Diversity on stage: Black Boys Theatre Club
A report by the Black British Theatre Awards showed that 71% of respondents reported experiencing racial bias in the industry, with 53.3% experiencing it while applying for jobs. Despite an increase of Black theatre professionals, it seems the industry isn’t as equal as it should be.
These figures make it clear ethnic minorities continue to face some barriers when breaking into the industry.
In response to this ongoing disparity, comedian Munya Chawawa launched a community-led project Black Boys Theatre Club (BBTC) aimed at encouraging young black males to get involved in theatre and creative arts.
Other professionals involved with the project include Jordan Stephens, Kedar William-Stirling, Araloyin Oshunremi, Arizona Bakare, and Mohamed Elsande.
BBTC allows 15- and 16-year-olds to watch major theatre productions, connect with creatives and enjoy behind-the-scenes access to huge theatres in London such as The National Theatre.
Head of People and Culture at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, Scarlet Marie Davey Morgan shared why diversity on stage matters: “Every person who steps into the light of a stage brings a universe with them. Their culture, their struggles, their triumphs, their humours, their memories.” Adding “these are the ingredients of true storytelling.”
Following each trip, Munya and the group talk over a Nando’s and reflect on the play they’ve watched and what it means to them.
The comedian told The Standard: “black men consistently dazzle us on stage and on screen, but for young black boys – the bridge between that initial creative spark and its supernova potential isn’t always easy or encouraged.”
Munya Chawawa faced his own struggles entering the industry, he began as a researcher and producer at 4Music where he’d sometimes write jokes for presenters. He aspired to be at the forefront as a TV presenter and was told by agents he’d need a bigger social media following to do so.
His first viral moment was in 2018, where he created a video response to Jamie Oliver’s jerk rice. The parody chef ‘Jonny Oliver’ immediately resonated with viewers.
Munya finally broke online around the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown as more people were searching for light-hearted content online. His videos, which provided comical takes on political scandals and current affairs, quickly became a viral sensation.
He shared the purpose is to “inspire young black men to engage with and participate in theatre, whether it’s feeling encouraged to watch a play, or take up acting themselves.”
Slowly but surely, the industry is rewriting its script.