"This partnership gives us a powerful platform to nurture talent"
Belgrade Theatre Coventry and Rifco Theatre Company have announced a landmark partnership to champion British South Asian stories on stage.
Set to launch in April 2026, the collaboration was unveiled at See It First: Elevating the British South Asian Voice, a special event at the Belgrade Theatre.
The gathering brought together producers, artists and creatives to explore the future of British South Asian storytelling in UK theatre.
The multi-year partnership builds on the 2024 success of Frankie Goes to Bollywood, which centres on Frankie, a young woman who unexpectedly finds herself catapulted into the dazzling world of Bollywood.
The partnership will deliver bold new productions, support artistic innovation, and deepen engagement with South Asian communities in Coventry and the West Midlands.
Pravesh Kumar MBE, Artistic Director of Rifco Theatre Company, said:
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Belgrade Theatre in such a transformative and meaningful way.
“Coventry’s South Asian communities are rich with untold stories, authentic voices, and bold creative potential.
“This partnership gives us a powerful platform to nurture talent, reach wider audiences, and create ambitious theatre, including new musicals, that truly reflects the spirit, diversity and dynamism of modern Britain.”
Corey Campbell, Artistic Director of Belgrade Theatre, and Laura Elliot, Chief Executive, added:
“We’re proud to enter into this long-term partnership with Rifco, one of the UK’s most important British South Asian theatre companies.
“This work is about more than programming; it’s about shared vision, a commitment to representation, and placing Coventry at the heart of a national conversation about identity, creativity and community.”
The partnership will focus on four key areas: artistic development, audience growth, workforce development, and civic impact.
Audiences can expect annual main house productions, the expansion of the Rifco Associates artist development programme, and community engagement activities tailored to Coventry’s South Asian communities.
Plans also include shared infrastructure, new commissions, revivals, and outreach schemes to support emerging artists and creatives.
Through ambassador initiatives and bespoke engagement for each show, the aim is to grow local and national audiences while amplifying underrepresented voices.
By combining creative ambition with long-term investment, Belgrade Theatre and Rifco hope to cement Coventry as a national hub for British South Asian theatre-making.
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