Talawa Theatre Company today launches MAKE Online: an online community that exists to give Black British theatre artists ownership and agency of their careers. Created by Talawa, the UK’s primary Black-led theatre company, MAKE Online will provide a dedicated virtual space for artists at all stages of their careers to encounter each other and to change the shape of British theatre. The platform will be available to artists across the UK. There will also be a space for members of the theatre industry to join and post jobs, commissions, opportunities, castings and more.
Michael Buffong, Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company, said: “We wanted to address the ‘drop off point’ that often occurs for Black theatre makers. To sustain their careers, artists need strong pathways into to the industry through skill building opportunities, collaborative networks, peer support and access to artistic expertise.
As we continue to encourage meaningful and systemic diversity within the industry, MAKE Online will enable proactive peer to peer networking. It can be used as a project management tool, as well as having industry members directly share jobs, commissions and other opportunities on it.”
MAKE Online brings artists together – from directors and performers, to writers, makers and beyond – to cultivate relationships with their peers and the wider theatre industry. Artists will be able to register and create a profile, signpost their skills and experience, connect, contact, create and contribute to open discussions, curate and promote events and view these on a map, share resources, or create project specific or interest groups.
MAKE Online acts not only as a digital wing to the recently announced news of Talawa Theatre Company’s new hub at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, but will exist as an online extension for the Black community nationwide, beyond the company’s London headquarters.
