In relation to the artistic companies listed below, we have focused on National Portfolio Organisations as a starting point. We have tried to get a good spread of companies from around the country, not just London. We have highlighted Black British theatre, British East Asian theatre and South Asian theatre as they have the largest representation of theatrical work from the last few years. We know there will be more organisations, and more groups, who we can represent.
Researching this list has raised some interesting questions for us: what defines a diverse organisation? Some organisations have specific remits and artistic objectives embedded in their values and mission statement. For example, some are focused on presenting work by Black voices, or presenting traditional East Asian stories. Some organisations take an inclusive approach to reflect the stories of their diverse communities on stage. Some organisations have Black, Asian or ethnically diverse leaders at their helms, and others have diverse workforces (see this Arts Council England guidance on defining ‘diverse led’ organisations).
Black and Black British Theatre and Resources
- Afridiziak: Afridiziak Theatre News is a website celebrating African-Caribbean theatre
- Alt A Review: An independent print and digital publication pushing the diversity and inclusion agenda across the arts
- Bernie Grant Arts Centre: Tottenham-based arts venue developing culturally diverse artists, and championing Black artists telling their own stories
- Black Association for Arts: A network of Black writers, artists, academics, filmmakers, musicians, scientists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, theatre-makers, students and professionals who aim to elevate Black creativity through community
- British Library - Black British Theatre 1950 – 1979: Article introduces several of the most important black playwrights of the period and describes the context in which their plays were staged
- Blackstage UK: A documentary web series centering black voices in the UK Arts and Entertainment industries
- Eclipse: UK-based black-led touring theatre company
- National Theatre - Black Plays Archive: An online catalogue of the first professional production of every African, Caribbean, and Black British play produced in the U.K
- National Theatre - Black Plays 1976-2014: Google Arts & Culture online exhibit
- Raising the Bar: 100 Years of Black British Theatre and Screen: Lenny Henry presents a radio series on BBC Sounds
- Talawa Theatre: UK-based black-led touring theatre company
- Tangle: A touring theatre company championing African and Caribbean artistic excellence
- Tiata Fahodzi: The UK's leading British African heritage contemporary theatre company
- The Anti-Racist Social Club: A registered charity that works to create spaces and resources for education and open dialogue with White people and non-Black people of colour about becoming anti-racist allies
- The New Normal: A manifesto to create a safe space, free of racism, for the black artist. Created by Fuel Theatre's community of freelancers
- Utopia Theatre: A Sheffield-based company that produces cross-cultural content that enhances the value of the African community and promotes its recognition and its integration
British East Asian Theatre and Resources
- BEATS (British East Asians in Theatre and on Screen): A not-for-profit advocacy organisation, including a comprehensive listing of British East Asians working in the screen and stage industries
- Chinese Arts Now: Producing work that explores Chinese themes, stories and art forms, and work that blends Chinese and other contemporary art forms
- Exit Pursued by Panda: A collaborative theatre company championing East Asian writing, acting and directing
- Moongate Productions: committed to creating and developing projects that raise the profile of, and give free reign to, East Asian talent whilst actively challenging stereotypical portraits
- New Earth Theatre: A national touring theatre company that places British East and South East Asian (BESEA) artists and communities at the heart of all their work
- Papergang Theatre: A theatre company with the aim of improving the representation of British East / South East Asian culture across the dramatic arts primarily in UK theatre
- Red Dragonfly Productions: Bringing classic and modern stories from the East to British and European stages
South Asian Theatre and Resources
- Asian Culture Vulture: An online arts and culture magazine, founded to highlight and showcase creative work by South Asians living in the West or examine work that is relevant to them
- British South Asian Theatre Memories Oral History Project: Exploring the history of British South Asian Theatre since the 1970s
- Kali: Presenting new theatre by female writers of South Asian descent
- Rifco Theatre Company: Develops, produces and tours new plays and musicals that reflect and celebrate British Asian contemporary experiences
- South Asian Theatre in Britain: A short essay covering the early 1900s to the 1990s
- Tara Arts: Creating innovative, politically charged theatre through a South Asian lens and championing South Asian voices and artists, identifying new narratives, new ideas and new forms
Theatre and Resources for Diverse Communities
- 20 Stories High: Making theatre with working class and culturally diverse young people, emerging artists and world class professionals
Arcola Theatre: Creating trailblazing theatre for all
- Battersea Arts Centre: The world’s first Relaxed Venue, with access and inclusivity embedded across all its activities
- Belgrade Theatre Coventry: Together with the diverse communities across Coventry and the region, enriching and changing people’s lives for the better through theatre
- Beyond Face: A performance company based in Plymouth whose mission is to raise the profile and visibility of People of Colour in the Arts
- Beyond the Canon: An initiative, led by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, championing ground breaking, yet forgotten and hidden plays by culturally diverse writers
- Bush Theatre: Discovering, nurturing and producing the best new playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds
- Hackney Empire: A variety theatre for the 21st century that embraces a local and global community of artists and audiences
LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre): Bringing international theatre all over London every two years.
LIFT stands for radical empowerment and inclusion, and promotes international perspectives
- Parents and Carers in Performing Arts: Research investigating the impact of caring responsibilities on those working on-stage and off-stage
- Selina Thompson: An interdisciplinary performance company based in Birmingham
- Stage Sight*: Case studies from arts organisations working on improving off-stage representation as well as useful guides and documents
- Young Vic Theatre: Presenting high quality work at low prices for some of the most diverse and engaged audiences in London
Dance Companies
