Tiata Fahodzi (ti∙a∙ta fa∙hoon∙zi) – meaning "theatre of the

emancipated Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchis ...

" – is a British African theatre company founded in 1997 by

Femi Elufowoju Jr Oluwafemi Elufowoju Jr. (; ; born 31 October 1962) is a British born, Nigerian raised performance practitioner working across the creative industries After Alton Kumalo's Temba Theatre Company, he is the second theatre director of African desc ...

. It receives funding as a National Portfolio Organisation of the

Arts Council England Arts Council England is an arm's length non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is also a registered charity. It was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three s ...

. Previous artistic directors include

(1997–2010) and Lucian Msamati (2010–2014). Natalie Ibu became the company's third artistic director in 2014. In March 2021, Chinonyerem Odimba became the current artistic director as the company prepared for its 25th anniversary in 2022. Aimed at an all-inclusive British audience, the company's mission statement is to challenge, reflect and explore the experience of the changing

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...

in contemporary Britain through the medium of engaging, entertaining, world-class professional theatre.

Emerging artists

Fahodzi is noted for showcasing new British African talent with many artists gaining their first professional experiences with the company before achieving success at the national and international level. These artists include

Bola Agbaje Bola Agbaje is a British-born playwright of Nigerian origin.

, who is now a

Laurence Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known as ...

winning

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

and

Adetomiwa Edun Babatunde Adetomiwa Stafford "Tomiwa" Edun, (born 1985)Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage 2003, vol. 3, p. 3063Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 1995, ed. Patrick Montague-Smith, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, p. 986 is a Nigerian actor. He is ...

, now internationally known as an actor, most notably as Sir Elyan in the TV show ''

Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...

''.

Residency

In 2015 Tiata Fahodzi became a resident company at

Watford Palace Theatre Watford Palace Theatre, opened in 1908, is an Edwardian Grade II listed building in Watford, Hertfordshire. The 600-seat theatre on Clarendon Road was refurbished in 2004. It houses its own rehearsal room, wardrobe, cafe and bar. History The ...

, gaining an operational base for the first time in its history.

References

* Hutchinson, Shaun Ajamu (17 November 2010).
REVIEW: BLUE/ORANGE"
''The New Black Magazine''. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

External links

Tiata Fahodzi official website
* The archive of Tiata Fahodzi is held by th
Victoria and Albert Museum
Theatre and Performance Department. {{Authority control Theatre companies in the United Kingdom