While our stages are temporarily closed, we’re working on creative ideas to keep you inspired and entertained during the lockdown.
At Between Stages, you’ll find plenty of things to listen, watch, read and do online, from educational activities to games and storytelling.
Keep checking back for updates!
At the Belgrade Theatre, our team have been working hard to find ways of engaging with our audiences, participants and community groups during lockdown, even as we face the greatest crisis our industry has seen in a lifetime. With over 70% of our income having vanished overnight, we are relying on diminishing reserves and the generosity of donors and supporters to continue with this vital work. To help secure a future for our theatre and to support the work we are doing, please consider making a donation to us online.
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Jack and the Beanstalk Online
Tues 1 Dec 2020 to Sun 31 Jan 2021 Watch at homeWritten by and starring Coventry’s favourite Dame Iain Lauchlan, alongside the wonderful Craig Hollingsworth, this seasonal screening is full of festive fun and magical mayhem.
Exhibition: Creativity Unlocked
Tue 10 NovWith lockdown rules restricting indoor gatherings throughout the spring and summer, this year theatres have had to think outside the box to find ways of staying connected to their communities. Moving activity online is a solution for some people, but not everyone can easily access things like Zoom or social media, and as a result,…
Podcast: Lockdown Lessons
Wed 25 NovWith the UK back in national lockdown this month, we've been focusing our attentions on the lessons we learned during the spring and summer, and how we can better look after ourselves and each other now and in the future. Forming part of our Lockdown Lessons series, our latest podcast sees Belgrade Embedded Community Producer…
Lockdown Lessons from Belgrade Arts Gym
Tue 24 NovLike everyone else this year, Belgrade staff and participants have spent much of 2020 been adapting to the "new normal" of working together remotely, with much of our community work moving online. As part of a series of remote sessions organised via Zoom, we asked our over 50s Arts Gymnasium participants to tell us about…
Podcast: Spirit of the Age with Ayesha Jones
Wed 11 NovAs part of our ongoing Black Futures programme, we're hosting a virtual exhibition by photographer and Belgrade Audience Development Officer Ayesha Jones. Titled Motherland, the exhibition documents a three-year journey she took to Africa with her mother to rediscover her family's roots. In our latest podcast, she talks about that journey, and offers insights into African family structures and spiritual…
Black Futures Exhibition: Motherland
Fri 09 OctOver the course of three years, photographer Ayesha Jones travelled with her mother to Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana and Benin, setting out to deepen their understanding of their ancestors’ culture and history. During her time there, she captured their journey together through a mixture of analogue and digital photography, now brought together in an exhibition titled…
Listen Online: Unknown by Dougie Blaxland
Fri 09 OctBetween 2017 and 2019, more than 800 people died living and sleeping rough on the streets of the UK, a number of whom have never been named or identified. It's a shocking statistic, yet it can be easy to lose sight of individual human stories when we're simply presented with the numbers. Produced by Roughhouse…
Podcast: The Future is Bright
Tue 27 OctOctober is traditionally a time for reflecting on Black history, but how does history inform our understanding of the present, and how will current events shape the histories of the future? With the Belgrade Theatre and Maokwo teaming up to explore these questions in their pioneering Black Futures programme this month, 2021 Co-Artistic Director Corey Campbell takes some time…
Watch Online: My Beautiful Laundrette
Fri 28 AugAfter reimagining Hanif Kureishi's groundbreaking film on stage last year, we're thrilled to announce that our acclaimed co-production of My Beautiful Laundrette is now available watch online, thanks to an archive recording from our partners at Curve. Originally recorded for archive purposes, the film shows a dress rehearsal, which was opened up to audiences for just…
Interview – Gordon Warnecke returns to My Beautiful Laundrette
Mon 07 SepOver 30 years after starring in the Oscar-nominated My Beautiful Laundrette, actor Gordon Warnecke revisited Hanif Kureishi’s groundbreaking story in a new stage adaptation performed at the Belgrade last year. Famed as the film that launched Daniel Day Lewis’ career, My Beautiful Laundrette made waves in 1985 for its portrayal of a same-sex relationship between…
Listen Online: James Rowland’s Songs of Friendship
Wed 09 SepOriginally scheduled to kick off our Autumn 2020 Season last weekend, James Rowland's Songs of Friendship trilogy is sadly one of the many shows we've had to postpone due to ongoing restrictions on indoor performances. The good news, however, is that during lockdown, James has kept himself busy with creating audio versions of the shows,…
One Night in November: Coventry Blitz Memories
Sun 08 NovOn Remembrance Sunday, we remember all those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, including those killed in the Coventry Blitz, which marks its 80th anniversary this year. Ahead of the original production of One Night in November, survivors of that terrible night in 1940 generously shared their memories with us.…
Moonlight Sonata – One Night in November
Tue 10 NovPost-Blitz Coventry, July 1945 RAF War Film In his book, Air Raid, The Bombing of Coventry 1940, Norman Longmate explains why the city was unique in its industrial development: Thanks to [Coventry’s] long history and the refusal for many years of the corporation to authorise building on the common land surrounding the city, sizable factories,…
Interview: Alan Pollock on One Night in November
Michael Davies
Thu 05 Nov
Twelve years after making its debut at the Belgrade Theatre, Alan Pollock's breathtaking wartime drama One Night in November continues to resonate powerfully with Coventry audiences. Telling the story of one family's experiences of the Coventry Blitz, the play was revived three times after its 2008 premiere, with each production warmly received by audiences and…
#CityWarmUps
ongoingLocal artists and creative practitioners take you step-by-step through their warm-ups so you can join in at home.
