Exhibition
The Music is Black: A British Story
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Black Joy Day TALAWA: The Mighty Theatre Company
TALAWA Theatre Company celebrates its 40th anniversary as the ‘gutsy and strong’ Black-led theatre company that champions excellence, nurtures talent, and tells inspirational stories reflecting African and Caribbean heritage through the theatre arts.
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Tickets available from 08.00 on Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Join us to learn more about TALAWA, founded in 1986 by film, TV and theatre legends Yvonne Brewster OBE, Dame Carmen Munroe OBE, Mona Hammond OBE and Inigo Espejel, in response to the lack of creative opportunities and the marginalisation of Black actors and performers.
Meet V&A curators and archivists responsible for collecting, preserving and caring for the comprehensive archive of Talawa Theatre Company’s work, and discover more about the company’s remarkable 40-year history.
You will have special up-close access to key items from productions, including documents, posters, photographs, and audio-visual recordings, offering a rare opportunity to explore TALAWA’s creative legacy through its archive.
Beverages and light refreshments can be purchased from the V&A Storehouse E5 Bakehouse Café. A supermarket offering meal deals is nearby, or please feel free to bring a packed lunch.
‘Joy is an act of resistance………’ Poet Toi Derricotte.
Black joy is a force. It lifts us through the hardest times and gives us the courage to speak with one voice. In its simplicity, it is radical because choosing joy is an act of resistance and resilience. Through Black joy, we honour our history, our culture and our community. We come together to share, to listen and to support one another, especially in spaces that are perceived as not always feeling welcoming. Black joy is not just a feeling. It is emotional well-being. It regenerates the soul.
Janet Browne, Senior Producer, Africa and Diaspora
Janet Browne, Senior Producer, Africa and Diaspora
This event celebrates the 40th anniversary of Talawa Theatre Company, and is presented in collaboration with the Black Gallery Visitor Network (UK).
A schedule for the day will be available shortly.
Header image: The Dragon Can't Dance written by Earl Lovelace, Talawa Theatre Company.