A vibrant yellow pop-up dome hailed as a 'world first' was a hit with those who visited it.
Situated in Moat House Leisure Centre car park in Wood End, the dome could be spotted as you approach the area from the city centre.
The bright dome is called Paines Plough’s Roundabout and is supposed to be the world’s first pop-up-and-play theatre.
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A statement from Paines Plough says: "Roundabout is completely self-contained with state-of-the-art LED lighting and surround sound.
"We built Roundabout because we’re passionate about new plays and we want as many people as possible to be able to see them. Many places in the country don’t have theatres. Now we can take a theatre to them."
CoventryLive went inside the dome to find out what seeing a production is like and how it impacts the local community.
The Roundabout Theatre came to Coventry as part of the City of Culture celebrations in partnership with the Belgrade Theatre. It was also the world premiere of all four plays.
Hidden gem
Really big and really loud, May Queen, Black Love and Hungry were the productions performed inside the dome - of which we watch three. It was certainly an experience watching the challenging productions in the same place you would go to the gym.
Audience numbers varied on the dates we watched shows but it was clear it was a hidden gem.
The concept behind Paines Plough’s Roundabout is all about accessibility, bringing the arts and performances to communities that may otherwise lack access to them.
Benched seating was split into sections and positioned in rows stretching back to accommodate large audiences.
Depending on the production, there was music playing as you entered and some used the circular ceiling for projections.
As you walked into the dome, you were welcomed by Coventry's City of Culture hosts, asked to sanitise your hands and shown through to the entrance.
Powerful stories
Yasmin Dawes as Coventry's May Queen was spell-binding. A tour de force and sole performer, she captivated the audiences attention for the whole performance, which focused on her coming-of-age journey in a chaotic, busy and vibrant Coventry.
Stories of Black Love was told in musical form in a way that made it hard to look away. Brother and sister Aurora and Orion face grief, and their bond breaking against a backdrop of societal change and unsteady relationships.
The play was also a touching ode to black music that was equally funny and poignant.
Actors Leah St Luce, Eleanor Sutton and Nathan Queeley-Dennis put on a rousing performance exploring topics that made you think.
Hungry was a story all about food, class, grief and the problems that can come with being told to 'better yourself'.
Woven seamlessly into the story was an LGBT+ storyline, that, along with topics like race, class and food, caused you to leave the dome reflecting.
Hopefully, it will return again, and start a trend of bringing similar initiatives to the city so that local communities can enjoy.
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