[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] In February 2019, Buffong announced plans for a 200-seat on-site performance space at Croydon's Fairfield Halls, describing the move as enabling the organisation to "make outstanding work which will truly diversify and shape the cultural life of the whole country.
"[19][20][21] Carolyn ML Forsyth joined the organisation in November 2020 to work alongside Michael Buffong as Joint CEO and Executive Director.
[22][23][24][18][25] Talawa's 2021 season, coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighted a mix of livestreamed work and online workshops gradually building towards live performance later in the year.
[28] The 2023-2026 investment programme from Arts Council England ensured that Talawa retained its NPO status with an enhanced grant in view of its audience development and community engagement activity.
[2][39][40][41] Since then, Talawa has produced and toured classic work by numerous playwrights and writers including Dennis Scott, Derek Walcott, Galt MacDermot, Wole Soyinka, James Baldwin, Michael Abbensetts, Trevor Rhone, William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Tariq Ali, Theresa Ikoko, Natasha Marshall and Arthur Miller and worked with a variety of directors and actors including Michaela Coel, Cathy Tyson, Dona Croll, Ray Shell, Norman Beaton, Horace Ove, Paulette Randall, Don Warrington, Sharon D Clarke, Fraser Ayres and David Harewood.
[45][46] Michael Buffong took over the helm from Patricia Cumper, securing enhanced Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status for the company and leading to a renewed profile for its work with new artists and its revived classic theatre productions.
The Company also supports and develops emerging theatre-makers[9] – performers, designers and technicians – through their flagship participation programmes TYPT, and Studio Firsts.
[34][37][38][56] Talawa Theatre Company co-produces a major touring production annually in addition to a rolling programme of artist development and showcases of new work.
Recognition was largely well received, with one reviewer describing it as "a superb piece of theatre" [60] while others parised the assured direction [61] and the elegance of the staging and strong performances.
[62][63] Written by Sian Carter (née Davila), Running With Lions began life as an audio play directed by Michael Buffong on BBC Radio 4 as part of the Talawa Stories season.
[64][65] In September 2021, Lyric Hammersmith announced the co-production with Talawa of Sian Carter's Running With Lions, which would again be directed by Michael Buffong; the production performed in February 2022.
Run It Back would have opened the Talawa Studio at Fairfield Halls in spring 2020, but plans were postponed following the lockdowns arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The piece also offers gentle interrogation of some of the more problematic elements of music and club culture, by highlighting homophobic lyrics and violently misogynist behaviour that so often goes unchecked.
[101][102][103][104] The first film presented a verbatim narrative from a Teacher, played by Jo Martin, talking about trying to keep themselves and their pupils safe during the pandemic, the emotional and psychological impact of the global Black Lives Matter movement, and the challenges of supporting students' education during an era of great uncertainty.
The second film presented a verbatim narrative from an NHS Recovery Worker, played by Sapphire Joy, which highlighted the racial bias in the medical treatment of Black people, and their disdain for performative gratitude during the pandemic, followed by the failure to award pay rises to front line staff.
[113] Press reports highlighted that the move had "alienated staff, audiences and cultural workforce", leading to criticism from prominent figures, including the comedian Joe Lycett.
[118] Subsequently, Talawa announced "…that having to make the difficult calls between maintaining the creative and political integrity of cultural buildings, and preserving the jobs of those who work within them, is a position arts leaders shouldn't be forced into", going on to state: "The decision Birmingham Rep have taken to host a Nightingale Court does not align with Talawa's commitment to Black artists and communities, the communities most affected by this decision.
There was praise for Lecky, with one reviewer writing: "performing her own raw and fiery solo piece, she's a revelation...."[139] while another stated that the "slow reveal of all the ways in which Sasha has been neglected, damaged and violated is deeply affecting.
[144] Talawa announced their winter 2017 co-production with the Royal Exchange Theatre of the Damon Runyon-inspired musical, Guys and Dolls, the first UK production with an all-Black cast.
This version of Frank Loesser's musical, which swirls around the lives of the petty gangsters and their 'dolls' who inhabit New York's underbelly, moves the action to Harlem at its prewar height in 1939.
"[153] The Observer noted: "Relocated to Harlem, this fine new production of Frank Loesser’s classic musical retains a threat of violence under a cartoon-bright exterior.
[183] In October 2015, Talawa announced a new production of William Shakespeare's King Lear starring Don Warrington in the title role.
The film was available to view on-demand and free of charge on BBC iPlayer and the British Council's websites for three months in summer 2016, ahead of a cinema release in September and October 2016, and closed 2016 by being screened on BBC4 on Christmas Day.
[196][197][198][199] Critics described the production as "heart wrenching",[200] noting that "Talawa's contribution to the Arthur Miller centenary ... is a worthwhile one"[201] and one that "ratchets up the tension".
[199] The 2013–14 production was a revival of Moon on a Rainbow Shawl by Errol John that was directed by Michael Buffong, which toured across the UK, in addition to playing at the Royal National Theatre.
[202][203][204] Critics described the show as "an absolute must-see"[205] "a well-crafted slow burner"[206] and "treats the characters as real people rather than outrageous exotics ... Justice, you feel, has at last been done ..."[207]