Please Do Not Touch

Thur 5^th Feb | Full £8 | Conc £5 | Age 16+ 

An extension of Casey’s poetry collection of the same name, Please Do Not Touch follows the story of Mason, an activist who explores historic houses on TikTok to uncover the true stories behind the objects that lie within. After an incident with a Somali Afro comb, he is wrongly imprisoned in a Young Offender Institution. Can he find a way to survive this ordeal and navigate how to keep speaking up when everything is designed to silence him? 

This show asks important questions about colonial legacy, contested heritage and how stories are told, whilst shining a light on the criminal justice system.

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Please Do Not Touch has a heart and a brain, it is thoughtfully written, sensitively performed and beautifully staged.

British Theatre Guide

 One of Birmingham’s best and brightest voices. 

Vanessa Kinsuule

Bailey’s gift for the written – and spoken – word  is evident throughout the play, and the moments when poetry comes to the foreground align with moments of freedom, joy and power in Mason’s story.

Warwickshire What’s On

chinaplatetheatre.com 

Content to consider:
Strong language | Mention of suicide | Themes of racism throughout | Intense and emotional content referencing the criminal justice system and incarceration | Young Offender Institution setting | Heritage and colonial issues which may evoke discomfort for example artefacts contested legacy race and justice | References to trauma powerlessness and institutionalisation

PLEASE NOTE THIS PRODUCTION WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN ONE OF OUR STUDIO SPACES – DS1

 

Trouble, Struggle, Bubble & Squeak

THU 12^th FEB | Full £8 | Conc £5 | AGE 16+ 

Award-winning theatre maker Victoria Melody joined a historical re-enactment society… because we all deal with divorce in different ways.! Spending weekends as a Musketeer trying to get her head straight, she uncovered the story of a bunch of 17th century radicals called The Diggers and then everything changed.  

What started out as a personal search for happiness turned into a quest to find the Diggers of today. What she didn’t expect was that they’d be found far from the battlefield, right on her doorstep. Back in modern-day Britain doing her day job, she realised The Diggers never really left. They’re still here, still fighting, making change on their own terms. 

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By blending storytelling and stand-up, past and present collide in this unexpected tale of high jinks. Alongside a community on the frontline Vic steps from re-enactment into reality, where history isn’t just remembered—it’s made. 

Directed by Mark Thomas, Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak celebrates the ordinary people shaping history – then and now. And, like The Diggers, they might leave behind something that will last…if they don’t get caught. 

A joyful testament to people power and a heartening parable about the possibility of collective action – ★★★★  

The Guardian

A hymn to community and solidarity – ★★★★  

The Stage

A moving and inspirational comic call to arms – ★★★★ 

The List

victoriamelody.com 

Content to consider:
References to food poverty and malnutrition | Brief mention of violence and a murder (no graphic detail) | Occasional strong language | Mild sexual innuendo in a short section | Themes around community struggle and social inequality | References to local political conflict and campaigning | Mild peril or tension during historical or environmental protest scenes | Physical reenactment moments that might be loud or sudden | Discussion of the impact of gentrification and development | Reflection on personal stress

Nine Sixteenths  

Thu 26^th Feb | Full £8 | Conc £5 | Age 16+ 

In 2004, in the SuperBowl halftime show finale, 23 year old Justin Timberlake ripped off 37 year old Janet Jackson’s top. Her breast was exposed on screen for nine sixteenths of a second. A pop icon and role model for many black women, and an outspoken ally for the LGBTQ community, the moment derailed Jackson’s career for many years, while Timberlake’s thrived. 

Who was invested in the backlash? What does all this have to say about the demographics of who controls the media, and the ways in which black women are scrutinised in the public eye?

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From THE MALFUNCTION to THE AFTERMATH and a celebration of RECLAMATION, Nine Sixteenths is a journey through 3 acts, exploring themes of representation and pop culture with a nostalgia for the early 00’s, and the hopes and dreams of 4 black female performers through a visual variety of devised theatre, dance and lip sync. 

A fast, fun multimedia look at iconic black female role models. 

A Young(ish) Perspective

Varjack’s work allows for the reclamation of the pride and power that Jackson held.

The Reviews Hub

Refreshing bold in its approach.

All That Dazzles 

paulavarjack.com

Content to consider:
Strong language | References to sexism | References to racism

Look After Your Knees  

Thu 5^th Mar | Age 16+ 

Charity Event  

Neurodivergent Moments 

A live book reading and discussion from 2 neurodivergent comedians; Abigoliah Schamaun (as seen on Celebrity Pointless) and Joe Wells (“one of my favourite comics” – Frankie Boyle). Celebrate those moments in your life where your brain works differently to other brains. Neurotypicals welcome too.

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A mischievous, intelligent show about identity and representation … exquisitely tuned, often very funny routines.

The Scotsman, review of Joe Wells: King Of The Autistics

Frequently hilarious … The message that ‘difference is strength’ is a powerful one … in Joe’s hands, it is frequently hilarious.

Portsmouth News, review of Doesn’t Want to Do Political Comedy Anymore 

joewells.org.uk 

Content to consider:
Discussion of autism ADHD and other neurodivergent experiences | Jokes about meltdowns overstimulation and social misunderstandings | References to mental health challenges | Strong language | Candid descriptions of difficult personal experiences | Humour based on lived experiences which some audiences may find intense confronting or very real | Occasional references to discrimination or ableism | Potential audience interaction which may involve sudden noise or unexpected participation.