Finding your voice at The Belgrade
The Belgrade Theatre in Coventry has a strong tradition of youth theatre and theatre in education, establishing its first Youth Theatre in 1965. More recently, the Belgrade created eight Youth Theatre groups, including its Asian Youth Theatre and its Black Youth Theatre, which aim to give a voice to local communities, creating original performances inspired by young people’s experiences.
Background
The theatre’s work is supported by the Arts Council through the national portfolio.
The Belgrade is committed to developing work with and for black, Asian and minority ethnic communities living in Coventry and beyond.
Running weekly sessions for young people aged 8 to 16 years, the Belgrade’s Asian and Black Youth Theatres offer the opportunity to develop skills in theatre techniques, including acting, singing, dancing, writing and directing.
Working with a professional creative team, the youth theatre members create original productions which give a voice to the experiences of individuals and communities living in Coventry.
Alongside these youth theatres, the Belgrade is also home to Critical Mass, a nationally recognised programme offering a unique platform for emerging young writers from black and ethnic communities nationwide.
Skills and voices
As well as developing skills which are valuable for a career in theatre, the Youth Theatre groups also equips young people with transferable skills – the ability to communicate, to work as part of a team, to work independently, to problem solve and to think creatively.
One member of the Belgrade Theatre’s Black Youth Theatre, Jeanette Mudhai, said: “I know for me, being in Black Youth Theatre, I went to a predominantly white school and so I didn’t really know a lot of black people and being in there has helped me to get in touch with my roots and also it’s given us a voice as young black and ethnic minority people.”
A recent performance by the Belgrade Asian Youth Theatre was Somewhere to Belong, produced in collaboration with Vamos, one of the UK’s leading producers of masked theatre.
The production shone a spotlight on radicalisation amongst young British Muslims living in the UK today. The piece was premiered in summer 2015 as part of a festival called Inspiring Curiosity: In Our Own Words.
Festival Producer and Associate Director at the Belgrade Theatre, Justine Themen, explained: “As the title of our festival suggests, ‘Inspiring Curiosity: In Our Own Words’ is all about giving a voice to the diverse experience of Coventry’s young people by exploring issues and stories which impact directly upon their lives.
“Drama is an essential tool for encouraging young people to take an active interest in the world around them and to investigate challenging subject matter for themselves…For the last few years, we’ve been working hard to build links with local black and minority ethnic groups in particular through targeted initiatives such as Asian and Black Youth Theatres.
Talking about the Arts Council’s investment in the Belgrade, Peter Knott, Area Director, Midlands, Arts Council England, said: “Arts and culture can have a powerful impact on young people, from inspiring them to be creative and ambitious, to providing an empowering platform on which to express their ideas and opinions.
“Drawing on all of our nation’s talent is at the heart of our creative case for diversity and we want people of all ages and backgrounds to have opportunities to take part in the arts. There is some great work happening here in the Midlands and our investment in the Belgrade is an important part of this picture. It’s inspiring to see their Asian and Black Youth Theatres providing a stage on which young people in Coventry can share their stories.”
