Friends Newsletter Spring 2011

Did you know?

The Belgrade Theatre is a registered charity and has been since 1963.

A common misconception is that the Belgrade Theatre generates its income via tickets sales; in fact due to the cost of staging productions the Belgrade only receives on average 5% of the ticket price. Therefore the Belgrade Theatre is reliant on the generous support of individuals, business and grant-making trusts.

Registered Charity Number 219163

Why we are a Registered Charity?

• We produce exciting high quality drama that entertains people, educates people and reflects their lives.

• We bring artistic excellence to the region.

• W e develop creative professionals for the future of British arts.

• We offer over 9,000 learning opportunities a year to young people.

Issue Seven Spring 2011

• We give as many people as possible a richer and fuller understanding of theatre.

Hamish Glen looks ahead to Spring 2011

Visit www.belgrade.co.uk to find out how you can support the Belgrade Theatre

Spring Diary 2011

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish our Friends a Happy New Year and to introduce you to our exciting programme of home produced work for Spring 2011.

As part of your Friends of the Belgrade Membership, you are entitled to 20% off the following shows. * Discount is valid on 1 ticket if you have a Single Membership and 2 tickets if you have a Joint Membership.

Dates

Overview

Too Much Pressure

Sat 29 Jan – Sat 19 Feb

Written by Alan Pollock and directed by Hamish Glen, Too Much Pressure explores Coventry in 1979; a city of strife in the factories and violence on the streets. This production also features a live soundtrack written and performed by Coventry band, The Ripps.

The Comedy of Errors & Richard III

Tues 8 – Sat 12 Feb

Propeller return to perform two Shakespeare classics. Renowned for engaging its audience’s imagination and bringing a fresh understanding to classic plays, this is Shakespeare rediscovered.

Flawless

Fri 18 – Sat 19 Feb

See Flawless, the stars of StreetDance 3D and Britain’s Got Talent as never before in this breathtaking and funny show.

Horrible Histories

Tues 22 – Sat 26 Feb

See history come alive using actors and ground breaking 3D special effects. The Awful Egyptians and The Ruthless Romans are guaranteed to thrill you and your children.

How Sweet it is

Thurs 3 – Fri 4 March

The ultimate celebration of the sweet sound of Motown is back! This live show combines first class music, dance and a live band to celebrate 50 years of Mowtown music.

The Usual Auntijies

Sat 5 – Sat 26 March

The Usual Auntijies is a bitter sweet new comic-drama that visits the lives of four women as they embark on an inspiring, emotional and comic journey to overcome the past and rediscover their sense of life, love and happiness.

Columbo.

Prescription: Murder

Tues 8 – Sat 12 March

Middle Ground Theatre Company present their acclaimed production of Prescription: Murder, featuring the legendary Lieutenant Columbo in his first ever case. Starring Brian Capron (Coronation St) as Dr. Flemming.

Blood Brothers

Mon 21 March – Sat 2 April

The legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.

Uncle Vanya

Sat 2 – Sat 23 April

This brand new production by the Belgrade Theatre and Arcola Theatre offers a fresh approach to Chekhov’s masterpiece – a tragicomic poignant story of disillusionment and misplaced love.

Signatures Dining sign on the dotted line at the Belgrade at the Belgrade C a f é Ba r & Re st au r a n t

Whether you’re seeing a show or just dropping by our new catering operator Signatures at the Belgrade offers the

perfect atmosphere in which to relax and enjoy a high quality range of food and drink.

Breakfast is now served from 7.30am in the Cafébar and two course lunches are available for just £10 in the Restaurant (advanced booking required).

Book Now 024 7655 3055 or in person at the Box Office

Our first home produced show of the season sees the return of leading playwright and writer of One Night in November, Alan Pollock, with a brand new play called Too Much Pressure.

This vital new play provides a snapshot of Coventry in 1979 – a time when the manufacturing industry was in decline and

This is followed by The Usual Auntijies, written by Coventry’s very own Paven Virk. This new show is a bitter-sweet new comic-drama that visits the lives of four women as they embark on an inspiring, emotional and comic journey to overcome the past and rediscover their sense of life, love and happiness.

