Clean Break has announced a landmark partnership with Nubian CoheARTs, naming the Black women-led collective as its first ever Associate Company.
This new relationship will see Nubian CoheARTs benefit from free rehearsal space, training, artistic support, and opportunities to develop work with audiences.
Formed by Clean Break Members Nicole Hall (More Than We Can Bear, Almeida), Jennifer Joseph (Shakespeare Trilogy, Donmar Warehouse), and Eddy Queens (Typical Girls, Sheffield Theatres), Nubian CoheARTs creates powerful, hope-filled theatre rooted in lived experience.
The appointment is part of Clean Break’s ongoing mission to support women artists with experience of the criminal justice system or those on its periphery.
Lakesha Arie-Angelo, Clean Break’s Associate Artistic Director, said:
“The founders of Clean Break were artists, women, with entrepreneurial spirit and a hunger to have their stories heard. Bursting with this same passion as our founders, we are delighted to welcome Nubian CoheARTs as our first ever Associate Company. We look forward to working more closely together and seeing the possibilities that will flourish from this new relationship.
We are also thrilled to have offered seed commissions to two Clean Break Member artists, Ro Florence and Shona Babayemi. Both Ro and Shona have unique and vibrant voices, and will be working on new plays which platform narratives about women and non-binary people navigating oppressive systems.
Providing opportunities, tools and resources for success for artists such as Nubian CoheARTs, Ro and Shona highlights the next steps in Clean Break’s journey: championing new talent and offering opportunities for women from our Membership who have gone on to become artists in their own right.”
Nubian CoheARTs shared:
“All three members of Nubian CoheARTs have had a life changing experience with Clean Break. We’re twice the women we were before we came here, and we’ve never looked back… To become the first Associate Company attached to Clean Break has re-confirmed our importance to the company. It feels like all the learning and growing we did as students and Members was put in place for this moment. We’re living proof that Clean Break changes lives, and will always be fierce ambassadors and contributors to the work.
Going forward, we’re excited to discover the potential for this relationship, and the mutual benefits for both Nubian CoheARTs and Clean Break. At a time when funding for the arts is in crisis, having the backing of a company like Clean Break will be a great support to us in securing funding for our work.”
The announcement also includes new seed commissions for Clean Break Members Ro Florence and Shona Babayemi, who join a growing roster of commissioned writers including babirye bukilwa, Emma Dennis-Edwards, Yasmin Joseph, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Somebody Jones, and Iman Qureshi.
Playwright Lucy Kirkwood, whose Clean Break commission it felt empty when the heart went at first… remains a landmark work, added:
“It’s so wonderful to see Clean Break Members gaining in artistic confidence and ambition, not just taking opportunities but making them for themselves, and I’m so proud of the company for supporting them so enthusiastically. As a Clean Break writer myself, I know how much a commission from this company can inspire, support and challenge you, and I can’t wait to see the work that comes out of this.”
Recent Clean Break activity includes a tour of Scenes from Lost Mothers by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, which will be performed at the House of Commons in July, and a sold-out screening of the film Lollipop, featuring multiple Clean Break Members.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
