Michael Buffong News

Talawa Theatre Company is to take up residence within the redeveloped Fairfield Halls in Croydon, giving the UK's primary Black theatre company a 200 seat studio and offices. This will be the first time since 1995 that Talawa's headquarters will feature an on-site performance space. The new spaces, opening to the public on 16 September 2019, will operate as a central hub for Black artists, develop a community outreach programme, and allow the company to create, develop and premiere new work.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting Award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights.

Run It Back is a powerful, exciting, immersive new show from Talawa Theatre Company. Directed by movement director Coral Messam. Run It Back brings rave to theatre, exploring how Black British music liberates, connects and divides while fighting to stay alive in the face of disappearing spaces and changing legislation. Run It Back features dance, physical theatre and a live DJ set from award-winning DJ Conrad Kira to ignite the action.

This Christmas director Michael Buffong transports the smash-hit musical GUYS AND DOLLS up-town to 1939 Harlem in the UK's first all-Black cast production of this iconic show.

A consortium led by tiata fahodzi has been awarded Arts Council England's Sustained Theatre Fund, designed to support the development of established and emerging Black and minority ethnic theatre makers and to increase their representation across the wider theatre sector.

Soho Theatre, HighTide and Talawa Theatre Company present Theresa Ikoko's award-winning new play Girls, the funny and fiercely passionate new play by award-winning playwright Theresa Ikoko will premiere at HighTide Festival 2016 in September before its London premiere at Soho Theatre on 27 September. The production will also run at Birmingham Rep Theatre in between those dates.

Soho Theatre, HighTide and Talawa Theatre Company present Theresa Ikoko's award-winning new play Girls, the funny and fiercely passionate new play by award-winning playwright Theresa Ikoko will premiere at HighTide Festival 2016 in September before its London premiere at Soho Theatre on 27 September. The production will also run at Birmingham Rep Theatre in between those dates.

The Birmingham Rep present another exciting Shakespearean production to celebrate 400 years since the great writers' death; this time it was King Lear. Directed by Michael Buffong, this production has the audience gripped from the start.

An epic new version of Shakespeare's King Lear plays at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 19 to 28 May, commemorating 400 years since the playwright's death. A co-production between Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre and Talawa Theatre Company, and in association with The REP, King Lear is a brutal portrait of a man unravelling - pitted against his daughters, against nature and against the universe itself.

Jonathan Coe's The Rotters' Club, Gareth Farr's The Quiet House and Tom Wells' Folk will receive their stage premieres at Birmingham Repertory Theatre next year. The new Spring and Summer 2016 season also features a ground-breaking new production of The Government Inspector, Don Warrington as King Lear, plus a major revival of Alan Bennett's Single Spies alongside a compelling mix of drama, comedy and family shows.

Winner of an Edinburgh Fringe First 2014 and The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence, Sabrina Mahfouz's highly acclaimed Chef starring Jade Anouka now comes to London's Soho Theatre - Upstairs, 15th June - 4th July 2015. Press night: Tonight, 17th June, 7pm.

Winner of an Edinburgh Fringe First 2014 and The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence, Sabrina Mahfouz's highly acclaimed Chef starring Jade Anouka now comes to London's Soho Theatre - Upstairs, 15th June - 4th July 2015.

In the centenary year of Arthur Miller's birth, as an even brighter spotlight shines on him as one of the most groundbreaking playwrights of the 20th century, Birmingham Repertory Theatre welcomes Talawa Theatre's acclaimed production of All My Sons from 24 to 28 March.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre announces a new season of work today for Spring and Summer 2015 including major revivals of the Pulitzer prize-winning HARVEY, THE KING'S SPEECH plus the world premieres of six very different, but equally original plays.

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.

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.

Now in its 3rd year, Talawa Theatre Company's acclaimed new-writing festival, TALAWA FIRSTS will return between today 11 and 27 June. Talawa Studios -- the company's dedicated performance space in Old Street -- will become a hub of activity for three weeks, showcasing and developing the best in Black British writing.

Now in its 3rd year, Talawa Theatre Company's acclaimed new-writing festival, TALAWA FIRSTS will return between 11 and 27 June. Talawa Studios -- the company's dedicated performance space in Old Street -- will become a hub of activity for three weeks, showcasing and developing the best in Black British writing.

Full casting has been announced for Talawa Theatre Company's restaging of the National Theatre production of Errol John's MOON ON A RAINBOW SHAWL. Directed by Artistic Director Michael Buffong, the production welcomes back acclaimed actress Martina Laird (Casualty and Shameless) as Sophie, Jude Akuwudike (The Faith Machine at the Royal Court) as Charlie and Ray Emmet Brown (A Raisin in the Sun at the Royal Exchange) as Prince. The production will begin a UK tour at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich on Wednesday 5 February 2014.