While our building is temporarily closed, we’re working on creative ideas to keep you inspired and entertained during the lockdown.
You might not be able to visit our two stages for the time being, but at Between Stages, you’ll find plenty of things to listen, watch, read and do, from educational activities to games and storytelling.
Keep checking back for updates!
Filter by
Urgent Action: Please ask your MP to sign our open letter to the government
Fri 05 JunThe last few months have been an extremely difficult time for everyone working in the theatre industry, and we want to thank all of our audiences, followers, Members and supporters for continuing to stand by us throughout this period. We've done our best to reassess our offering, working out what we can give to our…
Black Lives Matter and being an ally: A message from our Co-Artistic Director
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…
Watch Online: Reasons to be Cheerful
Wed 20 MayThis week, we're delighted to share the news that our friends at Graeae will be releasing their hit musical Reasons to be Cheerful online, produced in association with the Belgrade Theatre in 2017. Streaming via YouTube from Wednesday 3 June, Reasons to be Cheerful will be available to watch online until Monday 3 August. The…
Watch Online: Made in India
Thu 28 MayFollowing our YouTube streaming of Under the Umbrella this week, we're excited to be teaming up again with our friends at Tamasha to share our 2017 production Made in India online. Co-produced by the Belgrade Theatre and Tamasha in association with Pilot Theatre, Satinder Chohan's Made in India premiered in Coventry from 24 January-4 February…
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…
Coronavirus Time Capsule
Belgrade Theatre and Grapevine explore life under lockdown for local teenagers
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…
Monday Makes – Make your own desk tidy
Mon 01 JunIn this week's craft tutorial, we're showing you how to declutter your workspace by making your own desk tidy to get your stationery in order. We'd love to see your efforts, so if you try this out at home, please do share your photos with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using #MondayMakes. Look out…
#CityWarmUps – The Fabularium
Mon 01 JunGet ready to start your week with another City Warm-Up! This week, Joshua Patel from The Fabularium will be getting you energised and focused ready to face the week ahead. Watch the YouTube video below and follow along at home. If you're joining in, don't forget to share your photos and videos with us on…
Saturday Shout Out: China Plate Reclaimed Festival
Sat 30 MayThe temporary closure of arts venues across the country has had a massive impact on the ability of independent artists to create and share their work, particularly those at the beginning of their careers. That's why our second Saturday Shout Out today goes to Reclaimed Fest - a brand new digital arts festival developed by…
Saturday Shout Out: Join BBC CWR’s Lockdown Anthem
Sat 30 MayIt's not always east to stay positive in these difficult times, but our friends at BBC CWR have just launched a new project to help unite the people of Coventry and Warwickshire in a celebration of the people, communities and organisations who are making a difference. The radio station is calling on you to be…
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…
An Open Letter to the Culture Secretary from BAME Artistic Directors
Thu 28 MayIn light of revelations about the racial disparity in the ongoing health crisis, our three 2021 Co-Artistic Directors have joined a group of artistic leaders in calling on the government and the sector to ensure that ethnic diversity is protected and celebrated, and does not fall by the wayside in the face of the challenges the…
WEDUCATION – Adapting a novel for the stage
Wed 27 MayEver read a book and thought that it would make a great film or play? Over the years, novels have been an important source of stories for the stage and screen. Many of our own productions at the Belgrade have been based on or inspired by books, from Noughts and Crosses to Frankenstein. In this…
WEDUCATION: Drafting a script with Amy Ng
Wed 27 MayFor this week's Weducation posts, we're taking a look at the subject of writing plays, and in particular, how an existing idea or story is developed into a script. With Under the Umbrella streaming via our YouTube channel until Friday 29 May, our first post is a look back at our 2019 podcast with playwright…
