September 1961 - June 1962
Belgrade Theatre Company, Coventry

The Belgrade was the first municipal theatre built in England. Designed by the City Architects, it was opened in March 1958. It was named in recognition of a gift of timber from Yugoslavia, its emblem of the dove expressing the artistic understanding between people and countries.

Anthony Richardson
Artistic Director of the
Belgrade Theatre Company

Ian McKellen
First professional portrait as an actor
April 1961

During the summer of 1961, I had successfully auditioned for Derby Playhouse and Hornchurch Theatre but the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry – the first civic theatre built in UK since the Second World War – offered me the highest salary of £9 (about $15) per week “to play as cast”. Anthony Richardson the artistic director (not Tony Richardson, his contemporary ) must have been impressed by the 21 undergraduate productions I had done at Cambridge. This was the perfect job for a beginner who hadn’t been to drama school, joining a company of actors who would work on a different play every two weeks through the year.

There were a number of actors’ flats adjacent to the theatre in Corporation Street – £3 a week, electricity for heating and cooking was extra. My meagre funds were eked out with the help of the assistants of the Co-operative foodstore opposite – they undercharged us actors.

The Plays

1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Robert Bolt	DIRECTOR: David Forder ROLE: William Roper
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	WHEN WE ARE MARRIED J B Priestley	DIRECTOR: Brian Bell ROLE: Fred Dyson
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	YOU NEVER CAN TELL Bernard Shaw	DIRECTOR: David Forder ROLE: Philip Clandon
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	BLACK COFFEE Agatha Christie	DIRECTOR: Brian Bell ROLE: Tredwell (the butler)
1961	Coventry Theatre	Midnight Matinee
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	CELEBRATION Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall	DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson ROLE: Stan Dyson
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	END OF CONFLICT Barry England	DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson ROLE: Simon Mason
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	MR. PICKWICK Stanley Young (adapted from Charles Dickens novel)	DIRECTOR: Brian Bell ROLE: Mr. Snodgrass
1961	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	TOAD OF TOAD HALL A A Milne (from Kenneth Graham's novel)	DIRECTOR: Brian Bell ROLE: Chief Weasel
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	THE SEAGULL (1962) Anton Chekhov	DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson ROLE: Konstantin
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	THE BRIDE COMES BACK Ronald Millar	ROLE: Joe Tilney
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1962) William Shakespeare	DIRECTOR: Graham Crowden ROLE: Count Claudio
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	HAPPY RETURNS	ROLE: various (singing & dancing)
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	TEN LITTLE NIGGERS Agatha Christie	DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Edwards ROLE: Anthony Marston
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	THE IRREGULAR VERB TO LOVE Hugh & Margaret Williams	DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Edwards ROLE: Andrew Rankin
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	NOAH Andre Obey	DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson ROLE: Shem
1962	Belgrade Theatre Coventry	SEMI-DETACHED David Turner	DIRECTOR: Anthony Richardson ROLE: Tom Midway

September 1962 - October 1963
Arts Theatre Company, Ipswich

The Belgrade was the first municipal theatre built in England. Designed by the City Architects, it was opened in March 1958. It was named in recognition of a gift of timber from Yugoslavia, its emblem of the dove expressing the artistic understanding between people and countries.

Anthony Richardson
Artistic Director of the
Belgrade Theatre Company

Ian McKellen
First professional portrait as an actor
April 1961

The Plays

Stage Index

Plays by Title

Special Features include What's New, Search, Table of Contents, and More

Questions or comments regarding this website: webmaster@mckellen.com. Journalists, please register in our Media Lounge.

Trademark ® Copyright © 1997-2004 by Sir Ian McKellen. All rights reserved. Do not copy or redistribute in any form.

The Belgrade was the first municipal theatre built in England. Designed by the City Architects, it was opened in March 1958. It was named in recognition of a gift of timber from Yugoslavia, its emblem of the dove expressing the artistic understanding between people and countries.

Anthony Richardson Artistic Director of the Belgrade Theatre Company

Ian McKellen First professional portrait as an actor April 1961

The Plays

Stage Index

Plays by Title

Special Features include What's New, Search, Table of Contents, and More

Questions or comments regarding this website: webmaster@mckellen.com. Journalists, please register in our Media Lounge.

Trademark ® Copyright © 1997-2004 by Sir Ian McKellen. All rights reserved. Do not copy or redistribute in any form.

Anthony Richardson
Artistic Director of the
Belgrade Theatre Company

Ian McKellen
First professional portrait as an actor
April 1961