BakerHicks is working closely with architects Corstorphine & Wright and consultants Tandem Projects to improve the existing theatre.

Work will include the upgrade and refurbishment of the theatre’s main auditorium, café, restaurant and front of house areas, to provide visitors with an improved experience and allow for the stage area to be more easily adapted for different performances.

The design will also support the theatre’s sustainability requirements, incorporating a number of highly sustainable features to improve the theatre’s carbon footprint.

Coventry will become the City of Culture in 2021 and is undergoing substantial regeneration.

Steve Pinnegar, the lead civil and structural engineer on the project for BakerHicks, said: “Working safely and efficiently in the tight confines of an existing building where there is limited space will be a test for our teams.

“The structural alterations being discussed will require an innovative approach and close consultation to deliver a result worthy of such an historic building. As a local company ourselves, we are delighted to be helping to bring the theatre to life.”

Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre was built in 1958 and is very much a building of its time with liberal use of heavy concrete and brutal architecture.

The building is Grade II Listed, adding another layer to the challenge of its regeneration.

Close attention is being paid to retaining and re-using existing fixtures and fittings as far as possible.