Don Kinch is the first to admit that he is not the world’s best gardener.
He is more famous for other things, like being Birmingham’s leading Afro-Caribbean writer and the father of saxophonist Soweto Kinch.
He admits his own garden is overgrown and neglected. But he has been trying to cultivate his green fingers on another project – turning a back garden into a new performance space for the city.
READ MORE: {}
Don is the artistic director of Nu Century Arts, one of the 海角视频’s leading black performing arts companies which is behind the annual Flyover Show.
Held for the last five years beneath the Hockley Flyover and hosted by Soweto, featured artists have included the likes of Maxi Priest, Goldie and Ms Dynamite.
Now the company is creating a permanent outdoors space to nurture local performers and attract international stars to Birmingham.
The 100ft by 50ft space is at the back of Nu Century’s offices on Hamstead Road in Handsworth. The previously overgrown garden has been transformed, with the building of a stage, timber decking, paving and mosaic stepping stones. There will be seating for around 120, plus standing space for more.
Don expects the venue to be busy from May to October, but there are canopies and outdoor heaters to offer some protection against the elements, so he hopes it will also find a use in winter.
Most Read
He is calling the project “the child of austerity”, born out of the company needing to save on the costs of touring their productions.
“It’s becoming increasingly expensive to tour,” explains Don, a playwright and former performing arts lecturer at Handsworth College. “Venues are under pressure because of cutbacks, so they are charging more to hire out their facilities.
“We had to think about how we can make our work cheaper, by creating our own space. It’s forced us to become more imaginative and creative.
“We are used to holding events outdoors because of the Flyover Show, so when I was looking around for somewhere, I realised our back garden would be perfect.
“It’s a flexible space which can be used for organised theatrical and musical events or something much more casual.
“We’d like the community to think of it as their space too, in the heart of the neighbourhood. One of the concepts we want to promote is called Ask For The Key, where local people use the garden for whatever they want, from a place to meet and drink coffee to learning a musical instrument.
“We’d like to encourage local membership clubs to meet here. Don’t just wait for us to organise something for you, ask for the key and use the garden!”
Don’t miss
It has taken a year from conception to fruition and has cost £50,000, with help from sources including the Arts Council, Changemakers and Cope Black Mental Health Foundation, plus plenty of volunteer labourers.
“I have got my hands very dirty,” laughs Don, 54. “I’ve been digging and pulling up weeds. I’m not much of a gardener though, my own garden is dreadfully overgrown.
“Soweto has been involved too, though more on the discussion rather than practical side as he’s very busy touring.”
Mercury Prize-nominated jazz saxophonist Soweto will headline an event on September 7 to officially unveil The Back Yard. The celebration of music, dance and drama will replace this year’s Flyover Show, though it will return in 2014.
The Back Yard is an obvious name, but it is also one that has a special significance for people from Afro-Caribbean backgrounds. Jamaicans refer to their own homes as ‘back-a-yard’, while the phrase also means Jamaica to those living in Britain.
“That term will resonate with them,” says Don.
Nu Century Arts is also behind The Live Box musical project at The Drum, which nurtured the likes of current rising singing star Laura Mvula.
Don hopes to continue supporting local talent through The Back Yard, while also attracting international companies. He has forged links with, among others, the South African State Theatre, Jamaica’s L’Acadco Dance Company, Ghana National Theatre and Nordic Black Theatre from Norway.
Nu Century are also discussing a project with the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham around their forthcoming exhibition of the work of artist David Tremlett.
“We’re planning a music performance programme to link up with that. The Back Yard is going to be a small and inviting artistic space, whose aim is to have an international reach,” concludes Don.