Please Do Not Touch

If you're looking ahead at what's coming to the Studio Theatre at the Brighton Dome, mark your calendar for Saturday, March 7, 2026. That night, at 8:00 PM, they are hosting Please Do Not Touch, a new drama that has been making waves. This isn't a small local effort; it's a co-production involving China Plate, the Belgrade Theatre, and Birmingham Hippodrome, suggesting a high level of polish and touring quality.

The creative force behind it is impressive: the script was penned by Casey Bailey, who is known for his poetry and served as Birmingham's former Poet Laureate, and it’s directed by the award-winning Gail Babb. The play is actually an extension of Bailey's poetry collection, which gives you a hint about the lyrical power you can expect in the performance. The story centers on a character named Mason, a social justice activist who finds himself unjustly locked up in a Young Offenders Institution. The play explores how Mason manages to survive and, crucially, how he continues to use his voice when the entire system seems designed to silence him.

It’s a solo performance, with Selorm Adonu taking on the role of Mason for this 2026 national tour. The themes are weighty and timely, tackling issues like the colonial legacy, disputed heritage, the criminal justice system, and explorations of masculinity and vulnerability, showing how Mason uses the power of poetry to cope. The production has already garnered positive attention, being called an 'innovative performance' by critics. Given the intensity of the subject matter—which includes strong language, references to suicide, and references to racism and racial trauma—it’s recommended for audiences aged 14 and up.

If you decide to go, the show runs for about 65 minutes, so it’s a relatively compact evening of theatre. It takes place right in the heart of the city at the Studio Theatre, Brighton Dome, on Church Street. For those interested in tickets, the standard price is quite accessible at £10.00.