The Albany Theatre Coventry
Open Forum 16th January 2013
Designed in 1919, the now-named Albany Theatre was originally built as an assembly hall for Coventry Technical College in 1935. It was converted in to a theatre a few years later when the fly tower was added. Known as the College or Butts Theatre, it was home to amateur groups in Coventry for over 70 years. The theatre closed at the end of 2008 when City College (as it was by then known) moved to a new site in Hillfields and sold the old site to developers.
The theatre was saved following a spirited local campaign. In an enlightened move Coventry City Council entered into a section 106 agreement with the developers. This provision in planning law allows councils to require developers not only to develop for their advantage but to do something for the benefit of the community, in many instances resulting in landscaping, creating parks or public art. In this case the developers were required to retain the theatre and establish a charitable trust to run it.
The Albany Theatre Trust was established a year ago. The theatre reopens on February 1st. The challenge for the Trust is to run a sustainable operational theatre. The plan is to run it as a venue for amateur and professional comedy, drama, music, educational, multicultural and musical theatre, opera, and youth theatre - the whole panoply of the performing arts. The Trust's vision is for the Albany to be The theatre for the community we create. We want to act as a sponsor and patron of community arts projects by attracting funding from local businesses and through grants to enable as wide a range of groups as possible to be able to access this community resource.
Our aim is not to compete with other local arts providers but to work with them to increase the size of the 'cake'. We will support and promote cultural diversity and multi-ethnicity and will work with the education sector. We aim to offer technical training and apprenticeships over time.
The opening event (12.30 on Friday February 1st) is aimed at local small, medium and large businesses. We hope to a) encourage more people with business skills to get involved with the Trust; b) attract sponsorship of any and all amounts; c) show then what a perfect business meeting and conferences venue this is.
Numbers
· Over 40 regular volunteers have given their time to refurbish the Albany Theatre since June
· Over 80 volunteers in total have helped
· Since the start of December 2012, 3 teams (6-8 per team) of Community Service 'volunteers', supervised by the Probation Service, have each spent a day a week on Community Payback doing some of the many jobs in the theatre
· We estimate over £80,000 of expertise, time and labour has been donated by our Associates and Advisors; over £30,000 by a team of electricians giving their time voluntarily
· Over £20,000 of materials have been donated by local businesses
· We have: cleared the theatre; reconfigured the dressing rooms; repaired damage; cleaned the auditorium; replaced inadequate toilets and most importantly rewired and made safe the electrics
2017.05.20 'Braxi - Crossing the Classics' with fans, Albany Theatre, Coventry, Uk
Irene and Dave Hurr enjoy watching Max and Brandi's fabulous performance, 'Braxi - Crossing the Classics', Albany Theatre, Coventry, Uk.
2017.03.26 'Dance is Life' Show Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK - 04
Irene and Dave Hurr thoroughly enjoy the fabulous 'Dance is Life' Show at the Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK
2017.03.26 'Dance is Life' Show Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK - 06
Irene and Dave Hurr thoroughly enjoy the fabulous 'Dance is Life' Show at the Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK
2017.03.26 'Dance is Life' Show Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK - 07
Irene and Dave Hurr thoroughly enjoy the fabulous 'Dance is Life' Show at the Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK
2017.03.26 'Dance is Life' Show Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK - 05
Irene and Dave Hurr thoroughly enjoy the fabulous 'Dance is Life' Show at the Albany Theatre, Coventry, UK
Crescendo Albany Preview
Crescendo perform at The Albany Theatre Coventry - Saturday 26th November 2016 - tickets available from albanytheatre.co.uk
Celebration Of Youth Arts 2009
Celebration Of Youth Arts 2009
The Butts or Coventry Technical College opened on this day 10th December 1935
On the 10th December 1935 The Duke of York opened COVENTRY Technical College at The Butts.
Does anyone know what the carvings on the outside represent?
Did you study at The Butts, if so what and in what year?
Do you remember The Cycle Track next door on COVENTRY Rugby ground?
Let us know if you studied there?
