We’re proud to share that Turn + Draw, our short film, created to complement our in-house production of Romeo and Juliet, has won the Royal Television Society (RTS) Midlands Diversity Champion Award – marking our very first award for digital work.
On Fri 12 Dec, Corey Campbell (Artistic Director / Film Director), Simone Herbert (Digital Producer) and Evgeny Sinelnikov (Cinematographer), attended the RTS Midlands Awards to celebrate this incredible achievement. The Diversity Champion Award recognises work that meaningfully celebrates and uplifts diversity across race, gender, disability, age, LGBTQ+ identities, religion and socio-economic background. Turn + Draw embodies all of this and more, reflecting the Belgrade’s commitment to being A Stage for All – on screen as well as on stage.
Photos by Vivienne Bailey Photography
Reimagining a classic
Our production of Romeo and Juliet was a bold and lyrical reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic, and the short film Turn + Draw transforms Act 3, Scene 1, where Tybalt kills Mercutio during a street fight, Romeo avenges his friend by killing Tybalt, and Romeo is banished, marking the play’s tragic turning point. Shakespeare’s original text segues into a gripping spoken-word battle, swords are replaced with poetry, Elizabethan drama with contemporary flow, and the result is a powerful meditation on conflict, pride and identity.
Featuring original lyrics by That’s a Rap and a live violin score, the film centres Black British talent on screen while empowering a richly diverse creative team behind the camera. It challenges assumptions about who gets to interpret the classics and offers a fresh, resonant response to one of Shakespeare’s most iconic scenes.
Impact beyond the screen
The impact of Turn + Draw extends far beyond what audiences see on screen. Co-creation, training and access were central to the project from the outset.
- The production engaged 12 participants from the Belgrade Digital Media Academy, who shadowed the professional crew across camera, sound, continuity, production and post-production.
- Young people from the Coventry Academy and That’s a Rap training programme were also involved, gaining vital hands-on experience.
- Students were welcomed on site during filming days, giving them first-hand exposure to a live professional set.
- Three Media Academy members have gone on to work in the in industry.
While there are other training schemes across the Midlands, the Belgrade Digital Media Academy is one of only a handful of programmes that offers direct, industry-facing experience, working alongside professional creatives in real-world settings. Turn + Draw brought together professionals, trainees and community participants, ensuring opportunity was shared, not siloed.
Celebrating regional voices
With its diverse cast and creative team, Turn + Draw uplifts underrepresented talent, celebrates regional voices, and demonstrates what’s possible when inclusion is embedded at every level of production. This award recognises not just a film, but a way of working – one that reflects the Belgrade’s values and vision for the future of British storytelling.
Part of the Belgrade’s commitment to increasing opportunity
The Digital Media Academy sits alongside a number of key community initiatives run by the Belgrade. These include the Belgrade HUBs which offer weekly drama workshops improving confidence and well-being for participants of all ages; the Artist Network, with over 200 members which offers a space for collaboration and support for local creatives currently pursuing or at the early stages of a career in the arts; Springboard, which supports local companies to grow and develop; and Next Steps, a theatre skills and career development programme for those with learning disabilities, run in partnership with Open Theatre.
Your support makes all this possible
The Belgrade can only deliver projects like Turn + Draw with your help. You can donate by visiting our Donations page. Your gift will go directly to support our community programmes creating new opportunities and building future career paths, improving educational outcomes, and enriching health and well-being.