Talawa Firsts is back for its 13th year with another fortnight of groundbreaking Black British new work. From Monday, 7th July to Friday, 18th July 2025, Talawa’s HQ in Croydon will host world premieres, showcasing innovative new writing and performance around the theme of Stay Strong.
The 2025 programme highlights the brilliance and resilience of Black British artists. Alongside two double-bills of new writing, the festival includes Talawa’s prestigious Introductory Writers’ Group showcase, masterclasses, link-up events, and collaborations with other Black-led arts companies like Trybe House Theatre and BORN::FREE.
David Gilbert, Talawa’s New Work Producer, comments, “This year we’ve had to think about the nature of programming artists. We’ve needed to be honest with ourselves about what actually will serve artists long term. And we’ve had to read the room – that artists are still creating in very difficult and unpredictable times due to losing new writing spaces and the cost of living. Therefore, how do we think about what support and artist development looks like in 2025? And one guiding principle was clear – it takes resilience to create. And the community/our audience will always desire to hear from the storyteller. There’s an interdependent beauty here. And we want to celebrate that. Stories shape and influence the essence of our lived experiences and question our sense of hope and our capacity for love. The process this year has demanded us to be mindful. To stay strong.”
There’s a Mouse in the Kitchen sees writer Cal-I Jonel join forces with director Rachael Nanyonjo. This bold new work about grief, silence, survival, and the mess that lives between the lines of love was shortlisted as a ‘Highly Commended Play’ for the Tony Craze Award 2023. It will be presented as a staged reading, set in a South London kitchen, and performed as a double bill with Small Revolutions by Savannah Acquah, directed by Kwame Owusu.
My Father, the Addict by Valerie Isaiah Sadoh, directed by Joy Nesbitt, is a gripping play exploring the complex bond between a daughter and her estranged, addict father. It will be seen on the same night as Thicker Than Water by Temi Majekodunmi, featuring Trybe House Theatre and directed by Phillip J Morris.
Mondays will feature the Introductory Writers Group Showcase, while Wednesdays will host networking events and masterclasses led by industry professionals. The final Friday will see BORN::FREE Veranda, a poetry jam with live music and an open roof party night with DJs.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
