Do Not Play This Piano

Written and performed by Will Pickvance
Illustration by Tim Vincent-Smith
AnimationTechnical and direction by Will Monks
Stage direction by Ian Cameron
Previous iterations directed by Lu Kemp & Magda Dragan

Dubbed the Edinburgh Fringe's favourite pianist by the List magazine, Will Pickvance has toured the world with his distinctive shows of piano playing and storytelling, venues including Sydney Opera House and the National Theatre of China in Beijing.

Will says…
"When I was at school, pianos were often locked, or stowed away under some dust cover, out of bounds. Why would you lock up a piano? Why would you prevent people from making them sing (or scream, whatever). The forbidden piano I recall best was one in the city of Salzburg. In fairness, it was Mozart’s actual piano. But to stop people playing it - full stop - what? Forbidden, so that future generations may also be forbidden from playing it? Forget that. I needed to connect with the great composer.

Growing up, piano was my thing. I just loved it. But even at a young age I felt suppressed by attitudes, snobbery and expectation. These felt like just other ways in which the piano was locked up. So when I did the key, the pressure was really on."

In Do Not Play This Piano, a young boy's dream of playing a big concert becomes a nightmare when he is given the very opportunity.