Photo Flash: First Look at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre's THE ALCHEMIST

Coventry's Belgrade Theatre is beating the winter blues with a fresh adaptation of classic comedy The Alchemist, which updates the corruption and crookery of this timeless tale from 17th century London to modern day Coventry. Scroll down for some pictures from the production!

Running in the Belgrade's B2 auditorium from Sat 1 to Sat 22 Feb, The Alchemist tells the story of a trio of undesirable criminals and con artists who prey on the weaknesses of local citizens by offering a range of alternative services, from the secret of eternal youth, to that recipe of recipes which will turn a tin can into bankable gold.

Masters of the ludicrous disguise, the team of shameless scammers find their multiple deceptions spiralling out of control, until they receive some alarming news.

This new adaptation will be directed by Paul Burbridge from Riding Lights Theatre Company, who is co-
producing the show. Paul said, "In contrast to many other plays from the Shakespearian age, there's a specific urban reality to The Alchemist which takes a little adjusting to make it feel modern. The 'now' factor of the play is intensified by a sense of the local 'Neighbourhood Watch' - with everyone enjoying the jokes and the references to pubs, streets and businesses which they might have been in only yesterday. So the production and the text will combine a sense of place in Coventry with characters and events which have hit our current national headlines."

The cast of The Alchemist includes Barrett Robertson, who local audiences may recognise from The Belgrade Theatre Unplugged, which saw a group of professional actors perform rehearsed readings of Belgrade shows, including The Alchemist, at unique venues around Coventry and Warwickshire last summer. Originally from Birmingham, he has also appeared at the Belgrade in poetry in performance show Being Human.

Joining them is Sarah Jane Lee, who in addition to appearing in numerous theatre productions around the country, is also Associate Practitioner/Storyteller for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and Kolade Agboke, who featured in Danny Boyle's film Millions, alongside James Nesbitt.

Completing the cast is Tom Peters whose stage credits include Strange Interlude and Scenes from an Execution at the National Theatre, John Holden-White, who has worked with Riding Lights on productions including A Different Drum and The Narrow Road, Zannah Hodson, whose credits include An Ideal Husband at Royal Exchange, Manchester, Andrew Harrison, who appeared in Serious Money and A Chorus of Disapproval at Exeter's Northcott and Alan Francis.

The set for The Alchemist has been designed by Sean Cavanagh, who designed the set for the Belgrade's military musical The Prodigals, which is currently in the running for Best Regional Production at this year's What's on Stage Awards.

Tickets for The Alchemist are available now from the Belgrade's Box Office on 024 7655 3055 priced from £8.75 to £20.75 or via www.belgrade.co.uk where cheaper tickets are available.

Photo Credit: Robert Day