Lockdown Storytime
ongoingCheck back at 2.30pm each Tuesday for new children's storytime videos
Saturday Shout Outs
ongoingA spotlight on some of the fantastic projects happening across Coventry and beyond
Telling Stories on (the Small) Screen
ongoingFind out how our young participants are exploring Zoom as a creative platform
Coronavirus Time Capsule
ongoingBelgrade Theatre and Grapevine explore life under lockdown for local teenagers
Guest Blog: Theatre Changes Lives
Emma Ormerod
Thu 30 Jul
As founder and artistic director of our Springboard company Underground Lights, Emma Ormerod uses theatre to change the lives of people with experience of homelessness and mental ill health in Coventry. Ever since it changed her own life as a young woman, the power of performing arts is something she has carried with her throughout…
Imagine My Reality – Reflecting on Refugee Week
Mon 10 AugSince lockdown began, it’s been a challenging few months for everyone, with the crisis affecting us all in different ways. But one of the more interesting outcomes of this extraordinary situation is that fighting our own battles has helped to make us more aware of the everyday struggles faced by other people. The stress, fear…
Are we all met? A Midsummer Podcast
Fri 10 JulWith lockdown stretching on and Black Lives Matter protests continuing to make headlines around the world, it's been a strange and unsettling sort of summer. This week, our Co-Artistic Directors Balisha Karra and Corey Campbell take on some of the big issues of the day in a new lockdown podcast, with support from some special…
The Radical Body Network – connecting chronically ill and disabled artists
Katie Walters
Fri 26 Jun
Today we're delighted to be supporting our Springboard company Radical Body with the launch of a new online platform designed to help chronically ill, disabled and/or housebound artists to connect, collaborate and share opportunities. The Radical Body Network is now live on Facebook, so if you feel you would benefit from being part of the…
Interview: Emma Rice on Romantics Anonymous
Mon 07 SepHeader image: Emma Rice - Copyright Guardian News Media Ltd 2018 Since launching her new theatre company with the self-titled Wise Children in 2018-19, visionary director Emma Rice has gone from strength to strength, heaping up critical acclaim and building a loyal fanbase hungry for her trademark theatrical wit and wonder. As a company, Wise…
Meet the SeaView Writers’ Room
Thu 16 JulFollowing an open call earlier this summer, we're delighted to introduce the six Midlands-based writers who will form the writers’ room for our upcoming digital TV series, SeaView. Selected from a pool of 106 hopeful applicants, the six successful writers are Daniel Anderson, Annabel Brightling, Sophia Griffin, Sam Kurd, Dave Payne, and Rory Rawson. Over…
Urban Village: Engaging with Coventry’s Roma Community
Tue 07 JulFollowing the success of our online Generations exhibition, we’re delighted to be working with our partners at the Roma Project and Coventry University once again to present a special event this Friday. Hosted via Zoom from 10-11.30am on Friday 10 July, Urban Village: Engaging with Coventry’s Roma Community will explore ways of welcoming and giving…
Black Lives Matter and being an ally: A message from our Co-Artistic Director
Corey Campbell
Thu 04 Jun
Over the last few days, theatres and arts organisations across the country have begun to use their platforms to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. I applaud the sentiment and the apparent desire for change, but as someone who has been actively working towards better representation and understanding both in the arts…
Open Theatre Opens Up
ongoingOpen Theatre open up about the activities and techniques they use in their creative workshops for young people
SeaView: Watch the first teaser trailer
Tue 21 AprToday we’re excited to unveil the first teaser trailer for SeaView, a brand new, urban sci-fi web series premiering in 2021 that we’re supporting as part of a consortium of Midlands-based producers and artists. Inspired by a true story, SeaView tells the story of Steven, a young man destined for great things who is trapped…
Podcast: Making the Icons with director Joe Harmston
Fri 29 MayWith lots of us faced with time to fill at home, lockdown can be a great opportunity for learning - something that our Associate Director Joe Harmston is tapping into with his new podcast series. As a writer and director, Joe has been making shows around the world since the early 1990s, and his SoundCloud…
