Talawa Firsts returns with exciting new writing from the hottest Black artists of 2025.
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’. The 2025 programme aims to feature work that highlights the brilliance and resilience of Black British artists. Alongside the two double-bills of new writing, the festival also includes Talawa’s prestigious Introductory Writers' Group showcase, an array of masterclasses and link-up events plus collaborations with other Black led arts companies including Croydon based Trybe House Theatre and BORN::FREE, who will be presenting a night of amazing poetry with a live house band brought to you by the Veranda experience.
There’s a Mouse in the Kitchen is a bold new work about grief, silence, survival and the mess that lives between the lines of love; it was shortlisted as a ‘Highly Commended Play’ for the Tony Craze Award 2023. It is performed as a double bill with Small Revolutions by Savannah Acquah. This is a story about three generations of women in a Ghanaian family and their own small revolutions.
My Father, the Addict by Valerie Isaiah Sadoh is a gripping and emotionally charged play that explores the complex bond between a daughter and her estranged, addict father.
Seen on the same night will be Thicker Than Water by Temi Majekodunmi. This sharp, genre-blending play explores friendship, hookup culture and Black masculinity with humour, heart and a surreal twist. It captures the pressure of being young, Black and the magic that might or might not hold us 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. Get ready to click your fingers, cut some shapes and vibe out on the closing night of this amazing festival.
Listings
Talawa Firsts 2025: Monday 7th July – Friday 18th July
Talawa HQ, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG.
Further Information: Talawa Firsts - Talawa