight Mister Tom was written by Michelle Magorian and first published in the UK in 1981. It is an enduring classic for both children and adults alike and has sold in excess of 1.2 million copies in the
UK alone. As well as being a world-wide favourite, the BAFTA award-winning TV film of the book starring John Thaw attracted 14 million viewers making it one of the best loved stories of its generation. The book has won many awards including The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in 1981, was commended
for the Carnegie Medal and in 2005 was voted amongst the top 100 books in the BBC’s Big Read. This brand new adaptation for the stage comes courtesy of David Wood, the UK’s “National Children’s Dramatist” (The Times). Oliver Ford Davies plays the title role of Tom Oakley.
Exclusive Friends of the Belgrade Theatre Events 1) Stages through the Ages Workshop* Date: Tuesday 10th May Time: 4.30pm – 6.30pm Meeting Place: Box Office Take part in our educational workshop exploring the history of theatre in Coventry including The Mysteries, the Godiva Procession, Theatre in Education, Carnival, and the Belgrade Theatre and its current vision. You are welcome to bring a guest along to this event – it might be of interest to young people who are passionate about theatre. *This workshop lasts 2 hours
2) Workshop Visit Date: Friday 3rd June Time: 10.15am Meeting Place: Box Office Visit our set making and wardrobe workshops for an exclusive look at the work that goes on behind the scenes. The Belgrade Theatre will be putting on a minibus from the theatre to our workshops for all attendees.
3) Backstage Tour Date: Monday 13th June Time: 10.30am 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.
To book a place for any of these events please contact Box Office on 024 7655 3055 or email friends@belgrade.co.uk
Friends of the Belgrade Theatre benefit from receiving 20% off individual tickets. See back page for season diary.
The Acting Out project is a work related learning programme working with young people aged 14 to 16 years old who have been referred to us by their school. The programme delivers a BTEC Level 2 Performing Arts qualification over two years.
baitbook and it will be playing in the in the B2 auditorium on 28 and 30 April.
The participants meet one day a week and work towards devising and staging a show at the end of the course. This year the show is called
Allow us to introduce you to some of the participants currently taking part in the Acting Out programme!
b aitbook
This brand new play explores the hidden lives of young people trapped inside a virtual online world. This is a place where strangers can become friends and where friendships are tested to the limits.
Shaun Keane Age: 16
Age: 16
What role do you play in baitbook? I play a geek who is obsessed with the more popular people at school.
What role do you play in baitbook? I play a popular boy called Micky. He is a little geeky rich kid with his eye on one of the other geeks.
What do you enjoy most about attending the Acting Out programme? I enjoy being able to take a day out of school to do something that I enjoy and that helps me to grow as a person.
What do you enjoy most about attending the Acting Out programme? The best thing about Acting Out is that I get to see my friends. I also enjoy acting and working as part of a team.
In what ways has Acting Out helped you either personally or within your education? The programme has helped me to get more GCSE’s than I would have if I just stayed at school. I really enjoy the Acting Out programme so I work harder whereas school is quite boring!
In what ways has Acting Out helped you either personally or within your education? The Acting Out programme has helped me to be more confident and less shy.
What are your plans for further education/work after finishing the Acting Out programme and school? Hopefully I will be going to do performing arts. If not then I’m not sure what I will do!
Katie Howes
Jade Alsop
Age: 15
Age: 16
What role do you play in baitbook? I play the cool head girl who everybody in the school admires and aspires to be like.
What role do you play in baitbook? I play one of the cool girls called Nevaeh and I never follow the crowd. My character is best friends with another popular girl and they fall out.
Connor Lomas
What do you enjoy most about attending the Acting Out programme? I enjoy the fact that everybody works together. The practical work is my favourite part.
