Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre will benefit from the £8.5 million allocated to projects relating to Coventry’s year as City of Culture in 2021, as revealed by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Budget.
The money will go towards refurbishing the Belgrade’s 1958 auditorium and upgrading the catering facilities at the venue which was the UK’s first civic theatre to open after World War II.
The Belgrade’s executive director Joanna Reid said, “it’s brilliant to receive the money now so that we can get on with the works and be completely ready for 2021.
“The element of the award coming to the Belgrade needs to be confirmed but we know that it’s a major funding milestone for us as we continue to work to raise the required funds for our £4.6m capital development project. We plan to start the main stage refurbishment in summer 2019.”