You might not expect a drab former metal pressings factory in the Jewellery Quarter to house Birmingham’s most adventurous theatre company, but then Stan’s Café (pronounced Stan’s ‘Kaff’) don’t like to do things traditionally.
Formed by James Yarker in the early 90s, Stan’s Café position themselves on the experimental side of theatre, thinking beyond the normal theatrical set-up of an audience sat facing a group of actors on a stage.
The company originally hired out the venue in 2008 for their now globally touring production Of All The People In All The World - an ambitious piece featuring an audience walking around over 100 tons of rice to represent each person on the planet - but they liked the space so much that they entered into an agreement with the still operating AE Harris & Co to run it as both a rehearsal and performance space all year round.
Since then, the AE Harris Building has been used as a location for events at the annual Fierce Festival, along with work from the endlessly inventive Birmingham Opera Company.
AE Harris isn’t the most comfortable of spaces and you might want to bring a coat if you’re watching something during winter time, but these are small prices to pay when you know you’ll be watching exciting new theatre that defies easy description.
Although Stan’s Café’s increased profile means they now take their work around the world, the A.E. Harris Building remains their true home.