As part of our brand new production The Band Plays On, we’re excited to have the brilliant local artist Kid Acne create a bespoke piece of artwork for the set.

Ben Stones, Designer of The Band Plays On said:

“If Chris Bush provides the voice, and the bands the sounds, then what would be the authentic visualisation of the heart of this city? For a play that is so strong in its Sheffield identity it felt inappropriate to use theatrical scenic art to fake a setting. Street Art felt more authentic for this project bursting with tunes and artistry. I had the mad idea to ask Kid Acne to create a new mural on my set as his work to me really personifies the poetry, humour and resilience of the steel city.”

Kid Acne was born in Lilongwe, Malawi and now lives and works in Sheffield, England. He is a UK-based artist, illustrator, print-maker and emcee. He began writing graffiti, self-publishing fanzines, making experimental hip-hop and designing and printing record sleeves by hand. His art explores a variety of themes, from colloquialisms and typography, to mythology and architecture.

A stalwart of the international Street Art movement, Kid Acne’s work features across the globe and his images have adorned products for some of the world’s leading brands - while the man himself continues to paint epic slogans in the back streets of South Yorkshire.

In 2019 Kid Acne produced a bespoke artwork for Standing at the Sky’s Edge - which was projected onto the side of Sheffield’s iconic Brutalist structure Park Hill Flats.

To find out more about Kid Acne, you can visit his website: www.kidacne.com

To book tickets for The Band Plays On, click here.