A local poet and playwright has been successful in getting a second grant from Arts Council England for the trilogy "Home" for China West Midlands.

The success came after an invitation from the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association to celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the Chinese Republic at Birmingham Council House.  

Ian Henery was commissioned by China West Midlands to write a trilogy of plays on the theme of "Home" from Chinese and British points of view.  The trilogy would focus on 3 significant periods of history: the Chinese Labour Corps during World War One, the migration of people from South East Asia to England after World War Two and modern times.  

"Covid hit the performance industry" said Ian Henery "and it was really difficult holding auditions and rehearsals."

However, persistence and faith in the project prevailed.  A research and development grant from  Arts Council England enabled a weekend of performances for The Chinese Labour Corps at The Blue Orange Theatre and the results were streamed across the West Midlands for comments.  A second,  full Arts Council England grant was obtained and The Chinese Labour Corps was performed on stage for a full week at The Blue Orange Theatre and also streamed across the West Midlands for Chinese New Year.

Ian Henery now has another Arts Council England grant for the second play in the trilogy which sees migration of people from South East Asia to England after World War Two.  

‘This pre-production theatre development originates from the memories, lived experiences & authentic voices of the Chinese community in Birmingham who migrated to the city in the 1950’s" explained Ian Henery.   

"Birmingham  Chinese community activities and  workshops will contribute and  lead to a professional full script being written. A short Scratch Performance will be performed to industry experts & project participants for feedback and  it will be filmed to promote the play for next stage production funding & wider reach.’

Through creative community workshops trainee writers and actors  will capture and  refine authentic voices and experiences with a professional scriptwriter who will  mentor and  oversee crafting a professional script.  This will  lead to a  Scratch Performance, preparing for future theatre production working title ‘Come to Birmingham, Making of a Modern City'

The results of these workshops will be a high-quality, experimental theatrical script, exploring non-linear storytelling and  visual theatre reflecting diverse and  complex experiences of the  Birmingham Chinese community through  artistic innovation.

The Chinese Community Centre in Birmingham are hosting the workshops.  "It is a  safe and  accessible space for story sharing via spoken word, poetry, creative writing and  recorded sound and visual soundbites," said Ian Henery  "addressing barriers of older generation and  language variances. It will also encourage meaningful dialogue of shared experiences".

Ian Henery hopes that it will promote greater understanding of the Chinese community's contributions to British society to a wider audience.  !"I want to develop pathways for emerging Chinese British artists, contributing to a more inclusive & representative arts sector" said Ian Henery "and provide mentoring and opportunities for Chinese British artists to develop skills & showcase talent through  playwriting, performance and  digital media, fostering professional growth".

There will also be impactful and accessible film and  evaluation.  "I want to create short, visually compelling film documenting the project" said Ian Henery " incorporate subtitled interviews and  creative visuals, to reach a wider audience and  as an evaluative tool.  I also want to  implement audience feedback surveys and  participant interviews to measure project impact on community engagement & cultural understanding".