Coventry’s Belgrade and theatre company China Plate are to present the world première of Please Do Not Touch by former Birmingham poet laureate Casey Bailey.
China Plate co-artistic director Paul Warwick explained, “this project gives us an opportunity to work with one of Birmingham’s most talented writers, something we’ve been keen to do ever since we saw an early extract of Please Do Not Touch at our Bite Size Festival in 2022.
“The show’s themes of social justice and struggle resonate strongly with us, our partners and the amazing creative team working on the production.
“Co-producing with the Belgrade Theatre, working alongside that organisation’s inspiring new leadership team and their dedicated staff, is also a fantastic opportunity. We’ve developed the piece alongside staff and volunteers from the heritage sector, prison inmates and through a number of workshops with young people.”
The Belgrade’s creative director Corey Campbell added, “this show asks really important questions about colonial legacy, contested heritage and how stories are told while shining a light on the criminal justice system.”
Please Do Not Touch is an evolution of Bailey’s 2021 poetry collection of the same name and follows Mason, a social justice TikToker, who spends his spare time in heritage houses examining the artefacts that exist there and uncovering the truth behind their stories.
Tijan Sarr will play Mason. He previously collaborated with Bailey on Grimeboy, which was performed at Birmingham Rep and toured community venues around the West Midlands in 2022.
Please Do Not Touch will be directed by Gail Babb. Design will be by Miriam Nabarro with sound design by Kayodeine, lighting design by Gillian Tan, movement direction by Keiren Hamilton-Amos and dramaturgy by Yaël Shavit. Jade Samuels is associate producer.
Please Do Not Touch will run in the Belgrade’s B2 auditorium from Wednesday 11 until Saturday 21 September. Press night will be Friday 13 September.