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Talawa Theatre Company founded in 1986 by Yvonne Brewster, Carmen Munroe, Mona Hammond and Inigo Espejel, Talawa is Britain's foremost Black-led theatre company.
Talawa created in direct response to recognition of the lack of creative opportunities for actors from minority ethnic backgrounds and the general marginalisation of Black peoples from cultural processes that were prevalent at the time of the Company's inception.
Since 1986, Talawa Theatre Company has grown to become one of the most successful Black theatre companies in the UK. It has mounted more than forty productions - many of which are award-winning. - taking in everything from Shakespeare to African classics, Oscar Wilde to new Black British work and Nobel-prize winning playwrights to high-voltage musicals.
The Company has performed the work of writers such as C.L.R. James, Derek Walcott, Michael Abbensetts, Wole Soyinka, Patricia Cumper, Mustapha Matura and Michael Bhim.
A number of Britain's finest actors, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in film, radio, theatre and television, have worked with Talawa including Norman Beaton, Cathy Tyson, Don Warrington, Danny John-Jules and Mona Hammond.
In addition to its productions, Talawa Theatre Company broadens the spectrum of work created by Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) artists through commissioning new writing, and the development of ideas through seed commissions.
The Company runs an annual season of play readings showcasing strong BAME plays that are looking for full production; Flipping the Script at the Young Vic and Talawa Firsts in Talawa's studio.
Talawa Theatre Company runs an extensive Participation and Education programme that includes Talawa Young People's Theatre, annual summer school, and a range of outreach activities that include bespoke workshops for all ages and abilities which are curriculum-based, artistic or related to participants' personal and social development.
Talawa has a history of nurturing and collaborating with outstanding writers such as Michael Bhim, Roy Williams, Derek Walcott, Jackie Kay, Trish Cooke and Malorie Blackman.
From 2012-2014, the TWG became international through a cross-fertilisation programme with the government of South Africa, the British Council, Theatre Writing Partnership and the University of Witwatersrand. Talawa Theatre Company will provide training to South African writers while seeking to install British writers there.
THE TEAM
Michael Buffong, Artistic Director
Christopher Rodriguez, Executive Producer
Zewditu Bekele, Finance Officer
Havana Wellings-Longmore, Company Administrator
Gail Babb, Participation and Education Officer
Jackie Friend, Marketing and Press Manager
Talawa Theatre Company
53-55 East Road
London N1 6AH
hq@talawa.com
http://www.talawa.com/index.php
Here are few videos reflect some of their work.