A new documentary following the lives of nine Coventry teenagers filmed on location at the city’s Belgrade Theatre is to be aired on BBC One as part of a special season of programmes celebrating British theatre.
The documentary shines a spotlight on the work of Acting Out, the Belgrade’s learning programme which works with young people who are not achieving their full potential within the mainstream education system.
The half-hour special involves impressionist, actor and stand-up comic Alistair McGowan following the 2015 Acting Out class as they rehearse for their final performance module, based around a performance of Nell Leyshon’s The Beauty Manifesto.
The current Acting Out group comprises nine students. They meet each week at the Belgrade Theatre and the sessions are co-ordinated by the Belgrade’s community and education department which is marking 50 years since the invention of theatre-in-education in Coventry in 1965.
Acting Out was introduced to the theatre in 1996 and “remains at the heart of the Belgrade’s artistic and socio-political vision”. The documentary, by Stratford-based media production company First Look TV, asks what the future holds for schemes like Acting Out. It will be shown at 7:30PM on Monday 9 November.
Claire Simpson, general manager of the Belgrade’s community and education company, said, “the types of students involved in Acting Out come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some have specific learning needs, others behavioural.
“For some of the students who are referred to us, this is their only opportunity to gain a recognised qualification. For others who’ve been thrown multiple hurdles at a very young age, Acting Out is that one place where they can feel assured that they won’t be let down, where they can feel a sense of safety and be guaranteed stability.
“Many of our past Acting Out students have gone on to develop careers in the creative industries. As well as developing confidence and pride in their work, participants learn to channel their energies in a more positive direction, often changing their lives for the better in the process.”
Former Acting Out member Dionne Dunne added, “before the Belgrade I was a bit of a naughty kid, a misunderstood kid. My teachers thought I had talent which I didn’t see myself and they knew that I enjoyed performing arts. That’s when my deputy head teacher put me forward for the Belgrade’s Acting Out programme.
“If I wasn’t involved with the Belgrade and hadn’t been given the opportunities I have here, I’d probably still be just some stupid kid, messing about, getting in trouble with the police.
“Now, having come through Acting Out, I’m studying towards my level 3 qualification in performing arts at Coventry City College. Since graduating from the programme, I’ve also been taken on as mentor to the current Acting Out group. For this, and everything else the Belgrade Theatre has done for me, I thank them.”