A historic theatre charity in Coventry is consulting on cutting its workforce by around 5% in a bid to make its operations financially sustainable.
Belgrade Theatre Trust, which has operated at a loss for the last three financial years, announced that seven roles were at risk.
The charity, which was incorporated in 1957 and has a total headcount of 156 employees, said a formal consultation process had started with staff who may be affected.
The news comes at a financially challenging time for many charities, with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds among major names to have recently announced potential workforce cuts.
A number of other UK theatres have made redundancies during 2026, including London’s Young Vic, the Perth Theatre and Concert Hall and the Royal & Derngate in Northampton.
Belgrade Theatre Trust, which has a total headcount of 156 people, pointed toward an increasingly challenging sector-wide environment for theatres.
In a statement to Civil Society, the charity said: “We have announced proposals as part of a wider strategy to strengthen the theatre's financial resilience and secure its future.
“While these proposals are difficult, they are intended to create a stronger and more sustainable organisation.”
Belgrade Theatre Trust’s total income in the year to 31 March 2025 was £7.94m, below its expenditure of £8.78m.
The last time income surpassed spending was in the year to 31 March 2022 when it reached £7.22m, compared with an expenditure of £6.09m.
“No final decisions have been made, and consultation will play an important role in informing the outcome,” the charity added.
“Our priority is to support those affected throughout this process and to ensure that consultation is conducted fairly, transparently and with care.”
The Belgrade Theatre was opened in March 1958 by the Duchess of Kent and became the first civic theatre built in Britain after World War II.
It was registered with the Charity Commission in 1963 and currently has 15 trustees.
