Belgrade Theatre Company, Coventry

September 1961 - June 1962

The Belgrade was the first municipal theatre built in England. Designed by the City Architects, it was opened in March 1958. It was named in recognition of a gift of timber from Yugoslavia, its emblem of the dove expressing the artistic understanding between people and countries.

Anthony Richardson, Artistic Director of the Belgrade Theatre Company

Ian McKellen's first professional portrait as an actor, April 1961


During the summer of 1961, I had successfully auditioned for Derby Playhouse and Hornchurch Theatre but the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry – the first civic theatre built in UK since the Second World War – offered me the highest salary of £9 (about $15) per week “to play as cast”. Anthony Richardson the artistic director (not Tony Richardson, his contemporary ) must have been impressed by the 21 undergraduate productions I had done at Cambridge. This was the perfect job for a beginner who hadn’t been to drama school, joining a company of actors who would work on a different play every two weeks through the year.

There were a number of actors’ flats adjacent to the theatre in Corporation Street – £3 a week, electricity for heating and cooking was extra. My meagre funds were eked out with the help of the assistants of the Co-operative foodstore opposite – they undercharged us actors.

The Plays

Year Place Title/Writer Director/Role
1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Robert Bolt

DIRECTOR: David Forder
ROLE: William Roper


1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
WHEN WE ARE MARRIED
J B Priestley

DIRECTOR: Brian Bell
ROLE: Fred Dyson


1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
YOU NEVER CAN TELL
Bernard Shaw

DIRECTOR: David Forder
ROLE: Philip Clandon


1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
BLACK COFFEE
Agatha Christie

DIRECTOR: Brian Bell
ROLE: Tredwell (the butler)


1961 Coventry Theatre
Midnight Matinee

1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
CELEBRATION
Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall

DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson
ROLE: Stan Dyson


1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
END OF CONFLICT
Barry England

DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson
ROLE: Simon Mason


1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
MR. PICKWICK
Stanley Young (adapted from Charles Dickens novel)

DIRECTOR: Brian Bell
ROLE: Mr. Snodgrass


1961 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
TOAD OF TOAD HALL
A A Milne (from Kenneth Graham's novel)

DIRECTOR: Brian Bell
ROLE: Chief Weasel


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
THE SEAGULL (1962)
Anton Chekov

DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson
ROLE: Konstantin


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
THE BRIDE COMES BACK
Ronald Millar

ROLE: Joe Tilney


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1962)
William Shakespeare

DIRECTOR: Graham Crowden
ROLE: Count Claudio


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
HAPPY RETURNS
ROLE: various (singing & dancing)


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
TEN LITTLE N****RS
Agatha Christie

DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Edwards
ROLE: Anthony Marston


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
THE IRREGULAR VERB TO LOVE
Hugh & Margaret Williams

DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Edwards
ROLE: Andrew Rankin


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
NOAH
Andre Obey

DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson
ROLE: Shem


1962 Belgrade Theatre
Coventry
SEMI-DETACHED
David Turner
DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson
ROLE: Tom Midway


Next:
September 1962 - October 1963
Arts Theatre Company, Ipswich