Meet the Team Alice Nicholas Drama Worker (Acting Out) What is your role at the Belgrade Theatre? I am the Drama Worker for the Community & Education Company’s Acting Out project which is a work related learning programme working with young people aged 14 to 16yrs old who have been referred on to us by their school. The programme delivers a BTEC Level 2 Performing Arts qualification over two years. Within my role at the theatre I also run one of the youth theatre groups that we deliver. Our youth theatre programme works with young people aged 8 to 25 years old and is run at the theatre itself but also in several outreach venues across the city.
about developing their arts based skills but developing their personal and social skills which can at times be very demanding. Lots of deadlines and a busy schedule also create their own pressures and challenges but these are welcomed as I personally enjoy having a busy, ever changing and slightly pressured working schedule.
Have you ever experienced any real disasters?
How long have you worked here?
No, I can’t say that I have.
I have been in post for six months.
What are your favourite shows that you have seen at the Belgrade Theatre?
How did you get into your job? I studied Applied Theatre and Education for my degree and on graduation started working in a variety of different contexts delivering drama workshops/projects with community groups and young people. I then began teaching performing arts and community theatre in a higher education college. However, I was looking for a more specific role within a theatre arts organisation and when this job came up at the Belgrade it was really suited to my skills and experience.
What are the most exciting and challenging parts of your job? I get to work with young people who are ‘disadvantaged’ and often ‘under achieving’ in other aspects of their life or schooling. I get to watch them grow and achieve through the projects that I do with them which is probably the most rewarding element of my job. I also get to work with other very creative and inspiring practitioners and artists whom I learn a lot from and whom hopefully also learn a lot from me. The most challenging things about the job I do are dealing with the physical and emotional demands that the role requires. Due to the nature of the young people that I work with it’s not only
My favourite shows so far are We Love You City and all the moves. We Love You City was about Coventry FC’s victory in the 1987 FA Cup Final and it created a real sense of atmosphere and was enjoyed and appreciated by a very diverse audience. all the moves was the first Community & Education Young Company show and again examined the lives of people living in Coventry (this time young people). It was a powerful piece which challenged members of the C&E youth theatre into becoming professional actors; a challenge which they rose to with great success.
What shows are you most looking forward to seeing in the new season? I am most looking forward to watching The Usual Auntijies, Goodnight Mr Tom and of course the Acting Out year 11 show baitbook. They all look like great shows!
Can you tell us something we might not expect about your job? I am fortunate enough to be able to get involved in as many aspects of the creative process as possible for example; facilitating, marking, planning, writing, directing and acting.
Friends Only Competition! From Sat 2 to Sat 23 April the Belgrade will be staging a brand-new version of Anton Chekhov’s comic masterpiece, Uncle Vanya.
What do you enjoy most about attending the Acting Out programme? I enjoy being able to put ideas into actual scenes, devising our ideas and working with people within the theatre.
In what ways has Acting Out helped you either personally or within your education? I have become a much more confident person since attending Acting Out. The programme has also helped me to get into college because it made me feel confident enough to apply and do my audition and talk to the tutors.
Seamlessly combining tragedy, regret, romance and comedy, the classic story of Uncle Vanya exposes the trail of destruction left when a renowned professor and his beautiful young wife return to their remote country estate and turn the humdrum lives of everyone around them upside down for ever.
In what ways has Acting Out helped you either personally or within your education? I have become much more confident within myself and I have learned how to further my skills in acting. The programme has also helped me to decide what I want to do in the future.
For your chance to win a pair of tickets and a meal for two in our Signatures Restaurant just answer the following question:
What are your plans for further education/work after finishing the Acting Out programme and school? I hope to eventually attend university after college and continue working in the performing arts.
What are your plans for further education/work after finishing the Acting Out programme and school? I have recently been accepted into City College Coventry on an acting course and I hope to attend a performing arts school after that.
The Belgrade Theatre Coventry in co-production with Arcola Theatre present
By Anton Chekhov. In a new version by Helena Kaut-Howson
and Jon Strickland
at the Belgrade C a f é B a r & Re s t au ra nt
Who wrote Uncle Vanya? Send your answer to friends@belgrade.co.uk by Friday 15 April to be in with a chance of winning!
