Karena Johnson

A world-class arts and learning organisation, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Its creative learning programme further underpins everything it does.

Hoxton Hall presents a new innovative soap Hoxton Street, featuring the heart of the vibrant new season #CLASS. The season will encourage and challenge audiences to be part of the conversation about what class means in 21st century London. 

Celebrated arts venue Hoxton Hall has curated its vibrant new season #CLASS. Inspired by conversations about what class means in 21st century London, this incredible anthology of theatre, music, debate, film and comedy is firmly rooted in the celebration of working class voices and brings fresh and dynamic entertainment to Hoxton's doorstep.

Hoxton Hall has announced the cast for their innovative soap Hoxton Street, which will feature at the heart of the vibrant new season #CLASS.

Hoxton Hall are presenting a vibrant new season #CLASS which will encourage and challenge audiences to be part of the conversation about what class means in 21st Century London. The season is inspired by Hoxton’s working-class roots.

An Open Letter has been written to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Culture, from black, Asian, and ethnically diverse theatre artistic directors and cultural leaders. The letter was written to emphasize the importance  of protecting representation in the sector.

An exciting new play by performance poet Oneness Sankara premieres at Hoxton Hall in London. Chasing Rainbows runs from Tuesday 25 June to Saturday 20 July at 7.30pm. The play is directed by Karena Johnson, who is also Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall.

Recipients of the third annual Tonic Awards were announced tonight at an awards ceremony held at The May Fair Hotel hosted by Tracy Ann Oberman. The awards celebrate the achievements of game-changing women, significant organisations, projects and productions that redefine the role of women in the performing arts, both on and off stage. The recipients of this year's awards are: Jude Kelly CBE, Alison Tickell, Open Clasp Theatre Company, Paula Garfield, Elliott & Harper Productions for Company, Shakespeare's Globe's production of Emilia, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and Dance Umbrella.

Following the great success of the first event of its kind, Ovalhouse presents the second #CONNECT: Women in Theatre, once again the evening celebrates the contribution of women of colour in British theatre. This event takes place on Wednesday 6 March from 6pm at Ovalhouse, 52-54 Kennington Oval, London SE11 5SW.

Female Parts Shorts: A Woman Alone, The Immigrant and A Mother is a collection of short plays directed by Karena Johnson, Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall. Johnson directs Gehane Strehler in A Woman Alone, Clare Perkins in The Immigrant and Rebecca Saire in A Mother. The three monologues are performed in sequence, opening on Thursday 15 March, with previews from Tuesday 13 March, running until Saturday 31 March.

Hoxton Hall today announces the full cast for Female Parts Shorts: A Woman Alone, The Immigrant and A Mother - a collection of short plays directed by Karena Johnson, Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall. Johnson directs Gehane Strehler in A Woman Alone, Clare Perkins in The Immigrant and Rebecca Saire in A Mother. The three monologues will be performed in sequence, opening on Thursday 15 March, with previews from Tuesday 13 March, running until Saturday 31 March.

Tonic Theatre today announce the 2nd annual Tonic Awards, celebrating the achievements of game-changing women in theatre and the performing arts. The ceremony, which launched last year returns to the May Fair Theatre, at the May Fair Hotel on Monday 19 March 2018 hosted once again by Dame Jenni Murray. Attendees will include senior figures from across the theatre industry.

Tonic Theatre announced that Natasha Bucknor, executive director of Talawa Theatre Company, Karena Johnson, artistic director of Hoxton Hall, and casting director Sam Jones will make up the panel for the sixth Tonic Celebrates event, which will take place at Hoxton Hall on Wednesday 21 February, as part of Hoxton Hall's all-female season.

Karena Johnson, Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall today announces its spring 2018 season, Female Parts.

Karena Johnson, Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall, today announces full cast for the world premi re of Oranges and Elephants, the first production in the venue's all-female spring season Female Parts. The musical centres on two rival female gangs in Victorian London blending Music Hall, Fairground and Musical Theatre storytelling.

Karena Johnson, Artistic Director of Hoxton Hall today announces its spring 2018 season, Female Parts.

The winners were announced at the ceremony last night for the inaugural Tonic Awards, at the May Fair Theatre hosted by Jenni Murray DBE. The Awards were initiated to celebrate the achievements of game-changing women who are redefining theatre and the performing arts.

The May Fair Hotel welcomed a vast array of women ready to celebrate their fellow sisters' achievements in the British theatre world on Wednesday 26 March.

The winners were announced at the ceremony tonight for the inaugural Tonic Awards, at the May Fair Theatre hosted by Jenni Murray DBE. The Awards were initiated to celebrate the achievements of game-changing women who are redefining theatre and the performing arts.

Hoxton Hall is delighted to announce its first ever panto, with its very own East End twist. Hoxton Hall presents SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, directed by Karena Johnson, running 14th - 24th December 2015.