Belgrade Theatre partners with Ode Creatives to nurture local talent
The Belgrade Theatre partners with Coventry creative agency Ode Creatives to nurture the next generation of local talent.
The new partnership will support the theatre’s Digital Media Academy programme, expanding opportunities in audio storytelling while connecting emerging creatives with Coventry’s wider creative community.
Artistic Director Corey Campbell, interim CEO Emma Flatley, and the whole team at the Belgrade Theatre are delighted to announce a new partnership with Coventry-based creative agency and recording studio Ode Creatives, supporting the next generation of creative talent through its Digital Media Academy programme.
Founded in 2022 by husband-and-wife team Stanley Saungweme and Amelia McColl, Ode Creatives produces culturally relevant campaigns, content and experiences that help organisations connect with diverse audiences while opening doors for underrepresented creatives.
As part of the partnership, Ode Creatives will work alongside the Belgrade’s Digital Producer, Simone Herbert, to support this year’s Digital Media Academy cohort, leading the programme’s audio storytelling strand. Participants will gain practical skills and hands-on experience, drawing on Ode’s expertise as a working creative agency and recording studio.
The partnership builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations. Ode Creatives previously worked with the Belgrade to produce The Nannys of Today, a series of filmed podcasts inspired by the theatre’s upcoming production of Nanny of the Maroons. The project explored contemporary perspectives on themes connected to the production.
Simone Herbert, Digital Producer at the Belgrade Theatre, said: “The Digital Media Academy is always evolving. Applications have more than doubled since our first cohort, and this year we’re expanding beyond film into photography and audio storytelling. After working with Ode Creatives on The Nannys of Today podcast, we knew they were the right partners to support our new audio strand. The partnership also opens up Ode’s network to our participants, adding to the links we already have across Coventry’s universities and creative community, so the opportunities continue long after the course ends.”
Amelia McColl, Co-founder and Director of Ode Creatives, said: “Coventry is full of creative talent, but too many people still think they have to leave to make it. One of the reasons Ode Creatives exists is to show that you don’t. The Digital Media Academy shares that belief, which is why this partnership makes so much sense. Together, we can give new talent access to the kit, space and connections to build a career here.”
Stanley Saungweme, Co-founder and Director of Ode Creatives, added: “We’re proud to lead the audio storytelling strand for the Digital Media Academy in its first year. We’re a working studio, so what we teach comes from what we do every day, making real work. Our aim is for the cohort to leave with skills they can use, hands-on experience, and pieces they’re proud to show. What we hope to get out of it is simple. We want to see more of the creative talent staying in Coventry and building careers here, and we want to be part of the route that gets them there.”
Alongside its work with the Digital Media Academy, Ode Creatives is bringing its monthly creative networking event, Ode First Thursdays, to the Belgrade Theatre’s Burbidge Room. Launched in September 2026, the free event offers Coventry’s creative community an informal space to meet, share ideas, celebrate achievements and build connections, bringing together musicians, photographers, filmmakers, designers, content creators, podcasters, stylists and writers.
The event is open to the wider creative community, with no agenda beyond connecting with others and discovering potential collaborations. The first gathering welcomed 20 creatives for an evening of conversation, shared experiences and mutual encouragement.
Ode First Thursdays takes place on the first Thursday of every month at the Belgrade Theatre. Attendance is free, with registration available via Eventbrite: https://odefirstthursdays.eventbrite.co.uk/
Through the partnership, the Belgrade Theatre and Ode Creatives aim to strengthen links between emerging talent and Coventry’s established creative community, helping more people develop the skills, experience and connections to build creative careers in the city.
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