Birmingham, 28 September 2025 – This was an extraordinary moment for our project and for me personally, as we took to the stage at the Birmingham Mid-Autumn Festival 2025, presenting a scratch performance of Ian Henery’s Birmingham Chinese Community Play.
With more than 1,500 people in attendance across two packed venues – the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre (Holiday Inn) and Ming Moon Restaurant – the atmosphere was electric. The response from audiences has been nothing short of inspiring.
The play was directed and project managed by Dr Ranjit Khutan, Director of Bright Red Creative Solutions Ltd, Education, Research & Management Consultant, and an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and author. His leadership has been instrumental in bringing this project to life, supported by Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants.
This play is more than performance; it is a living archive of the Birmingham Chinese community’s stories. Through workshops, script development, and performance, we are capturing the voices of those who migrated here in the 1950s – their experiences of prejudice, resilience, and their role in shaping modern Birmingham and Chinatown.
As a performer, I (Chi Lam) was honoured to contribute as an understudy for the Yellow Dragon character. To stand alongside such a talented cast – Irene Henery, Susan Vickers, Amie J. Lilac, Bill Heeks, Luke Dalton, Sundari Maheswaran, Reena Jaisiah (Artistic Director of Casteway Arts), and Sarah Jane Pugh – was inspiring in itself.
The ensemble brought authenticity and passion to every line, and it was moving to see audience members respond so deeply. Many stayed behind to share their own memories and reflections on camera, some seeing their community’s history represented on stage for the first time.
The energy carried through both venues. At Ming Moon, the performance spilled over into conversation, laughter, and reflection, with people of all ages engaging with the play’s themes of migration, belonging, and identity. Young people in particular resonated with the stories, showing how relevant and intergenerational these narratives are.
And this is only the beginning. With Arts Council England’s continued support, the project will expand with further workshops, script development, and a filmed scratch performance at Birmingham Hippodrome in February 2026. The long-term goal is a full-scale production that amplifies the voices of Birmingham’s Chinese and East Asian communities, while challenging stereotypes and sparking meaningful dialogue across the UK.
For those who wish to relive the magic of the day, we are sharing audience interviews and behind-the-scenes content on our social media platforms.
The performances proved the transformative power of theatre – to unite, to heal, and to celebrate heritage. This project is not just about telling stories; it is about creating a space where the community can see themselves, their families, and their history reflected on stage, and where audiences of all backgrounds can share in that journey.
We thank Arts Council England for their generous support in making this project possible.
