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Neighbourhood Creatives Arts Festival 2026

Let’s get-together from 26th – 31st October 2026 in Washwood Heath and Ward End in Birmingham for a week-long arts festival, filled with family fun activities and performances at different venues across the area – all events will be free!

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A signpost directing to various places in Washwood Heath and Ward End set against a backdrop of trees in a park.

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Trustee Recruitment

We are looking for new Trustees, from either inside or outside the arts sector, to join our friendly and dynamic Board in 2026. If you are interested in the ways arts and culture can have a positive impact on the world, we’d love to hear from you.

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Touring Together

A new national touring initiative led by China Plate & Fuel. We’ll be bringing bold stories which shine a fresh light on the world we live in today to stages across the country, in collaboration with Brighton Dome, Leeds Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse, Royal & Derngate, Northampton and Warwick Arts Centre.

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A red ombre background overlaid with a white logo which says 'Touring Together Bringing the best new theatre to you'

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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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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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A close up of two people holding a paper book, map and leaf in their hands. They appear to be sitting at a table in a park.

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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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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.

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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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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 close up of a persons hands whilst they draw on some paper upon a table.

Neighbourhood Creatives

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

Read more about Neighbourhood Creatives
A young black man stood under a spotlight, on darkened stage. He is wearing a light grey tracksuit and has braided hair. A vibrant pink hue is shining through the backdrop of the set, which sits behind a bunk bed.

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 red ombre background overlaid with a white logo which says 'Touring Together Bringing the best new theatre to you'

Touring Together

Bringing bold stories which shine a fresh light on the world we live in today to stages across the country.

Read more about Touring Together
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
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 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!

We are developing an uplifting new musical, inspired by the Bristol Bus Boycott.

Read more about To The Streets!

Latest News

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The Optimists 2026 – Cohort Reflections

11th September 2026

We caught up with one of our alumni to reflect on their experience of The Optimists Summer 2026 course.

We caught up with one of our alumni to reflect on their experience of The Optimists Summer 2026 course.

Written by Kristina
Read more about The Optimists 2026 – Cohort Reflections

Introducing our Intern

7th September 2026

We are delighted to welcome Ikram to the team, as part of a B-Experienced internship from the University of Birmingham.

Written by Ikram
Read more about Introducing our Intern

Warwick Christmas Lectures 2026

27th August 2026

Warwick Christmas Lectures return and are bigger and more fun than ever! Expect mind-boggling science and explosive experiments.

Written by Paul
Read more about Warwick Christmas Lectures 2026

Opportunities

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China Plate Seeks Trustees

Looking for new Trustees to join our friendly and dynamic Board in 2026...

Find out more about China Plate Seeks Trustees
hotograph of a bus stop outside a temple, decorated with stain glass style patterns.

Support us

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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Make a Donation

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

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