Laura Elliot and Corey Campbell, the new leadership team at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, have revealed some of their plans for the next three years as well as their artistic vision.
It follows the news that the Belgrade has retained its status as an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation and has been awarded a 30% increase in its core annual funding to £1,229,552 from 2023 to 2026.
Elliot took over as chief executive in January 2022 while Campbell, who was one of the three co-artistic directors of the Belgrade for Coventry’s year as City of Culture 2021, was appointed to the new post of creative director.
Their vision will be rooted in a people first approach, with the Belgrade presenting itself as a theatre of diverse stories, as a theatre of learning and as a theatre of transformation.
Eliot explained, “in prioritising co-creation, collaboration and social change, we aim to be a leading example of an inclusive learning theatre that sits at the heart of its community.”
Campbell added, “for us, it’s about running the theatre in collaboration with our communities—not so much offering a seat at the table as asking people what kind of table they want to build in the first place.”
As a theatre of diverse stories, the Belgrade will focus on new productions co-created with the people of Coventry and wider region, with a particular focus on work with young people, and the South Asian, Irish and Afro-Caribbean diasporas.
Elliot commented, “our theatre of diverse stories will be delivered in partnership with nationally and internationally leading theatre companies such as the Bush Theatre, Tamasha, Headlong, Complicité, Paines Plough and Leeds Playhouse which will support us to place Coventry on a world stage.
“This will be complimented by an increase in West End hits and musicals coming to the theatre as part of our presented programme, something which we know is greatly wanted in Coventry.”
As a theatre of learning, the Belgrade will invest in the region’s talent, providing training and opportunities for the next generation of creatives and leaders.
In partnership with schools and charities, the Belgrade aims to be a theatre of transformation, providing “opportunities to enrich people’s well-being, belonging and education”.
Elliot and Campbell say that by 2026 the Belgrade will look like a theatre that belongs to and is reflective of all Coventrians, “unleashing their stories, creativity and civic pride”.