Storytime: The Clever Wife
Tue 26 MayThis week's story is set a long time ago in China, and is all about a man named Fu-Hsing and his very clever wife. Look out for more stories at 2.30pm every Tuesday! https://youtu.be/qLkxcpGipTE
#CityWarmUps – Empowr-U
Mon 25 MayIt might be a Bank Holiday Monday, but we're still here at 8.30am sharp with a new City Warm-Up to help get you energised and ready for the week ahead. This week, Joe Graham from youth empowerment organisation Empowr-U has a fun warm-up game to share that you can try at home with the kids.…
Saturday Shout Out: Ascension Dance goes digital
Sat 23 MayAs part of our wide-ranging talent development work, Coventry-based Ascension Dance are one of our long-term partner companies at the Belgrade. Run by Ashley Jordan (AJ) and Ben Morley, Ascension Dance had been steadily expanding its youth dance offering in the lead-up to the lockdown, with participant numbers continually growing, and its newest group, Rise,…
Open Theatre opens up about… Improvisation with Newspapers
Fri 22 MayWhile the lockdown continues, we’re thrilled that our friends at Open Theatre Company have been finding creative ways to continue with their work. Every week, they’ll be creating new “Open Theatre Opens Up” videos offering an insight into the way they work, and as one of our long-term partners, we wanted to help spread the word by…
Saturday Shout Out: Ira Aldridge – Curiosity and Creative Language
Sat 23 MayIf you’ve followed the Belgrade’s work closely over the last few years, you may already be familiar with the story of Ira Aldridge, an African-American actor who travelled to England in the 1820s, and made his name at a time when slavery was still widespread throughout the British Empire. In 1828, Aldridge came to Coventry,…
Belgrade Theatre Youth are Curious about Mental Health
With this week marking Mental Health Awareness Week, Theatre Practitioner Kim Hackleman explains how our Click Spring team have been working with young participants during the lockdown. As well as promoting wellbeing by keeping young people connected and creative, their project Telling Stories on (the Small) Screen has this week invited them to explore and…
WEDUCATION: Creating a show from scratch
Wed 20 MayEver wondered how an idea for a show is developed into a fully-formed theatre production? To offer an insight into the process, last year, we created a series of podcasts about the making of our show Under the Umbrella. The series took listeners on a journey through the show's creation: from researching and writing the story,…
Culture in Quarantine: Wise Children comes to BBC iPlayer
Fri 10 AprFollowing its UK tour in Spring 2019, we're delighted to announce that our critically acclaimed co-production Wise Children is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer as part of BBC Arts' Culture in Quarantine programme. Co-produced by Wise Children, Belgrade Theatre Coventry, The Old Vic, Oxford Playhouse and York Theatre Royal, Wise Children sees director Emma…
Storytime: The Lion’s Whisker
Tue 19 MayToday's story, The Lion's Whisker, is a traditional tale from Ethiopia, all about a not-so-wicked step-mother who goes to extraordinary lengths to win her step-son's love. Look out for more stories at 2.30pm every Tuesday! https://youtu.be/rnSwm7UIFMo
Monday Makes: Make your own milk bottle piggy bank
Mon 18 MayThis week's Monday Make is a simple way to get the family saving up ready for big treats once the lockdown is over, and all you need is an empty milk bottle and things to decorate it with. You'll need a grown-up to cut-out the slot at the top, but kids can get stuck into…
#CityWarmUps – Start your week with Highly Sprung
Mon 18 MayWith this week marking the Mental Health Foundation's Mental Health Awareness Week, we've been focusing on some of the ways that we can help to promote wellbeing and keep Coventry active during lockdown. Launched last week, our new #CityWarmUps project will see local artists and creative practitioners taking you step-by-step through the warm-ups they use…
WEDUCATION: Sally Cookson on How to Make a Monster
Wed 13 MayTo celebrate the news that Sally Cookson's A Monster Calls will be streamed online by The Old Vic in June, we've been taking a look back at some of the videos we shared ahead of the show's run in Coventry earlier this year. One of the biggest challenges in bringing the story to the stage…
WEDUCATION: Creating a soundscape
