BELGRADE THEATRE COVENTRY ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 2026 AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON

 BELGRADE THEATRE COVENTRY ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 2026 AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON

INCLUDING NEW CO-PRODUCTION WITH LEEDS PLAYHOUSE SIRENS, 

THE NATIONAL THEATRE’S THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE

AND CO-PRODUCTION WITH PAINES PLOUGH AND TRAVERSE THEATRE AFTER PARTY 

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ONSALE TO MEMBERS AND MEMBERS+: FRIDAY 29 MAY

GENERAL ONSALE: FRIDAY 5 JUNE 

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Artistic Director Corey Campbell, Interim CEO Emma Flatley, and the whole team at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry are delighted to announce details of what’s coming up this autumn and beyond, including a brand-new production from the National Theatre and co-produced work with Leeds Playhouse and Paines Plough, as well as an eclectic mix of theatre, comedy, family entertainment and music.

With biting wit, theatrical flair and unexpected tenderness After Party, a co-production with Paines Plough and Traverse Theatre Company,brings a family together for one unforgettable night. As tensions rise and truths emerge, it asks what we owe each other and how we choose to live - and leave. 

Previewing at the Belgrade as part of the See It First programme from Thursday 30 July – Saturday 1 August before returning between Wednesday 9 September – Saturday 12 September after a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

From the Barn Theatre and written by David Seidler is The King’s Speech.With the world listening and a country on the precipice of another terrible war. An abdicated king. A constitutional crisis. And the only man who can provide hope for the nervous British public is Bertie – a man who is shy, unprepared for monarchy and, worst of all, has a debilitating speech impediment. Playing at the Belgrade between Tuesday 19 January 2027 – Saturday 23 January 2027. 

The National Theatre’s brand-new production of Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice comes to the Belgrade from Tuesday 16 February – Saturday 20 February 2027 as part of the National Theatre’s landmark nationwide partnership to boost access to theatre across the West Midlands. 

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice will be the first National Theatre production to tour as part of NT Nationwide, supported by funding from Arts Council England. Jim Cartwright’s modern classic, which will be directed by Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie, is a joyful, tender and bittersweet celebration of music, ambition and the courage it takes to be heard, featuring iconic music from the likes of Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey and more.

Dr Hannibal Lecter will see you now... Come face to face with the chilling cultural phenomenon The Silence of the Lambs as it makes its world stage-play premiere. Based on Thomas Harris’s gripping literary masterpiece, and starring renowned actor John Partridge (Eastenders, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Cabaret) as Hannibal Lecter, this electrifying new play sets the definitive psychological thriller loose in Coventry from Tuesday 30 March 2027 – Saturday 3 April 2027.

A co-production with Leeds Playhouse and written by their Artistic Director, Coventry-born Tom Wright, Sirens is a witty, intimate and deeply human new play. A warm, tense story of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances which arrives at the Belgrade Theatre on Wednesday 7 April 2027 and runs until Saturday 10 April 2027.

Nanny of the Maroons tells the incredible true story of a legendary 18th century freedom fighter. Written by Belgrade Theatre Artistic Director Corey Campbell and Lucia Haynes, and directed by Campbell and Justine Themen, the production is developed through the Belgrade Theatre’s co-creation process, engaging communities as part of the creative development of its work. West Midlands-based producers China Plate will support the development of the production as Executive Producers. Premiering from Friday 18 June 2027 to Saturday 3 July 2027.

Other pieces coming to the Belgrade starting with Bright Places, a darkly funny and deeply honest autobiographical story about growing up in the shadow of chronic illness. With 90s pop, a costume box and a whole heap of glitter. Playing for one night only on Friday 2 October.Presented by The Big House Blaze FM, co-written by Grime MC Jammz andJames Meteyard, is an explosive piece of political theatre, weaving Grime, Garage, Drill and Jungle tracks through an electrifying eighty minutes of powerful performance between Wednesday 7 – Thursday 8 October.

A ghost story by Tim Foley, It Walks Around The House at Night draws audiences into a world of creeping dread, unexpected twists and dark humour. A haunted house story for a new era, brought to life through inventive staging, immersive sound and bold visual effects on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October. 

Calling all trainee detectives! Join us for The Mystery of The Belgrade Theatre. From the creators of I Believe in Unicorns, this award-winning, interactive, board-game style theatre show is fun for all the family and packed full of secrets, video footage and clues. Get involved… get it solved between Thursday 29 – Saturday 31 October.

As COVID-19 sweeps across the UK, four ICU nurses find their lives changed almost overnight. Unflinching, compassionate and deeply human, Critical Care is a moving tribute to those who endured the unimaginable — and a vital reminder of the experiences we must not forget playing on Wednesday 25 November.

Completing the season is a variety of entertaining shows for all tastes starting with SHE: The Live Experience (Saturday 5 September) for a night of afro jazz music and live dance. This isn’t just a show — it’s a celebration of every woman and girl taking up space, unapologetically; Enter Strange Phenomena, howl with The Hounds Of Love and dance on the moors with Wuthering Heights. Kate's not there, but you are. Performer Sarah-Louise Young invites you to release your inner Bush with An Evening Without Kate Bush (Saturday 26 September).

Blending performance poetry, movement and visual art, Made You Look(Saturday 17 October) is a bold one-man show examining masculinity, identity and the immigrant experience in Britain; With an incredible band and cast, Anything For Love will take you on an unforgettable journey back in time through Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman's back catalogue (Thursday 22 October); Expect strong language, stereotype-smashing and to fall side-splittingly in love with Fatiha El-Ghorri and her show Cockney Stacking Doll (Saturday 21 November). 

Too Much Too Young – The Music of 2Tone & Beyond (Saturday 16 January 2027) is a high-energy, two-hour live show celebrating the ska sound that shaped generations. This feel-good journey traces ska’s roots from Jamaica to its explosive British revival of the late ’70s and ’80s, honouring the artists who made it a global phenomenon; John Mackay & Sally Homer present Fascinating Aïda (Wednesday 27 January 2027),Dillie, Liza and Adèle, with Michael Roulston on piano, are back on the road following their hugely successful 40th Anniversary Tour.

Artistic Director Corey Campbell and Interim CEO Emma Flatley said“We’re incredibly proud to be bringing such a wide-ranging and ambitious programme to our audiences over the coming months, from bold new co-productions and powerful new writing to major touring drama, live music, comedy and family entertainment. This season reflects our continued commitment to telling stories that resonate with our communities, championing new voices and creating unforgettable shared experiences on our stages. We’re especially excited to be included in the National Theatre’s Nationwide programme and to be working with partners including Leeds Playhouse and Paines Plough, while also continuing to develop and premiere new work made here in Coventry. We look forward to welcoming audiences to the Belgrade Theatre for another exciting season.”