Rose Bruford has a long tradition of developing minority ethnicity actors and writers, including Peter Bankole (RSC, Ipswich); Yvonne Brewster (Talawa); Femi Euba (Nigeria); Ray Fearon(RSC and Coronation Street); Simone James (NT); Michelle Joseph (Eastenders); Alton Kumalo (RSC and Temba); Paulette Randall (Talawa); Trevor Rhone (The Harder They Come); Nadim Sawalha (Film & TV); Janet Steel (Kali); Ben Thomas (Playschool and Talawa); David Tse (Yellow Earth); Diane-Louise Jordan (Songs of Praise); Roy Williams (Sing your Heart Out for the Lads).
Here are a few websites we have collected, which may be of interest:
“Sustained Theatre keeps issues relating to Black, Asian and minority ethnic theatre artists and practitioners alive and in the national debate.” This is the major network. sustainedtheatre.org.uk/
Whose Theatre? Report on the Sustained Theatre consultation. This report presents the findings of the Sustained Theatre consultation, which took place in November 2005
www.artscouncil.org.uk/…/whose-theatre-report-on-the-sustained-theatre-consultation/
Timeline for Black British Theatre, from the Decibel project.
The Eclipse Report, at the Arts Council website. The main project website is at Eclipse Theatre
The main Black History Month website
Susan Croft’s research on Black performance, Moving Here migration histories</a
Ira Aldridge, tragedian of mid-19th Century, on the Black History Month website
Guardian Blog debate about identity and the whole idea of “Black theatre”: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2008/jul/01/canwetalkaboutblacktheatr
Prominent Black Theatre Companies
Talawa is Britain’s foremost Black-led theatre company. “We give voice to the Black British experience and support talent.” Production; youth theatre; new writing; discussion. Based north London.
Nitro Black Music Theatre. Welcome to Nitro. Inspiring Black Artists. Exploring Music. Creating New Stories.
Over the years Tara Arts has proved itself a uniquely seductive British theatre company. Its blend of East and West continues to inspire an alluring vision of modern Britain. (Hanif Kureishi)
Yellow Earth Theatre
KALI THEATRE
encourages, develops and presents new theatre writing by Asian women.
Tamasha is a London-based theatre company led by Kristine Landon-Smith and Sudha Bhuchar.
New companies continue to emerge; and we should not ignore the street arts tradition of Carnival as a theatre form: http://www.thenottinghillcarnival.com/
Many other theatres are doing work which is designed to promote the voices of their local communities, most notably Theatre Royal, Stratford East; Oval House; Deptford Albany; Hackney Empire.
Projects in development
Rokeya’s Dream was a joint project, with Tara arts, commissioned by Mahila Sangha women’s group, about a short story by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain called Sultana’s Dream. It was given seven performances, at Tara Studio, Brady Arts, and Rose Bruford College. Workshops based on the project are about to go to Kolkata.