One Day More - Coventry All Stars Production
via YouTube Capture
Ore on Giovanni's 2018 tour Born to Win
Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore on Giovanni's 2018 tour Born to Win.
video report British Armed Forces Inspire Event Coventry
Birmingham:British Armed Forces Inspire Event was held in Albany Theatre in Coventry, to build a good relationships and to facilitate community engagement with The British Armed Forces, including The Army, Royal Navy and The Royal Air Force.The event provided a great opportunity for communities to understand each other, promote British identity, community Cohesion, integration and Peace in all our communities.Organized By British Organization for People of Asian Origin (BOPA) collaboration with community engagement teams of Army, Royal Air-Force and Royal Navy Host By Davinder Prasad Special Attendance Lord Lieutenant Geroge Marsh, Lord Mayor of Coventry Councillor Lindsley Harvard, Regional Army Commander Brigadier Rob Anderton-Brown, Army Head Quarter representative Lt Col Mike Bishop,Major Naveed Muhammed National Liaison officer,Captin Makand Singh MBE RLC,Major Andy Johnson Community Liaison Officer,Squadron Leader Ross,Consul of India Mr Pankaj Sharma,Assistant Commissioner of Bangladesh Muhammad Zulkar Nain,Dr Rakesh Sachdev, President of BOPA,Lion Ravinder Sandhu, President Mercia Lions Club,Dr Iqtidar Karamat Cheema Phd,Mrs Sumaira Furrakh Chairperson BTM Global,Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan,Mr Hamid Malik, President of FIMO,Hans Raj Banga,Councillor Ramesh Srivastava, Chair BOPA,Councillor Ram Lakha,Councillor Muhammad Akhlaq, Councillor Balvinder Kaur,Mr Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK,Col Dr Deep Chand,Major Nanad Kumar Srivastava,Mr Palvinder Chana, Chair Sikh Union,Mrs Mehru Fitter, General Secretary, Positive Images,Mr David Burbidge, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Coventry,Mr Satya Sharma, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Birmingham,Wing Commander Bob Bomford, Royal Air Force,Commander Perter Gracy Royal Navy,Aneela Asad Vice Chairperson BTM Global , Mrs Naseem ,Miss England Dr Carina Tyrell,Miss Coventry & Warwickshire Rheo Parnell,Rinji Lawati Miss Nuneaton Carnival Queen ,Paster Ajmal Chughtai ,Mohammed Ali ,Arfan Sultan ,Saeed Sheikh, jan Janjua and many others Coverage By S M Irfan Tahir Photojournalist National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Great Britain.
Coventry University Wolfson Theatre Installation
Finale from the musical RENT - performed by A Few Good Men
Here's our performance of the finale from the musical RENT. HUGE thanks to Andrew Ahmed ( for his magical video work, and to Tim Rhys-Evans and Only Boys Aloud for the inspiration to perform this music.
Bring on the Bollywood - Belgrade Theatre, Coventry 6 May - 13 May 2017
Bring on the Bollywood at Belgrade Theatre Coventry
Sat 6 - Sat 13 May, 2017
Book now:
Full tour
Coventry – Belgrade Theatre
Sat 6 – Sat 13 May
Box Office: 024 7655 3055
belgrade.co.uk
Ipswich – New Wolsey Theatre
Tue 16 – Sat 20 May
Box Office: 01473 295900
wolseytheatre.co.uk
Kingston, London – Rose Theatre
Thu 25 – Sun 28 May
Box Office: 020 8174 0090
rosetheatrekingston.org
Doncaster – Cast
Wed 31 May – Fri 2 June
Box Office: 01302 303959
castindoncaster.com
Hornchurch – Queens Theatre
Tue 13 – Sat 17 June
Box Office: 01708 443333
queens-theatre.co.uk
Poole – Lighthouse
Thu 29 June – Sat 1 July
Box Office: 01202 280000
lighthousepoole.co.uk
London – artsdepot
Thu 6 – Sat 8 July
Box Office: 020 8369 5454
artsdepot.co.uk
York – Theatre Royal
Tue 11 – Sat 15 July
Box Office: 01904 623568
yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Oldham – Oldham Coliseum Theatre
Tue 18 – Sat 22 July
Box Office: 0161 624 2829
coliseum.org.uk
Cornwall – Hall for Cornwall
Tue 1 – Sat 5 August
Box Office: 01872 262466
hallforcornwall.co.uk
Oxford – Oxford Playhouse
Tues 15 – Sat 19 August
Box Office: 01865 305305
oxfordplayhouse.com
Peterborough – Vivacity Key Theatre
Thu 24 – Sat 29 August
Box Office: 01733 207239
vivacity-peterborough.com
Book now - phizzical.com/bollywood-tour-17
Braximusic Crossing the Classics Trailer
Braximusic's two hour long performance of Crossing the Classics was filmed on September 19th, 2015 at the Albany Theatre in Coventry, UK. This is a trailer of the show DVD set to be released on February 14, 2016. Pre order now at: braximusic.com/shop
Heritage Open Days 2019 - Backstage Tours!
