The Board of the Belgrade Theatre has announced the appointment of the new senior leadership, who will take up their posts in January 2022, succeeding outgoing Executive Director, Joanna Reid and Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Hamish Glen.
Laura Elliot has been appointed as Chief Executive, responsible for overall strategy and to run the commercial side of the Belgrade.
Corey Campbell – currently one of the three Co-Artistic Directors of the Belgrade for Coventry’s year as City of Culture 2021 – has been appointed to the new post of Creative Director, focusing on the Theatre’s artistic output across both its professional and community areas.
The CEO and Creative Director will lead a restructured senior team of six. This team will lead on producing and programming, technical production, marketing, general management such as fundraising and income generation, financial management and commercial income and operations such as catering and conferencing.
Laura Elliot brings significant senior management and leadership experience to the Belgrade; from her current role as Programme Director of Oxford Playhouse and previous role as Programme Manager at Warwick Arts Centre. A resident of Kenilworth for nearly a decade, she combines strong connections to the regional arts scene with a real passion for the importance of culture, particularly as part of Coventry’s UK City of Culture legacy.
Corey Campbell is Artistic Director of Strictly Arts Theatre Company, formerly supported by the Belgrade’s Springboard talent development programme. Through productions such as Green Leaves Fall and the critically acclaimed, Edinburgh sell-out show Freeman, Strictly Arts have used their collaborative, devising process to bring stories from real people to the stage, building long-lasting relationships with audiences through targeted workshop and outreach programmes, with a particular focus on African and Caribbean communities.
Corey’s flagship production for the City of Culture year has been SEAVIEW, a new digital television series created, produced, and filmed in the West Midlands using a unique Writers Room project which involved local emerging writers from the region. SeaView was created using theatrical devising techniques, from an original, pre-pandemic idea by Campbell. It celebrates a Black working class aspirational family and all the things they come up against on their journey to achieve great things. SeaView will premiere at the Belgrade in November.
In 2022, as his final project for Coventry City of Culture and as his tenure as Co-Artistic Director comes to an end, Corey will be co-directing FIGHTING IRISH with Hamish Glen, due to play at the Belgrade in March.
Laura Elliot said, “I’m delighted to be taking up the role of CEO, alongside Corey Campbell as Creative Director. The Belgrade Theatre has been my local producing theatre for nearly a decade. I’m inspired by its deep rooted, nationally renowned commitment to community engagement, diversity, learning, talent development and high quality entertainment. I look forward to collaborating with the team to build on the Theatre’s plentiful past achievements, and propel it into an exciting, ambitious future.”
Corey Campbell said, “Let’s get it in, let’s get it done.”
Joanna Reid and Hamish Glen announced their departure from the venue and the senior leadership team restructure in July this year, with the changes driven by two issues: the need to address the financial challenges of the pandemic and its aftermath, and the desire to develop a new vision and way of working for a 21st century theatre.
