Talawa Theatre Company Celebrates 20 Years of TYTP, Now thru 8/16

Talawa Theatre Company's flagship programme for emerging theatre makers, TYPT, is 19 years old this year. TYPT:14, the 20th TYPT season, will see a company of 9 practitioners work collaboratively Ola Animashawun (Royal Court Associate Director) and a professional multi-disciplinary team, to devise an original piece of theatre exploring provocative concepts like trust, betrayal and loyalty.

Over four weeks of intensive rehearsals the emerging and established practitioners will work together to develop their practice, test ideas with each other and devise new ways of working. The four weeks will culminate in public performances by the TYPT Company at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama 's Embassy Theatre from today, 14 August to Saturday 16 August.

Set up in 1995, TYPT provides a truly unique stepping-stone for emerging theatre makers, including actors, stage managers and designers at the beginning of their careers. Participants' relationship and development with Talawa does not end with the initial intensive 4-week programme, as the Company continues to offer FREE support to participants as their careers develop.

Past TYPT participants have gone on to have successful careers in theatre; working as performers, producers and writers for a range of organisations, including The Bush Theatre, Oval House, Theatre Centre and StoneCrabs Theatre Company. Alumni include: Femi Oguns (Director of Identity Drama School), Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones and Death of a King's Horsemen), Sandra Thompson-Quartey (Artistic Director of Writers Avenue), Michaela Coel (Chewing Gum Dreams at National Theatre)and Shanika Warren-Markland (Adulthood, 4321, Victim).

Talawa Theatre Company is also collaborating with the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, via the TYPT programme, to support a drive to diversify the intake and course content across the drama school; providing workshops on diversity and supporting the newly formed Black and Asian Alumni Network.

Ola Animashawun is a associate director at the Royal Court theatre, as well as a presenter, compere and producer. Earlier this year, he co-founded the playwriting consultancy Euphoric Ink.

DETAILS:

TYPT 2014

Thursday 14 August - Saturday 16 August 2014

Venue: Embassy Theatre, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Eton Avenue, London, NW3 3HY

Time: 7.30pm

Price: £8 (£6 concession)

Booking: www.ticketsource.co.uk/TALAWA

Website: www.talawa.com

Talawa Theatre Company is the UK's foremost black-led theatre company. Led by Artistic Director Michael Buffong Talawa Theatre Company creates work informed by the wealth and diversity of the Black British experience, invests in talent, builds audiences and inspires dialogue with and within communities across Britain, enriching the cultural life of the UK.