About

“Fingers on the pulse producers China Plate”

Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

35097 Audience & Participants

147 Engagement Sessions

62 Digital Products

Developing a new model of creating and producing theatre that opens up the way performance is made, who makes it and who it’s experienced by. 

Launched in 2006, China Plate is an independent theatre producing studio based in Birmingham and working across the UK. As an arts charity, we help people to make creative projects happen – from theatre shows, to audio anthologies, to bus stop galleries.

Our vision is that creative communities work together to deliver extraordinary theatre experiences that fire the imagination, affect positive change and are open to all.

In 2022/23, we created, toured, and programmed live productions, exhibitions, festivals, and digital work, for over 30,600 people across venues (locally, nationally, and internationally), with a creative programme of shows and events. We delivered a range of opportunities through our Creative Development and Training & Development programmes, engaging 4456 participants. We also supported 24 artists across 16 commissions, 7 of which were public art commissions, and hosted residencies for 31 creative practitioners.

Our past work has included mid-scale musical Gin Craze! (“raucous fun” ★★★★★ Observer), Caroline Horton’s All of Me (“shakes you…with a sense of awe” ★★★★★ Independent) and Birmingham Festival 2022 Commission To The Streets! – a civil rights musical by Roy Williams and Tim Sutton, previewing in West Midlands parks last summer. We’ve won multiple industry awards including five Fringe Firsts and numerous Offies and have been nominated for an Olivier.

We’re an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, which means funding thanks to taxpayers plays a huge part in supporting our work. We are also resident Associate Producers at Warwick Arts Centre and partners in Derby CAN, Derby Theatre’s Arts Council England Producing Hub.

A new model.

We seek to work as part of creative communities, outside of and within the arts, which could include artists, organisations, freelancers, community groups, participants, and audiences. At the heart of our model is a suite of development programmes to nurture artistic practice, facilitate collaboration, commission work, increase access and widen diversity.

View artists
A young man smiling but looking away from the camera.

Casey Bailey

A poet, rapper, play writer & Deputy Head teacher; developing his show Please Do Not Touch.

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A young woman with long braided hair, looking directly at the camera.

Urielle Klein-Mekongo

Award-winning writer, theatre maker, singer/songwriter & performer; developing her grime musical TRASH.

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A photograph of a man wearing a flat cap and headphones round his neck, looking directly to the camera.

Tim Sutton

Award-winning composer and musical director; working with Roy Williams to develop To The Streets!

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A man singing into a microphone, against a projected backdrop.

Chris Thorpe

A critically acclaimed writer & performer; developing the final show in his trilogy with Rachel Chavkin.

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An image of a man wearing glasses, holding his chin with his hand, looking away from the camera.

Roy Williams

Award-winning playwright; working with Tim Sutton to develop To The Streets!

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A side view of a woman wearing a head scarf, sitting at a bus stop.

Nilupa Yasmin

Artist and Educator, working primarily lens based; curator of the On Our Way bus stop galleries.

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