Croydon’s best kept secret: Talawa Firsts returns for fortnight of new Black British writing

Talawa Firsts is back for its 13th year with another fortnight of groundbreaking Black British new work. 

For two weeks, world premieres, showcasing innovative new writing and performance, will take over Talawa’s HQ in Croydon all around the theme of ‘Stay Strong’.

Alongside the two double-bills of new writing, the festival also includes Talawa’s Introductory Writers’ Group showcase featuring link-up events and collaborations with other Black led arts companies including Croydon based Trybe House Theatre and BORN::FREE, who will present a night of poetry with a live house band.

David Gilbert, Talawa’s New Work Producer, said: “This year we’ve had to think about the nature of programming artists. 

“We’ve needed to be honest with ourselves about what actually will serve artists long term. And we’ve had to read the room – that artists are still creating in very difficult and unpredictable times due to losing new writing spaces and the cost of living.

“And one guiding principle was clear – it takes resilience to create. And the community/ our audience we will always desire to hear from the storyteller. There’s an interdependent beauty here. And we want to celebrate that.”

First up, There’s a Mouse in the Kitchen sees writer Cal-I Jonel join forces with director Rachael Nanyonjo in a bold new work about grief, silence, survival and the mess that lives between the lines of love. 

Shortlisted as a ‘Highly Commended Play’ for the Tony Craze Award 2023, the work will be presented as a staged reading, set in a South London kitchen. 

There’s a Mouse in the Kitchen will be performed as a double bill with Small Revolutions by Savannah Acquah directed by Kwame Owusu – a story about three generations of women in a Ghanaian family and their own small revolutions. 

Acquah creates film and theatre that platforms unheard and unacknowledged voices, blending art forms and styles. Her writing has been longlisted for the Mustapha Matura Award and this year she will be a part of a Royal Court Theatre’s writing group.

Next up, My Father, the Addict by Valerie Isaiah Sadoh, directed by Joy Nesbitt, is a gripping and emotionally charged play that explores the complex bond between a daughter and her estranged, addict father.

Told with raw honesty, sharp dialogue and flashes of dark humour, My Father, the Addict dives into themes of generational trauma, co-dependency, and the pull of legacy.

Billed on the same night will be Thicker Than Water by Temi Majekodunmi, featuring Trybe House Theatre and directed by Phillip J Morris. 

This sharp, genre-blending play explores friendship, hookup culture and Black masculinity with humour and a surreal twist. With quick-fire dialogue, Thicker Than Water captures the pressure of being young, Black and the magic that might or might not hold together. 

And that’s not all at Talawa Firsts. Mondays will see the Introductory Writers Group Showcase: a scratch night in two parts, showcasing excerpts of the plays developed by the 2025 cohort of Talawa’s Introductory Writers Group. 

Networking events and masterclasses led by industry professionals and the Talawa team will take place on Wednesdays, designed for Black artists to commune, share best practice and reignite their craft among faces old and new. 

The final Friday will host BORN::FREE Veranda, a poetry jam with live music and an open roof party night with DJs, brought to you by leaders in the spoken word and club scenes of the city. 

Become a part of Croydon’s best kept secret; you don’t want to miss Talawa Firsts 2025. For tickets visit: https://www.talawa.com/articles/talawa-firsts-page

Pictured top: Talawa Firsts is back for its 13th year with another fortnight of groundbreaking Black British new work (Picture: Talawa Firsts)