Wed 13 MayTo celebrate the news that Sally Cookson’s A Monster Calls will be streamed online by The Old Vic in June, we’ve been taking a look back at some of the resources we used alongside the show's run in Coventry earlier this year. In today's Weducation activity, you'll find out what a soundscape is, and have a…
Storytime: The Bear Who Went to War
Tue 12 MayToday's Storytime video features local playwright Alan Pollock (One Night in November) reading his own debut children's book, The Bear Who Went To War. Illustrated by Bryony Thomson and published by Old Barn Books, it tells the amazing true story of Wojtek, a brown bear who was recruited into the Polish army during the Second…
Monday Makes: Make your own improv game
Mon 11 MayFor this week's Monday Make, we're showing you how to create a game that you can use as a fun warm-up or kids' activity again and again. The game is made up of a paper dice and card spinner, which you can use to match up different characters and actions to perform. Download and print…
#CityWarmUps – Start your week with warm-ups from Coventry artists
Mon 11 MayThis week, we're delighted to introduce #CityWarmUps, a brand new lockdown project designed to get you feeling energised and focused, ready to start your week. Every Monday at 8.30am, we'll be sharing a new video from an artist or creative practitioner based in Coventry or Warwickshire, with contributors ranging from actors and directors to singers…
Saturday Shout Out – Open Theatre opens up
Sat 09 MayWhen the difficult decision to temporarily close our doors was made in March, one of the first shows we were forced to cancel was The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel - a quirky retelling of the fairy tale by Open Theatre Company. Based in Coventry, Open Theatre are one of our long-term partners, having…
Guest Blog: Living the Dream with Belgrade Arts Gym
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.…
WEDUCATION: Design your own Dame costume
Wed 06 MayMention the word “pantomime” and one of the first things that springs to mind for most people is the image of a Dame – the comedy female character played by a man which is a staple feature of every British panto. Often a mother, step-mother or even step-sister to one of the other key characters,…
WEDUCATION: What is a pantomime?
Wed 06 MayHere at the Belgrade, our annual Christmas pantomimes are always a huge hit with families from across Coventry and Warwickshire, bringing together audiences of all ages. For many people, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to the panto - but if you've never been to one before, you might not be sure what to…
Storytime: The Bear
Tue 05 MayThis week's Storytime video might resonate with a few people during lockdown, since it's all about a princess who is shut up indoors and can't wait to escape and go adventuring! It features a magic wheelbarrow, two massive parties, beautiful dresses and delicious cakes. A few things might seem familiar from fairy tales like Rapunzel,…
Monday Makes: Make your own paper hyacinths
Mon 04 MayFor this week's Monday Make, we're showing you how to brighten up a shelf or create a handmade gift with a DIY hyacinth bouquet tutorial. We'd love to see how you get on, so please do share your pictures with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and keep an eye out for more lockdown craft…
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…
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…
WEDUCATION: Design your own theatre poster
Wed 29 AprThe first time you’re made aware of a new theatre production is often when you see the artwork for the show online or on a poster, but have you ever thought about how these are made? Creating artwork for new shows is a really important job that the Belgrade’s Communications team work on in partnership…
WEDUCATION: What is a scenic artist?
Wed 29 AprEvery Wednesday during the lockdown, we’ll be sharing some of our fantastic educational resources with you, including videos about careers in theatre, and activities for you to try at home. In this week’s Careers Behind the Curtain video, Tim Murley explains the role of a scenic artist, and how he ended up working as the…
Storytime: The Particular Way of the Odd Ms McKay
Tue 28 AprThis week’s story is The Particular Way of the Odd Ms McKay, another rhyming story by Daniel Errico, all about a character with some very unusual habits! If you’d like to read along or see the pictures, you can find the full text here. Look out for more stories every Tuesday!