Coventry Welcomes 2020
ongoingCoventry Welcomes returns with its first ever digital festival from 15-20 June
Richard Sadler – Looking back on 35 years
Thu 28 MaySince learning of the sad loss of Richard Sadler, we’ve been reflecting on the incredible body of work he undertook with us as photographer for the Belgrade Theatre from 1958-1994. Richard joined the Belgrade as a photographer the same year the theatre opened in 1958, built as part of the large-scale redevelopment of the city…
Podcast: Locked In with the 2021 Co-Artistic Directors
Thu 16 AprIt's a strange time to be working in theatre - an industry that depends so much on the collective live experience. But while adjusting to the current situation presents huge challenges for us, it's also an exciting opportunity. This week, we're launching a brand new lockdown podcast series, and in the first episode, we introduce…
Guest Blog: Living the Dream with Belgrade Arts Gym
Gill Yardley
Thu 30 Apr
It seemed to jump out at me, the poster in the foyer of the Belgrade Theatre. As if neon lit, it was inviting. Arts Gym taster Free for over 55s Well, that included me, and I soon discovered that 70 was the new 40, as a very exciting and fulfilling part of my life began.…
Geoff Thompson: A Good Time To Forgive
Fri 24 Apr"This might seem like a bad time for the world body, but it is a good time for the human soul. This is a very good time to lighten its load and forgive." This Friday, we're wrapping up the week with some words of wisdom from Coventry playwright Geoff Thompson - writer of Fragile and…
Watch Online: Panto stars appear on Cheeky Chimps TV
Thu 30 AprWith our full Autumn 2020 Season now on sale, lots of you will already be looking forward to the return of Iain Lauchlan and Craig Hollingsworth in this year's Christmas panto Beauty and the Beast. But if you can't wait that long for your next fix of their comedy antics, there's another way that you…
Shut Down But Scratching: accessible performances
Mon 20 AprFollowing the success of their first online scratch night on Wednesday 15 April, Shoot Festival are now offering access-friendly versions of the performances by local artists that were streamed live on the night. Those with access requirements can now enjoy the event in audio described or captioned and BSL-interpreted videos, which have been added to…
Generations: Roma Project exhibition online preview
Tue 07 AprFollowing the announcement of our partnership with the Roma Project and Coventry University’s Centre for Dance Research earlier this year, we’re delighted to share an online preview of an exhibition originally scheduled to take place at the theatre this month. Titled Generations, the exhibition shines a spotlight on Coventry’s Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) community, and launches online to coincide with International Romani…
Shut Down but Scratching – online scratch night
Thu 09 AprAs we find ourselves in deeply challenging times, now more than ever emerging artists need support. While the doors to the creative industry remain temporarily closed, opportunities for artists to make and perform new work have largely dried up. In recent weeks, there has been much publicity around the impact of the ongoing pandemic on…
Curtain Up at the Belgrade Theatre
Gill Yardley
Fri 03 Apr
Here at the Belgrade Theatre, it’s not uncommon for us to delve into our archives and to unearth interesting stories from our history, but recently, we were thrilled to be get an alternative view on our past from one of our Arts Gym participants, Gill Yardley. With Friday 27 March having marked our 62nd birthday, it’s been great…
Watch Online: Marty McDonald’s Farm
Fri 17 AprKeeping the kids entertained during lockdown can be tough, but luckily our friends at Honalee Media are here to help! If you've enjoyed their Easter Bunny and Marty MacDonald's Farm shows at the Belgrade in the past, you can now relive the magic via YouTube! Presented by Martin Parsons and featuring the voice of TV's…
Belgrade Birthday – A Virtual Celebration
Fri 03 AprWith the theatre currently closed and the country on lockdown due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, we decided to spread some virtual joy by throwing our biggest birthday party yet, uniting all of our friends, audiences and supporters to join us for an online celebration on Friday 27 March. Huge thanks to everyone who joined…