The first part of the construction process took place in 1952 when Coventry's twin city of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, gifted beech timber to be used in the newly built theatre.
The Belgrade theatre is named after this gesture. The Yugoslavian ambassador Ivo Vejvoda visited the site in 1957, at the same time he also opened an exhibition of modern Yugoslavian art at the Herbert Gallery. In the same year, the Arts Council announced that they would give financial support to the City Council to equip the new theatre.
The Belgrade was officially opened at 8 pm on 27 March 1958 by the Duchess of Kent in a ceremony. In attendance during the opening Sir Kenneth Clarke and Sam Wanamaker were present. Coventry's first female Lord Mayor, Pearl Hyde, welcomed everyone before the first show began, Half in Earnest by Vivian Ellis.
Under the theatre's first director, the Belgrade's resident company was established. This was the first Coventry-based theatre company since the Midland Theatre Company was disbanded by the Arts Council in 1957, producing the premieres of the "Wesker trilogy" by Arnold Wesker.
In the 1960s the Belgrade created the innovative, Theatre in Education concept, beginning with its project Pow Wow. This blend of theatre and education had never been seen before.
The theatre received several grants for maintenance and renovation through the 1980s and 1990s before a major refurbishment was announced as part of Coventry's Millennium project. It was closed in 2006 for extensive building work. The theatre eventually reopened on 22 September 2007 with a performance of Mr Puntila and His Man Matti. The new B2 studio performance area was opened by Prince Edward on 4 February 2008, the 50th anniversary year of the Belgrade's inaugural performance.
The theatre was involved in the bid for Coventry to become UK City of Culture 2021, which it won in December 2017.
PatrolGuard helps out with the keyholding and alarm response for the site, to check out another site on Coventry, check out the Herbert gallery.
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Unit 1 Athena Court
Tachbrook Park,
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
CV34 6RT
Unit 1 Athena Court
Tachbrook Park,
CV34 6RT