In April Chekhov’s masterpiece Uncle Vanya will be on in B2. This brand new production gives fresh treatment to this tragic, comic and poignant story of disillusionment and misplaced love.

We’ve got some great visiting shows with us this season too including the return of Richard III, Comedy of Errors, Blood Brothers and Goodnight Mister Tom. All the best for 2011.

Hamish Glen Artistic Director, Belgrade Theatre

Exclusive Friends of the Belgrade Theatre Events The Belgrade Theatre is a registered charity, no. 219163

Shows

many young people were turning to music as a way out.

1) Workshop Visit Date: Monday 17th January 2011 Time: 10am – 11.30am Meeting Place: Box Office

2) Stages through the Ages workshop* Date: Monday 28th February 2011 Time: 10am – 12pm Meeting Place: Box Office

Visit our set making and wardrobe workshops for an exclusive look at the set for Too Much Pressure. The Belgrade Theatre will be putting on a minibus from the theatre to our workshops for all attendees.

Take part in our educational workshop exploring the history of theatre in Coventry including The Mysteries, the Godiva Procession, Theatre in Education, Carnival, and the Belgrade Theatre and its current vision. You are welcome to bring a guest along to this event – it might be of interest to young people who are passionate about theatre.

To book a place for either of these workshops please contact Box Office on 024 7655 3055 or email friends@belgrade.co.uk

*This workshop lasts 2 hours

Friends of the Belgrade Theatre benefit from receiving 20% off individual tickets.

See back page for season diary.

An interview with Alan Pollock, the writer of Too Much Pressure What made you want to write Too Much Pressure?

The old Coventry – manufacturing, factory Coventry – was about to undergo a profound transformation as we reached the end of the 70s. But despite, or perhaps even because of this, these changes coincided with a very exciting period culturally in the city. I’m not just talking about The Specials. The Specials were the most exciting product of a scene which began in the aftermath of punk and produced some lively (if not always totally accomplished!) bands, one of which I was the drummer of.

“Too Much Pressure attempts to recreate the flavour of a very distinct moment in time.”

Although not strictly speaking autobiographical, the play is an attempt to recreate the flavour of a very distinct moment in time. It’s a ‘rites of passage’ play which is about the way teenagers inhabit a world of their own. The universe might be collapsing about your ears, but who cares, The Specials are on at The Butts tonight - and you’ve got tickets!

Have you encountered any particular challenges throughout the creative process? If so, how did you overcome them?

The older characters in the play all work at Standard Triumph in Canley, where

cars like the Herald and the TR7 were made. The thing about collating this sort of history is that not much of it is written down. There are no official records to consult, just the memories of the people that worked in the factories and everyone has a different story to tell, frequently a different take on the same people and personalities.

The whole issue of the ‘unions’ was as divisive then as it is now but there was a very particular flavour to the unionism in this city and an even more particular flavour to the union politics at the Standard. During the heydays of the 50s and 60s management more or less willingly ceded control of the shop floor to the stewards, paying high piecework wages to the ‘Big Gangs’ that made the cars. So long as there was no real competition from abroad or political tinkering, things worked pretty well.

But by the early 70s, those halcyon days were long gone, and that’s when things began to get tricky. Fortunately, the people I spoke to loved talking about their time there.

Much of your work, such as One Night in November and Too Much Pressure, focuses on defining times in Coventry’s history. What is it about the city and its history that has made you want to write about it so much?

I have always been interested in the idea of societies under attack, often (but not always) because of forces beyond their control and Coventry has had several jolts in its history; the collapse of the ribbon trade, assault by enemy bombs, and the total loss of its major industry.

But there’s something dogged about Coventry people. In a city of immigrants, do you stay or do you go when disaster strikes? It’s interesting that the population of Coventry has dropped only by about

Dionne Wallace Finance Officer What is your role at the Belgrade Theatre?

I work within the accounts department and mainly deal with the income that comes into the theatre via the Box Office, the front of house (ice cream and merchandise sales) and through credit control. I raise invoices for different departments and look after the petty cash for the theatre and the credit cards. I can also cover for colleagues on the purchase ledger, on Box Office and I have also worked as an usher in the past.

How long have you worked here?

