Nonso Anozie to join Maya Angelou and Willard White as a patron of Talawa Theatre Company
Tuesday, October 6, 2009

One of the UK’s leading actors, Nonso Anozie, has become a patron of Talawa Theatre Company. Nonso credits his passion for the theatre to his attendance at one of Talawa’s first Summer Schools led by Greta Mendez.

He has since gone on to work with Cheek by Jowl (Othello) and at the Tricycle (White Folks), Cockpit Theatre (The Box) and the National Theatre (Edmond, Death and the King’s Horseman) amongst others. His work in film includes Mike Leigh’s Happy Go Lucky and Guy Ritchie’s Rocknrolla, and he’s made several television appearances.

Patricia Cumper, Talawa’s Artistic Director, says, “I am absolutely delighted that Nonso has agreed to be the company’s patron. He is an actor of both power and subtlety and an advocate for a wide range of Black British work. Nonso began his relationship with Talawa when he attended one of our first summer schools. It is tremendous to welcome him back in this new role.”

The annual summer school is now entitled TYPT, Talawa Young People’s Theatre, and has been running for the last 14 years. In addition to Nonso, graduates also include Femi Oguns (director of Identity Drama School, the UK’s first Black drama school) and Peter Bakare (actor and co-writer for Channel 4’s Unseen Skins).

Talawa Theatre Company is Britain’s foremost black-led theatre company. Since its inception in 1986, the Company has mounted more than forty productions – many of which are award-winning. Talawa actors, writers, directors and personnel now work in all areas of British theatre. These achievements demonstrate the Company’s continually growing status, influence and contribution to contemporary British theatre.

The Company is currently led by Artistic Director Patricia Cumper and Executive Director Deborah Sawyerr. Over the years, as more black work is produced by mainstream theatres and more black practitioners make successful careers, Talawa has continued to refine its vision and purpose so that today it is proud to focus on black British work.