Black Country Touring Secures National Lottery Heritage Fund Support for 'Cape Custard'

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Black Country Touring (BCT) has been awarded a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to bring our brand-new production, 'Cape Custard', to life this Summer.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this vital funding will allow us to uncover and celebrate the incredible, hidden history of Smethwick’s iconic Chance Brothers Glassworks. Known historically as "the firm that lit the world", Chance Brothers manufactured the monumental lighthouse lenses that navigated ships safely across global coastlines, as well as the glass that built London's famous Crystal Palace.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

'Cape Custard' will transform these fascinating archives into a highly accessible, music-driven, and non-verbal theatrical performance. Co-created alongside a brilliant team of artists including lead collaborators Sam Frankie Fox and Ricardo Santos Rocha, the production will weave together stories of industrial innovation, global migration, and the extraordinary lived experiences of the Chance workers.

Genevieve Say, Artistic Director of Black Country Touring, said:

"We are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for backing our vision. Smethwick is a remarkable hub of history, and this support gives us the opportunity to reclaim a global legacy right on our doorstep. By touring 'Cape Custard' directly into community spaces across the Black Country, we are making local heritage sensory, inclusive, and deeply relevant to everyday audiences. This is just the start of our journey, as we plan to tour the show nationally in 2027”.

Developed in close partnership with the Chance Heritage Trust and Sandwell Archives, 'Cape Custard' will ensure that the heritage of the region's industrial past is celebrated and preserved for future generations. The production is being designed from the ground up with accessibility in mind, integrating British Sign Language (BSL) and visual storytelling to engage audiences often excluded from heritage experiences.

Keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels and website for upcoming venue announcements, artist spotlights, and behind-the-scenes insights from the rehearsal room!