I started working here on 7th April 2008.

How did you get into your job?

I got my job through an agency.

“The whole issue of the ‘unions’ was as divisive then as it is now, but there was a very particular flavour to the unionism in this city.”

30,000 from its peak in the 60s/early 70s.

What is it that keeps people here? Or sends them off to seek their fortunes elsewhere? These are some of the things that interest me. That and examining my own relationship to Coventry!

Are there any other periods or events in the city’s history that you think would make a good basis for a play?

For a couple of hundred years Coventry was a prosperous and important landmark situated right in the middle of the map.

Anyone wanting to go north or south pretty much had to go through it so its symbolic and strategic importance was substantial. However, I am particularly interested in the City’s role during the Civil War - when it declared early and vigorously for Parliament and felt the full force of the King’s wrath for its pains.

Spot a st r in the Cafébar Did you know that on the first night of a week long tour the theatre’s management team host a drinks reception for the cast and crew of the show in the Cafébar? Why not stay for a drink after the show and see if you can spot a star.

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Meet the Team

Comedy of Errors/Richard III – Tues 8 February Horrible Histories – Tues 22 February Columbo in Prescription: Murder – Tues 8 March Goodnight Mister Tom – Tues 12 April

What are the most exciting and challenging parts of your job?

I love counting cash! Most people hate Mondays at work but I love them because it means that I will be counting all the cash taken over the weekend. I particularly love Christmas time when my workload is at its peak because of the panto. It also makes it the most challenging because the deadlines are harder to meet because of the volume of work.

Have you ever experienced any real disasters?

The nearest I have come to a disaster was when I had my interview.

Just as my interview ended and I was leaving the building, some workmen who were building the Belgrade Plaza outside found an unexploded bomb. Everywhere was evacuated so I am grateful that they didn’t find it an hour before because I might not have made the interview or got the job!

What are your favourite shows that you have seen at the Belgrade Theatre?

Without a doubt, One Night In November is my favourite as I

have always loved learning about the real stories behind the Coventry Blitz. I also really loved We Love You City as I am a season ticket holder at Coventry City Football Club so watching the show brought back a lot of memories. I had never seen a pantomime before working here (Ahhhh!) and I have now seen three, but this years’ Cinderella has been my favourite. The costumes and sets were fantastic (as usual but more sparkly this year) and the character of Buttons was brilliant.

What shows are you most looking forward to seeing in the new season?

I am particularly looking forward to Goodnight Mister Tom as I have watched the film (starring the late John Thaw) so many times and it’s a film that warms your heart. I think Too Much Pressure is going to be another fantastic play and I’m definitely going to see that. Super Trouper and Jake & Elwood Blues both look like great ones to be dancing in the aisles to.

Can you tell us something we might not expect about your job?

People always believe that working in accounts and other accountants must be really boring but that’s certainly not true here. You get to meet some real characters, have a laugh, occasionally bump into famous people, make great friends and do exciting and rewarding work too. Working here can be quite infectious when you see how excited people are before they watch the shows and then when they come out and you hear how much they enjoyed their night it gives you a real sense of pride to be working here.

Behind the Image: The Usual Auntijies The image we have used in our marketing material for The Usual Auntijies is the result of a photo-shoot that took place in Coventry city centre. Here’s the story behind the final image that we used.

The final result

• The lady in the photo is called Jasvir Kang and she is the mother of Paven Virk, who wrote The Usual Auntijies. A broadcaster and writer herself, Jasvir will be reading a collection of her poems in Punjabi and English in B2 before the show on 9, 16 and 23 March.

• The other two people you can see in the shot are Hannah and Ruth from the Belgrade’s Communications team.

• The earphones Jasvir is wearing belong to Ruth and the birdcage on the bench belongs to Hannah. Everything else is Jasvir’s own.

• It wasn’t actually raining on the day of the shoot! All the umbrellas you can see are props and the image has been edited to make the ground look wet.

• The photo shoot lasted for around 2–3 hours and we took pictures at three different locations in the city centre; Broadgate, the Lady Godiva statue and the Upper Precinct.

• The photographer’s name is Robert Day and he takes the production photographs for all of our home produced shows.

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