tiata fahodzi, the UK’s leading British African heritage theatre company, unveils their 2026–27 programme:
PlayLab artist development scheme, Climate Justice playwriting workshops, exciting revivals and new-writing co-productions
tiata fahodzi have framed their 2026-2027 programme around their continuous effort to create compassionate disruption. The UK’s leading British African heritage theatre company is relaunching its flagship artist development programme, PlayLab, in a new two-year format, while expanding its Climate Justice work through a series of workshops launching this Spring. In the autumn and the coming year, tiata fahodzi’s season continues with two new co-productions, producing Michaela Coel’s acclaimed Chewing Gum Dreams (September-October 2026) alongside Theatre503 and Nanny of the Maroons (Summer 2027) with Belgrade Theatre and Hackney Empire.
PlayLab, tiata fahodzi’s flagship artist development programme, returned this Spring with a refreshed two-year structure. Launched in February 2026, it welcomes six UK-based Black, Brown and Global Majority artists: Gemma Cairney, Robert Furey, Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, Chloé Lemonius, Jaïrus Obayomi, and Ruth Oyderin.
Funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, PlayLab is a paid opportunity designed to support and develop Global Majority artists working across theatre and the wider performing arts at different points in their careers, running from February 2026 to December 2027. PlayLab centres on long-term development, and offers specialist facilitators, regular mentorship, regional theatre engagement opportunities, peer connection and professional guidance, building a curated space that allows the cohort to focus on themselves and their practice, instead of setting a fixed or pre-determined outcome.
A home of British African heritage/Black British playwriting, tiata fahodzi continues to stage ambitious work by writers across the UK and internationally. As they approach their 30th anniversary in 2027, two new exciting co-productions which demonstrate their commitment to revivals of the British canon and new writing have been announced. In Autumn 2026, the company joins forces with Theatre503 to present celebrated British actor, writer and producer Michaela Coel’s Chewing Gum Dreams (adapted into the award-winning TV series of the same name by Channel 4). This is followed by a brand new production Nanny of the Maroons in co-production with Belgrade Theatre and Hackney Empire in Summer 2027.
Climate Justice has naturally become integral to tiata fahodzi’s work in helping build a better future, a cause they continue to champion in their Spring 2026 Climate Justice playwriting workshops. In Spring 2026, tiata fahodzi joins as an Associate Partner of the Climate Playwriting Prize 2026 initiative, produced by Shakespeare’s Globe, Fern and Climate Spring. It is an open invitation to playwrights to respond creatively to climate subjects while supporting them to reach new audiences. Through leading this climate storytelling workshop, tiata fahodzi will support writers and theatre practitioners who want to tell stories about climate, nature, and pollution. The workshop will take place on 19 May 2026 at Watershed in Bristol, facilitated by Nina Segal, Associate Playwright at the Royal Court. Each session includes practical discussion, conversations with an environmental expert, and space to reflect on the climate stories we need now.
A second workshop, part of the company’s ongoing Black Earth project – a Climate Justice and research initiative for Global Majority artists running since 2022 – will take place during The Great Big Green Week 2026 in Watford. Led by Chinonyerem Odimba, Artistic Director & CEO of tiata fahodzi and award winning playwright, this workshop will explore approaches to theatre writing that engage with nature, climate, and the environment. As a Watford-based company, this workshop reflects tiata fahodzi’s commitment to placing both climate justice and its community at the core of its work.
tiata fahodzi is also proud to welcome three new trustees: London Creative Producer, Dramaturg and Actress, R J Ekanem; multidisciplinary entrepreneur and writer, Sarita James; and Emma Delserieys, a strategic business leader with sharp commercial acumen. tiata fahodzi are thrilled to embark on this new year’s programme with their dedicated new trustees, who bring their expertise and support from a range of disciplines to help grow and revitalise the organisation.
Speaking on the 2026-2027 programme, tiata fahodzi CEO & Artistic Director, Chinonyerem Odimba commented:
‘’Bolstered by new Trustees, and work that speaks to the brilliance of the Black British canon, as well as an artist programme that is nurturing new theatre talent, we are starting our 30th birthday celebrations early. 30 years of showing and telling the world that artistic and theatrical work by British African heritage/Black British creators matters, but also that without it, this industry would not be what it is today. tiata fahodzi are excited by what the future holds, and how we can tell the stories, such as the climate story, that are affecting all our futures, and how we make the ways and spaces in which we make theatre as inclusive as they should be.’’
Speaking of the exciting co-production, Artistic Director & Co-CEO of Theatre503, Anthony Simpson-Pike commented:
”We’re so excited to be working with tiata fahodzi, with its legacy of championing work by pioneering black writers, on this iconic play that means so much to the communities we both hold closest.’’
tiata fahodzi is excited to embark on the new programme, and continues to create a home where artists and audiences can belong, whilst still being fearless risk-takers in their productions and projects.
