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The Eighties and Nineties
The Eighties
During the eighties under Robert Hamlin's leadership, the policy of a popular, accessible theatre brought audiences to the Belgrade in bigger numbers than ever before, but the theatre still remained committed to new writing.Ron Hutchinson Risky City, Keith Miles' adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover (also a national tour), Rob Bettinson's adaptation of The Fifteen Streets and Julian Garner's Guardian Angels all won great critical acclaim.
The Beaux Stratagem, co-produced with the National Theatre, went on a national tour before reaching the repertoire on the South Bank.
The late eighties saw the launch of the cult classic Return to the Forbidden Planet - winner of an Olivier Award for best musical in 1990, which was followed by a three-year stint in the West End - from the Belgrade.
The Nineties
The nineties began with a year of record breaking attendances, making the Belgrade the fourth most-attended theatre amongst all the Arts Council funded venues.In The Midnight Hour played to record breaking audiences and then toured nationally, whilst the studio re-opened with a succession of acclaimed plays, a number of which also performed in London and at the Edinburgh Festival.
The first Coventry Community Play In Search of Cofa's Tree launched a whole new approach to work with local people that makes the Belgrade a national leader in the field.
The Belgrade continued its commitment to new writing, joining Stagecoach a West Midlands initiative to develop new plays and producing a number of premieres including Bill Gallagher's Peggy Buck and a new adaptation of Dicken's Martin Chuzzlewit by Sally Hedges.
Notable productions in the mid 1990s include A Pair of Blue Eyes, a world premiere of a musical adaptation of Raymond Briggs' Fungus the Bogeyman directed by Ken Campbell, Whole Lotta Shakin' a new musical about Jerry Lee Lewis, a co-production of Calamity Jane and Wakey Wakey - in bed with Billy Cotton, a new show by Richard Cameron about the life of the bandleader.
In January 1996 Bob Eaton joined the Belgrade as Theatre Director and developed the 'made in Coventry' brand. His Good Golly Miss Molly and a new adaptation of Silas Marner were staged in the spring of 1997.
Spring 1998 saw the 40th anniversary of the building of the Belgrade, and the birthday year was celebrated in style, with productions including Bob Eaton and Sayan Kent's adaptation of JB Priestley's The Good Companions.
The Belgrade's current Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Hamish Glen, took over at The Belgrade in March 2003.
is back by popular demand!
This remarkable and compelling wartime play is back in a new Main Stage version from Sat 30 Oct – Sat 13 Nov! Book your seats now!
14 Jan 2011
From the New Art Club, Britain’s funniest dancers deconstruct music from 1983 and shed their own twisted light on then, the future and now
for under 26s
The Belgrade Theatre has joined up with Warwick Arts Centre and around 200 other theatres in the country to offer you a choice of truly great nights out at the theatre, and if you're under 26, it's absolutely free!
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