Founded in 1979 as the Black Theatre Co-operative by the playwright Mustapha Matura and the director Charlie Hanson,[1] it was renamed Nitro in 1999.
"[2] The Black Theatre Co-operative's first production was of Mustapha Matura's play Welcome Home Jacko, which was staged in May 1979 at "The Factory", a disused building in Paddington renovated for the company's use.
[3] The production was later revived in New York and the company has performed in South Korea, the Netherlands and Germany as well as touring extensively across the UK.
[4] In the 1980s the company wrote the television sitcom No Problem!, starring Judith Jacob and Chris Tummings.
In collaboration with the Nottingham Playhouse, the company's 1997 adaptation of Ray Shell's novel Iced toured nationally, and had a sell-out run at the Tricycle Theatre.