Monday Make: Patchwork Desk Tidy
Mon 27 AprTrying to get your workspace organised now you're spending more time at home? In this week's Monday Make tutorial, Craft On - Needlecraft for Wellbeing group leader Niki Lee shows you how to transform an old tin can into a pretty patchwork-effect pot. Perfect for holding pens or brushes, it's a great way to brighten…
Scrubbing Up: Belgrade Wardrobe staff support the NHS
Fri 24 AprWardrobe staff from our Belgrade Production Services workshop have been doing their bit to help the NHS while the country remains in lockdown. Margaret and Mandy, who lead the talented team responsible for creating costumes for all of our home-produced shows – as well as a range of other high profile productions across the UK…
Saturday Shout Out: The Barn Kitchen helps feed NHS staff
Sat 25 AprThis week’s Saturday Shout Out goes to The Barn Kitchen in Binley, which has been helping out NHS staff by preparing and delivering meals to hospital staff in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick. Known for its themed afternoon teas and home-cooked meals, the popular restaurant has now been forced to cease normal trading due to the…
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…
WEDUCATION: Starting a podcast
Wed 22 AprIn recent times, podcasting is something that has really taken off online, and one of the reasons for this is that it’s relatively easy to get started at home. While podcasting isn’t necessarily directly linked to theatre, a few people have expressed an interest in our recent podcast with our Co-Artistic Directors, and wanted to…
WEDUCATION: Life as a professional actor
Wed 22 AprEvery Wednesday during the lockdown, we’ll be sharing some of our fantastic educational resources with you, including videos about careers in theatre, and activities for you to try at home. In this week’s Careers Behind the Curtain video, Shereena Glean talks about her day-to-day experience of working as a professional actor, and how she started…
Watch online: The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel
Mon 20 AprFollowing the cancellation of live performances at the Belgrade Theatre in March, we’re delighted to announce that our friends at Open Theatre Company will be streaming The Twisted Tale of Hansel and Gretel online for free from 2.30pm on Saturday 25 April. After touring the Midlands in 2018 following its sell-out premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome,…
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…
Storytime: Angry Little Bhim
Tue 21 AprSunshine-coloured mangoes, magical rice pudding and legs as long as spaghetti... we hope you've had your lunch already, because otherwise today's Storytime video might make your tummy rumble! This week, we're delighted to welcome back guest storyteller Santoshi Mann with another story from her children's collection, My Little Ancient Indian Village. An alumnus of our…
Opportunity: Call out for visual artists and musicians
Mon 20 AprCalling all musical and visual artists based in Coventry and Warwickshire! In response to the challenges faced by artists and performers due to the coronavirus lockdown, Coventry City of Culture Trust has announced a call-out for 15 musical acts and 15 visual artists to work on a completely original visual album. Developed in partnership with…
Monday Makes: Make your own bird feeder
Mon 20 AprYearning for nature during the lockdown? Luckily, you don't always have to travel to enjoy wildlife! This week's Monday Make shows you how to make a simple bird feeder to hang up outside your house using an old milk or juice carton. Just add bird seed and you're ready to go! We'd love to see…
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…
Watch online – The Croft and The Habit of Art
Mon 30 MarFollowing the cancellation of live performances, The Original Theatre Company will stream their productions of The Croft and The Habit of of Art online.
SATURDAY SHOUT-OUT: Sitting Rooms of Culture
Sat 18 AprThis week's Saturday Shout-Out goes to Sitting Rooms of Culture - a collaborative platform enabling artists throughout Coventry and Warwickshire to share their creative projects in our newest cultural venue - their very own sitting rooms. Set up by artist-poet Mary Courtney with poet and writer Kirsty Brewerton and artist and maker Heather Davison, the…
WEDUCATION: Creating a set model box
Wed 15 AprFrom drama to musicals and from ballet to opera – every theatrical production needs a set, but there are more stages that go into creating one than you might expect! This week’s activity asks you to imagine that you have been tasked with designing a set for a show. You’ll find out what a model…
WEDUCATION: What is an Automation Engineer?
Wed 15 AprIn this week's Careers Behind the Curtain video, RSC Senior Automation Engineer Gill Leefe explains her role in making all sorts of amazing things happen on stage, from doors suddenly opening to reveal a hidden part of the stage, to actors or objects being flown in. "Our aim is basically not to be seen and…
Storytime: And That Was The Oddest Of Things
Tue 14 AprThis week's Storytime video sees our Embedded Community Producer Krysztina read Daniel Errico's And That Was The Oddest Of Things - a funny, rhyming story about animals invading a house! If you'd like to read along, you can find the full text here. What's the oddest thing that's happened in your home during the lockdown?…
Watch Online: Oddsocks’ Much Ado About Nothing
Tue 14 AprWhile their spring tour of The Comedy of Errors may have been cut short, our friends at Oddsocks are still serving up plenty of Shakespearean silliness online this month, with their hugely popular take on Much Ado About Nothing kicking off a series of YouTube screenings. First toured during the glorious summer of 2015, Oddsocks' Much…
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…
Monday Makes: Decorate a cardboard heart
Mon 13 AprThis week's Monday Make comes from our Craft On - Needlecraft for Wellbeing group leader, Niki Lee, who takes you through the steps of creating a pretty heart-shaped decoration, which you can put up at home or give away as a gift. Follow the steps below to have a go. If you enjoy it, make…
SATURDAY SHOUT-OUT: Isolation Sonnets
Sat 11 AprThis week's Saturday Shout Out goes to the Isolation Sonnets group, who are sharing their own readings of sonnets on Facebook during the lockdown. Inspired by Patrick Stewart's #ASonnetADay project on Twitter, which has seen the actor film himself reading a Shakespeare sonnet every day, the group was started by Coventry writer Patrick Kincaid to…
Curtain Up at the Belgrade Theatre
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…
Wise Children – Live Podcast
Mon 06 AprVisionary director Emma Rice comes live to your living room in a special filmed episode of the Wise Children podcast.