The Image of Anton Chekhov has been used with kind permission of the Society for the Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies ©.
Behind the scenes of the Acting Out project
3
Spring/Summer Diary 2011 As part of your Friends of the Belgrade Membership, you are entitled to 20% off the following shows. Shows
Dates
Overview
Uncle Vanya
Sat 2 – Sat 23 April
This brand new production by the Belgrade Theatre and Arcola Theatre offers a fresh approach to Chekhov’s masterpiece – a tragicomic poignant story of disillusionment and misplaced love.
Goodnight Mister Tom
Tues 12 – Sat 16 April
This production marks the 30th Anniversary of the heart warming and inspiring Goodnight Mister Tom.
Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band
Mon 18 April
Don’t miss this opportunity to see a true British Jazz legend.
Boot-Led Zeppelin
Tues 19 April
Boot-Led Zeppelin offers the definitive tribute to one of the world’s most legendary rock bands.
High School Rocks
Weds 20 April
A high energy, foot stomping interactive performance featuring the hits from High School Musical 1, 2 & 3, Hannah Montana, Camp Rock and Glee!
Super Trouper
Thurs 21 April
Revive special memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. Dig out those platforms, dust down those flares and thank ABBA for the music.
The Official Jake & Elwood Blues
Sat 23 April
With the driving beat of the fabulous Black Rhino Band, Jake and Elwood continue to deliver electrifying live performances.
Fame – The Musical
Thurs 5 – Sat 7 May
YOG is proud to present this stage musical based on the 1980 musical film FAME.
Shaolin Warriors – Legendary Masters of Kung-Fu
Mon 9 May
This breathtaking theatrical show vividly depicts the rarely seen Kung Fu master’s feat of agility, strength and skill.
Dolce Via
Thurs 5 – Sat 7 May
Inspired by Fellini’s film La Strada, this is a story of love and loss, set in the world of music hall and variety.
Scottish Dance Theatre – Letters From America
Fri 13 & Sat 14 May
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Scotland’s national contemporary dance company returns to the Belgrade with two brand new shows.
Essence of Ireland
Tues 10 & Weds 11 May
The critically acclaimed Essence of Ireland is a breathtaking show and it’s taking theatres by storm.
The Searchers
Tues 31 May
This entertaining concert includes all of their famous hits, plus many of their original album recordings, B-sides and a selection of well known favourites.
Shaun’s Big Show
Thurs 2 – Sat 4 June
A magical, fully choreographed music and dance extravaganza featuring all your favorite characters from the hit BBC show, Shaun the Sheep.
The Jungle Book
Tues 14 – Sat 18 June
The Birmingham Stage Company is proud to present Rudyard Kipling’s classic story about Mowgli, a young boy who is raised in the jungle by a family of wolves.
The Physical Fellowship
Mon 20 – Weds 22 June
Highly Sprung Performance Co. invites you to join The Physical Fellowship and discover the thrills of physical theatre.
Sahara Project – Sahara Arts Mela 2011
Fri 24 June
An evening of entertainment packed with Bollywood and traditional folk songs, bhangra and raas garba dancing, colourful costumes and short plays.
The World’s Greatest Michael Jackson Experience
Mon 27 June – Sat 2 July
A fitting and explosive tribute to the undisputed ‘King of Pop’ starring Nick Hayne with his live band and incredible dancers.
Signatures at the Belgrade at the Belgrade Café Ba r & Re s t au r a n t
Whether you’re seeing a show or just dropping by, whether you’re arriving early or staying late, the new Signatures at the Belgrade Café Bar and Restaurant can offer the perfect atmosphere in which
to relax and enjoy a high-quality range of food and drink. For more information call Signatures at the Belgrade on 024 7684 6762 or go online at www.belgrade.co.uk
BOOK NOW 024 7655 3055 or in person at the Box Office
The Belgrade Theatre is a registered charity, no. 219163
* Discount is valid on 1 ticket if you have a Single Membership and 2 tickets if you have a Joint Membership.