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!Talking About The Fire

The conversation continues with an exclusive performance of Talking About The Fire, created by Chris Thorpe and Claire O’Reilly, on Thursday 4th December. This performance is hosted by the Geneva Graduate Institute in association with International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and funded by Lex International.

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Neighbourhood Creatives

China Plate are working in Washwood Heath in Birmingham over the next three years, designing creative opportunities in collaboration with the people who live and work there. From Autumn 2025 to Spring 2026, we are working with Braidwood School For The Deaf, Hodge Hill College, Hodge Hill Arts Forum and the Washwood Heath Adaption & Sustainability Hub (WASH), each of whom will host a bespoke artist residency.

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Future Producers

Are you (or could you be) a producer of musical theatre in the Midlands? China Plate, Musical Theatre Network and Royal & Derngate invite you to join us for a free networking event on Saturday 22nd November, as part of Gen Fest - an annual festival supporting artist development, new work and work-in-progress.

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A side profile of a person singing with a microphone to their mouth. The bright light behind them has created a silhouette of them and the audience.

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Warwick Christmas Lectures 2025

The Warwick Christmas Lectures return on 26th November & 10th December at Warwick Arts Centre. Join Ally Caldecote & some of our favourite scientists from the University of Warwick for two evenings of mind-boggling science & explosive experiments.

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A young girl is sat in the audience, dressed as an astronaut, looking towards the stage out of shot.

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PhD Research Project

Freelance Director, Facilitator and co-founder of Feat.Theatre, Josie Lena Davies has begun their AHRC-funded Midlands4Cities Collaborative Doctoral Award: a PhD research project embedded in China Plate’s practice. Take a read of their blog, where they reflect on their first year of research and how you can get involved.

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A young woman with long brown hair and purple highlights appears to be facilitating a group discussion. She has a book resting on her lap and a pen in her hand.

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Touring Together

We’re excited to share the news that China Plate & Fuel are embarking on a new collaboration: Touring Together, a three-year strategic partnership for producing & touring new midscale theatre. We have joined forces with Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Oxford Playhouse, Warwick Arts Centre, Leeds Playhouse & Brighton Dome on this new venture. Generously supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

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Horizontally split image. The top is a production shot from Touching the Void. The bottom production shot is from To The Streets!

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Humans Not Heroes

Seven cohorts of healthcare workers have each co-created an audio artwork based on their real-life experiences of working throughout the pandemic. Experience them online via our website, find out more about our mobile listening station and take a read of the Arts-Based Inquiry by Coventry University.

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A woman wearing a disposable mask, sitting on a bus alone.

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Longing to Belong

Commissioned by BBC Arts, Longing to Belong is a new short musical film about a Jamaican girl’s desire to fit in in 1960s Bristol, inspired by China Plate and Birmingham Hippodrome’s brand-new stage musical To The Streets! A show that tells the inspiring story of the Bristol Bus Boycott.

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A woman standing on a bus holding her right hand in the air whilst singing.

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Soho Settlers

Discover the history of Handsworth with a brand-new heritage walk by Black Heritage Walks Network and digitally pinned audio pieces on the Overhear App. Presented by Birmingham 2022 Festival, a China Plate and Birmingham Hippodrome project. A Creative City Project generously supported by Birmingham City Council.

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A close up of a phone screen in a person's hand.

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On Our Way

Artist Nilupa Yasmin, alongside residents from North Birmingham, have collaborated to make over 8 bus stops into stained glass galleries along the iconic 74 route on the Soho Road in Birmingham. Each one tells the stories of the communities that make up the area. Presented as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

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Photograph of a bus stop outside a temple, decorated with stain glass style patterns.

What's on

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Photograph of a bus stop outside a temple, decorated with stain glass style patterns.

On Our Way

We're On Our Way to convert bus stops along the iconic 74 route on the Soho Road into art galleries.

Read more about On Our Way
A close up of a phone screen in a person's hand.

Soho Settlers

Take in new places and hear new voices with a co-created digital walk of Handsworth.

Read more about Soho Settlers
A woman standing on a bus holding her right hand in the air whilst singing.

Longing to Belong

A moving short musical film about a Jamaican girl’s desire to fit in in 1960s Bristol.

Read more about Longing to Belong
A woman wearing a disposable mask, sitting on a bus alone.

Humans Not Heroes

A co-created series of audio pieces made with artists and healthcare workers exploring their experiences of the Covid pandemic.

Read more about Humans Not Heroes

Neighbourhood Creatives

A 3 year arts programme designed in collaboration with communities in Washwood Heath, Birmingham.

Read more about Neighbourhood Creatives
A man sitting at a coffee table, holding a mug, with a yellow teapot on the table with smoke escaping.

Talking About The Fire

Nuclear weapons could destroy us all, right now - so why aren't we talking about them?

Read more about Talking About The Fire
A young black man wearing a grey tracksuit is lay down on a bed. He has his arm tucked under his head.

Please Do Not Touch

After an incident, Mason is wrongly imprisoned. How does he keep speaking up when everything is designed to silence him?

Read more about Please Do Not Touch
A close up of a woman biting her tongue in between her teeth.

TRASH

Trash is a dark musical comedy taking the form of a crime caper. What happens when appearances and friendships become a commodity?

Read more about TRASH
Graphic text reads 'To The Streets' against an orange background.

To The Streets!

Uplifting new musical inspired by the Bristol Bus Boycott.

Read more about To The Streets!
A brown violin and bow leading against the base of a tree, surrounded by autumnal leaves.

Swansong

What starts as a conversation about crisps becomes a meditation on life and how we choose to face the end.

Read more about Swansong

Latest News

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Internship Reflections

13th November 2025

Reflecting on her B-Experienced Internship, our Producing Assistant Jess, provides an insight into her time at China Plate.

Reflecting on her B-Experienced Internship, our Producing Assistant Jess, provides an insight into her time at China Plate.

Written by Jess
Read more about Internship Reflections

An interview with Casey Bailey

10th November 2025

Find out more about Birmingham's former Poet Laureate Casey Bailey & his play Please Do Not Touch, ahead of its…

Written by Jade Samuels
Read more about An interview with Casey Bailey

New Producing Partnership

4th November 2025

China Plate and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry are delighted to announce a major new partnership - find out more.

Written by Ed & Paul
Read more about New Producing Partnership

Opportunities

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Test 2nd opp

This is a second opportunity for testing...

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Future Producers of Musicals in the Midlands

China Plate, Musical Theatre Network and Royal & Derngate invite you to join us for a free networking event on Saturday 22nd November...

Find out more about Future Producers of Musicals in the Midlands
A side profile of a person singing with a microphone to their mouth. The bright light behind them has created a silhouette of them and the audience.

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Help China Plate support artists, freelancers and audiences

As a charity China Plate Theatre relies on donations to create adventurous and imaginative new theatre with popular appeal and a social purpose.

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Find out how your support can help artists, freelancers and audiences to create, make and access great theatre.

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