Friday 13 September - Sunday 22 September 2019
Guided Tours of The Albany Theatre as part of Heritage Open Days
Book your place on one of our Heritage Open Day tours. Have a glimpse into the world of a working theatre, learn the history of an Art Deco, 1930's building and see what very few get the chance to see in a backstage tour of The Albany Theatre. Celebrate the culture of Coventry and the whole of England with Heritage Open Days. There's something for all ages to enjoy!
Free Event!
BOOK NOW:
Scared to Fall The Loaded - The Albany, Coventry 18/02/2012
The Loaded @ The Albany, Coventry 18/02/2012
Eddie Cochran historic sites #1 - Gaumont Theatre Coventry, England
Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent performed in the Gaumont Theatre in Coventry on Thursday 28th January 1960. This was the second date of their UK tour', the Larry Parnes production 'A Fast-Moving Beat Show'. I visited the Gaumont on April 21st 2013 and shot the video as shown here. The Gaumont Theatre is now the 'Ellen Terry Arts and Media building' and part of the Coventry University. I tried to get into the building to have a look at the stage, which is still supposed to be there, but was whisked away as students were working on their exams.
Spencer Leigh writes about the show in Coventry his book 'Things Do Go Wrong, Eddie, Gene and the UK Tour': After a day off for the performers on Wednesday, the tour continued on Thursday with a show at the Gaumont, Coventry and this time Eddie was closing the first half. The local paper said, About 450 people, mostly young girls attended the first half and screamed fairly steadily throughout the show, not, one felt from hysteria, but rather because it was the done thing. The second house drew 2,500 and the reviewer acknowledged that Gene excelled with 'Summertime'. Eddie Cochran met a local reporter, Ron Scobling, backstage and was genuinely interested in others and what they did. Ron's friend, Alan, followed Manchester United and Eddie wanted to know more about soccer.'
John Collis in his book 'Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, Rock 'n' Roll Revolutionairies: 'A member of the paying audience, Alan Sinnett, managed to get backstage. The lasting memory for me was how genuinely Eddie was. I didn't expect Eddie to be interested in us, but he asked questions of us as well as the other way round.'
- Video and narration by Antoon van Olderen - visit eddiecochran.info for more information on Eddie Cochran -
Giovanni Pernice: 'We're happy' Strictly pro announces BIG move with Ashley Roberts
Giovanni Pernice, 28, and Ashley Roberts, 37, met on Strictly Come Dancing last year, in which both made it to the final with Faye Tozer, 43, and Pasha Kovalev, 39. After weeks of speculation, Giovanni and Ashley confirmed they were dating after the show. They have since enjoyed romantic getaways together as well as sharing cosy snaps of their relationship with their social media fans. Now, Giovanni has opened up on the pair’s plans to move in together. The Italian dancer said: “It's going amazing. I'm hoping to take her home to Italy to meet my parents soon, and I'll go to America to meet her family. He added to The Daily Mail: “We'll be living in England together hopefully. We're happy.” Back in January, the couple confirmed they are dating after weeks of speculation. After the pair shared individual snaps of themselves at what appeared to be same holiday destination in December, host Lorraine Kelly quizzed the dancer. He told her: “We have yes [been on holiday]. We spent time together yes,” but the dancer insisted it was “early days” between the pair. Later that month, Giovanni shared a picture of the pair on jet-ski together humorously telling his fans they were on their way to Leeds for the Strictly Come Dancing tour. While on tour, Giovanni and Ashley were also spotted holding hands during a casual stroll together in the city. Prior to their outing, Ashley confirmed the pair were seeing each other, telling Weekend magazine: “Yes we are seeing each other. “And now the show is done we can spend a bit more time together. We're getting to know each other, and it's nice. Since confirming their relationship, the pair have shared cosy snaps of them together on Instagram. Last month, Ashley gushed over her beau as she supported him on the opening night of his tour Dance Is Life. Giovanni kissed Ashley on the cheek while she smiled for the camera. In view of her 47, followers, she commented: “Proud of this one! Opening night was a success Make sure to grab your tickets as it’s almost sold out hunni’s #danceislife.” Many of her fans flocked to her page to comment. One user wrote: “You 2 are so sweet together. You deserve every happiness.” A second added: “Too adorable you too are,” while a third penned: “Love this, Love you two!”