WEDUCATION: Design your own stage costumes
Wed 08 AprEvery Wednesday during the lockdown, we’ll be taking the opportunity to share some of our fantastic educational resources with you, including videos about a wide range of careers at the Belgrade, and activities and projects for you to try at home. Today’s activity asks you to imagine that you’ve been tasked with creating the costumes…
WEDUCATION: What is an Executive Director?
Wed 08 AprEvery Wednesday during the lockdown, we’ll be sharing some of our fantastic educational resources with you, including videos about careers in theatre, and activities for you to try at home. In this week’s Careers Behind the Curtain video, our Executive Director Joanna Reid tells us more about her important role at the Belgrade, and how…
Storytime: East of the Sun and West of the Moon
Wed 08 AprToday’s Storytime video features a retelling of a Norwegian fairy tale called East of the Sun and West of the Moon. It’s a little like Beauty and the Beast – but with more adventuring! Look out for more stories from us every Tuesday during the lockdown.
Monday Makes: Easter Egg Piñata
Mon 06 AprEvery Monday during the lockdown we'll be sharing Monday Makes - craft activities that you can try out at home to help keep the kids (or yourself!) occupied. With Easter Sunday coming up this weekend, today's first Monday Make is an Easter Egg Piñata - perfect for when you're limiting trips to the shops as…
WEDUCATION: Pitch Your Own Jukebox Musical
Wed 01 AprOur first Wednesday education pack takes you through the process of pitching your own jukebox musical, from choosing your songs to creating your characters.
WEDUCATION: What is a Dramaturg?
Wed 01 AprIn this week's Careers Behind the Curtain video, Ola Animashawun discusses the role of a dramaturg and his own career in theatre.
Storytime: Cinderella
Tue 31 MarWatch our retelling of Cinderella - the first in a series of storytelling videos we'll be sharing to help keep your little ones entertained during lockdown.
Monday Makes: Make your own puppet theatre
Mon 30 MarFind out how to make your own puppet theatre at home during the lockdown with our first Monday Make
SATURDAY SHOUT-OUT: Kadence Music workshops
Sat 04 AprWhile our building remains closed to the public during the current lockdown, we’ll be using our Saturdays not to talk about the work the Belgrade is doing, but to highlight some of the other exciting things happening across Coventry and Warwickshire. Every weekend, we’ll share a selection of good news stories and projects and events…
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…
Storytime: Little Govind’s Baby Calf
Thu 02 AprHappy International Children’s Book Day! Today, we’re celebrating with a guest storytime video from the brilliant Santoshi Mann, an alumnus of our Critical Mass playwriting programme. In addition to being a playwright, Santoshi has begun working on a series of children’s stories called My Ancient Indian Village, and was excited to share the story of Little Govind’s Baby Calf with…
Interview: Gwen Taylor stars in The Croft
Wed 11 MarBAFTA nominee Gwen Taylor discusses thrillers, theatre and her starring role in the UK tour of Ali Milles' haunting new thriller, The Croft.
SATURDAY SHOUT-OUT: Fargo Village Spring Makers’ Market
Sun 29 MarWhile our building remains closed, we’ll be using our Saturdays not to talk about the work the Belgrade is doing, but to highlight ome of the other fantastic work happening across Coventry and Warwickshire.