From Alan Bennett to Afrobeats, Belgrade Theatre Announces New Shows for 2018-19

Another exciting line-up of shows goes on general sale at the Belgrade Theatre this week, with tickets now available for productions running from September 2018 - March 2019. As ever, the Belgrade's diverse programme will aim to cater to all tastes, from Alan Bennett to Afrobeats to The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.

Headlining the Theatre's autumn season is the newly announced musical drama We'll Live & Die in These Towns, featuring the songs from The Enemy's number one debut album of the same name. Making its world premiere 29 September - 20 October, the play tells the story of a bright young musical talent who suffers a crisis of confidence just hours before a huge homecoming gig that could make or break his career. Written by Coventry playwright Geoff Thompson (Fragile, 2012), it sees former Enemy frontman Tom Clarke make his theatrical debut as Musical Director of the show.

Also highlighting Coventry's rich musical history will be Hymns for Robots, an original work by Belgrade Springboard Company, Noctium Theatre. Formed by a group of Coventry University students, this exciting new company performed their debut production, The Country Doctor, at the Belgrade in 2016. Running 19-21 September, their latest piece combines physical theatre with musical experimentation to explore the life and work of Coventry-born electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire.

Following the success of last year's drama double-bill of Freeman and Green Leaves Fall, Midlands company Strictly Arts will also make a welcome return to Coventry next season. Fresh from a run at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this second Belgrade Springboard Company present another run of their acclaimed drama Freeman 5-8 September, telling the story of the first man in America to plead insanity as a legal defence.

From 4-6 October, an English classic gets an African reimagining in Afrobeats musical Oliva Tweest. Following a sold-out West End run in 2013, this energetic show heads out on tour, complete with a live African band, telling the story of ambitious London hustler, club-promoter and self-styled ladies' man Tobi as he plans the ultimate show to attract his idol D'Banj.

Classic drama fans can then look forward to the arrival of Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art from 6-10 November, with Matthew Kelly and David Yelland starring in a new production from The Original Theatre Company and York Theatre Royal. Following its critically acclaimed premiere at the National Theatre, this poignant play now enjoys its first ever revival, telling the story of a meeting between the poet WH Auden and the composer Benjamin Britten.

The fun continues into 2019, with Mischief Theatre's smash-hit farce The Comedy About A Bank Robbery arriving on the Belgrade Main Stage 5-9 March. Following on from a second run of The Play That Goes Wrong earlier this year, this follow-up production promises more hilarious slapstick where everything that can go wrong, does!

On Thursday 10 Jan, Quadrophenia - The Album, Live! sees 8-piece band The Goldhawks deliver a stunning live performance of The Who's smash-hit concept album. On Thursday 17 January meanwhile, audiences are invited to share an emotionally charged evening with the renowned psychic medium TJ Higgs.

Finally, from 30 January - 2 February, Middle Ground Theatre Ltd present the second tour of their gripping courtroom drama The Verdict. Adapted from five-time Oscar-nominated Sidney Lumet film starring Paul Newman and James Mason, this critically acclaimed stage version tells the story of washed-up, alcoholic lawyer Frank Galvin, who is given one last chance to redeem himself with a medical malpractice case that no one believes he can win.

Tickets to all of these shows and more are now available to book by calling the box office on 024 7655 3055, or by visiting www.belgrade.co.uk where prices are even cheaper.

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