Creative Coffee Break

Welcome to Creative Coffee Break. This new episode features Juliet Gilkes Romero a playwright and journalist. She has reported for the BBC from countries including Ethiopia, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Juliet writes for theatre, film and tv and in this episode we discuss her upbringing in the England and how it relates to the Windrush generations. We also discuss afro latin culture, arts in addition to the Black Lives Matter movement today. Juliet talks race and her play the Whip which was on at the RSC and how much of her work is about uncovering the uncomfortable truths in society.Her plays include; The Whip performed at the RSC’s Swan Theatre, 2020. Day of The Living performed at The Other Place as part of RSC’s Mischief Festival, 2018. Upper Cut at the Southwark Playhouse, 2015. At The Gates of Gaza, Birmingham Rep & tour winner of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Best Play Award 2009, Bilad Al-Sudan performed at the Tricycle Theatre (now Kiln) as part of its 2006 season dealing with genocidal conflict in Darfur.Television includes: Soon Gone; A Windrush Chronicle (co-produced by Sir Lenny Henry’s production company Douglas Road and the Young Vic Theatre.You can find out more and follow Juliet on the below:Twitter: @telljulietWebsite: www.julietgilkesromero.co.uk

Welcome to Creative Coffee Break. This new episode features Abdul Kinyenya (aka Abdanger) a Ugandan performing artist, choreographer, dancer, entrepreneur and photographer. Abdul is a co-founder and member of dance company Tabuflo along with being a founder of Batalo East a dance /arts organisation in Uganda that aims to Increase knowledge and prominence of traditional dance, alongside urban dance, by fostering creative integration of the two styles, developing globally-aware young people who are in touch with their African culture, and dancers who are bringing world-class Afro fusion dance to the international stage.

In this episode we talk about the role of dance in preserving cultural heritage, entrepreneurship and leadership through arts and during a pandemic. Abdul talks about his love for Uganda and experiences growing up in Kampala. 

To find out more about Abdul check out the below:

Twitter: @abdul_abdanger

Instagram: @abdul_abdanger

Websites: https://bataloeast.org / https://kinyenya.com/biography/

Welcome to Creative Coffee Break. This new episode features Nyla Levy playwright of mixed race, Pakistani and Canadian, with Muslim and Jewish heritage from London. Her stories explore experiences related to identity, culture and race. 

In this episode we talk about how Nyla moved from acting to writing theatre and why she did this. The importance of authentic representations of Muslim stories on stage and the music, people who inspire her stories. We chat about instagram, comedy, beauty standards and our shared love of reality TV. 

You can find out more about Nyla check out the below.Twitter: @nyla_levy

Website:  https://www.nylalevy.com

Welcome back to creative coffee break and lord the break has been long. This is a new episode for 2019 featuring a brilliant British producer and model Wofai JE from London. Wofai works within theatre and fashion he is a co-director of Initiative DK a multi-disciplinary company showcasing the finest in black talent in the UK.

In this episode we discuss all things that go into being a producer, working as a model and some of the exciting projects Wofai is producing this summer.You can find out more about Wofai work if you check out the below.Twitter: @WofaiJEWebsite: initiativedkf.com

This is part two in a three part series collaboration between Creative Coffee Break and Talawa Theatre Company.

In this episode we discuss all things TYPT 2017 with Gail Babb – Talawa’s Producer for Participation & Learning, Miranda Cromwell – Director, Rachel Clarke – Assistant Director and Yami Löfvenberg – Movement Director. We talked about the joys and challenges of making devised theatre and how their process has evolved.

TYPT puts emerging theatre makers together with established artists to develop their practice, test ideas and produce a brand new piece of theatre in just 4 weeks. The whole TYPT process is open to participants, from initial production meetings to script development sessions; from meetings with graphic designers to the get-out.

Bite Your Tongue is the thrilling new show devised by Talawa’s TYPT: 17 company, London’s freshest theatre makers.

This is the first in a 3 part collaboration between Creative Coffee Break and London Theatre company Talawa Theatre Company. In this episode we discuss on of their programmes for young artists which is called Talawa Firsts. We hear form four talent theatre makers babirye bukilwa, Christian Graham, Shanelle Fergus and Gaby Nimmo who took part in the program this year and how the process was for them.

Talawa Firsts kick starts the careers of exciting writers, directors and theatre makers. The festival brings together a community of artists and gives them a space to meet, spark off ideas, build networks and become the next generation to shape British Theatre.

Each of these artists has gone on a journey with Talawa. They sent in a script, invited us to see their show, or applied for our Studio Firsts programme. We have helped them to draw out the stories they want to tell. Challenged them. Encouraged them. Provided them with space, resources, the opportunity to get it wrong, and plenty of tea and biscuits…

Talawa Firsts offers a taste of the artists we are most excited about here at Talawa. We hope you enjoy their work as much as we do.

 

Rachael is London based choreographer, teacher, movement director and assistant director. She is the founder and artistic director of Kansaze Dance Theatre and in this interview we will find out about this this Trailblazer fellow’s journey into dance, her passion for theatre and dance in addition to her views on gender in the arts. Rachael shares her experiences of working internationally in Uganda and the positive change this had on her .

This is the fourth interview in our special DAD (Dance of the African Diaspora ) dialogues series. This series is brought to you by One Dance UK and focuses on their Trailblazer fellows and the up coming Re-Generations Conference at Mac Theatre this November 3-5th.

For more information about Rachael and Regenerations conference check out the links: www.rachaelnanyonjo.com | www.kansaze.com