Talawa comes to Croydon
Talawa Theatre Company took up residence within Fairfield Halls in Croydon in mid-September 2019. The new space gives the UK’s primary Black theatre company a 200 seat studio and offices for the first time since 1995.
Fairfield Halls opened to the public on 16 September 2019, and the new Talawa Studio there operates as a central hub for Black British artists, enabling Talawa to develop a community outreach programme, develop new work, and create and premiere new Black theatre on both the small and the mid scale.
A home for Black British theatre artists
Besides providing a space for Talawa’s artist development programme MAKE, the new residency will create opportunities to train young Black artists in technical and creative theatre disciplines, working in partnership with organisations in the borough and nationally.
In addition to premiering and developing new work, Talawa Theatre Company will use the studio as a space to research & develop new work and new ideas, and create a programme of activities, debates and events for Croydon’s diverse community and beyond.
Talawa Theatre Company was temporarily based at Rich Mix, Shoreditch, having previously based their headquarters for 10 years near Old Street. From 1991-1995, Talawa based their offices at the Cochrane Theatre, premiering many of its groundbreaking productions there. At its creation in 1986 and up to 1991, Talawa was based at various temporary offices.
Programming plans for the studio will be announced in early 2020.
Michael Buffong
“For Talawa, this building provides a home for Black artists, enabling them to make outstanding work which will truly diversify and shape the cultural life of the whole country.”
Talawa Theatre Company is the most successful Black led theatre company in the UK.
We have established a track record of producing work which shines a spotlight on Black artists, creating theatre for diverse audiences across the country. Mounting more than fifty productions over our 33-year history, our most recent co-production, Superhoe by Nicôle Lecky, played at the Royal Court in February 2019.
Other recent productions have included The Tide - Talawa's first exclusively outdoor performance - co-created by writer Ryan Calais Cameron and choreographer Jade Hackett ; collaborations with the Royal Exchange include Guys & Dolls, King Lear (in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre) and All My Sons (Royal Exchange Theatre, UK tour), and new work including Girls by Theresa Ikoko (co-production with Soho Theatre, HighTide) and Half Breed by Natasha Marshall (co-production with Soho Theatre).