Talawa Theatre Company will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a special showcase event at Hackney Empire on Tuesday 13 October 2026.
Staged in collaboration with the historic East London venue, which is also marking its 125th anniversary, the evening will honour the artists, productions and pioneers who have shaped Talawa’s legacy.
The one-night event will feature live music, performance, dance, poetry and reflection, offering audiences a journey through the company’s rich history.
Highlights will include excerpts from landmark productions such as The Importance of Being Earnest, King Lear, Run It Back and Play On!.
Talawa will also present material from its groundbreaking debut production The Black Jacobins (1986), one of the first major British theatre productions with an entirely Black cast.
The evening will pay tribute to Talawa’s founder and first Artistic Director Yvonne Brewster OBE, taking place one year after her passing.
Founded in 1986 by Yvonne Brewster OBE, Mona Hammond OBE, Dame Carmen Munroe and Inigo Espejel, Talawa was created to provide opportunities for Black artists who were underrepresented on major UK stages.
Forty years on, the company is recognised as a leading force in British theatre, with an Olivier Award nomination and a finalist position for The Stage Awards Producer of the Year 2026.
Talawa’s Artistic Director Michael Buffong said, “For me, and Talawa, this is more than an anniversary, it’s history in the making; one extraordinary night of theatre, culture and celebration, and we are inviting all to share this moment with us.”
Hackney Empire CEO Chris Sudworth added, “Talawa has been a pioneering force in British theatre, championing Black creative excellence for over 40 years. I had the pleasure of partnering with the company at Birmingham Hippodrome for their 2024 large-scale tour Play On; and everyone at Hackney Empire is delighted to collaborate on this extraordinary, landmark event, as part of our own 125th anniversary celebrations.”
The showcase forms the centrepiece of TALAWA 86:26, the company’s anniversary programme, celebrating its enduring impact and reaffirming its commitment to future generations of theatre-makers.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
