Talawa Theatre Company

Founded in 1986 by Yvonne Brewster Carmen Munroe Mona Hammond and Inigo Espejel and now under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Michael BuffongTalawa is Britain's primary Black-led theatre company.



Talawa was created in direct response to the recognition of the lack of creative opportunities for actors from minority ethnic backgrounds and the general marginalisation of Black peoples from cultural processes.

Talawa invests in talent builds audiences and inspires dialogue with and within communities across Britain.

About us

Founded in 1986 by Yvonne Brewster, Carmen Munroe, Mona Hammond and Inigo Espejel, Talawa is Britain's primary Black-led theatre company.

Talawa was created in direct response to Yvonne Brewster's recognition of the lack of creative opportunities for actors from minority ethnic backgrounds and the general marginalisation of Black peoples from cultural processes that was prevalent at the time of the Company's inception.
Since 1986, Talawa 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.

- See more at: https://www.talawa.com/about_talawa.php#sthash.ciSVKej4.dpuf