Chaired by Dr Lynette Goddard (Reader in Black Theatre and Performance)

Kwame Kwei-Armah is a British actor, playwright, and director. He first came to wide public prominence playing Finlay Newton in Casualty for five years but in parallel was developing a playwriting career with well-received plays at the Bristol Old Vic and the Belgrade, Coventry. His breakthrough play was Elmina’s Kitchen which premiered at the National Theatre in 2003, won the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright, and transferred to the Garrick Theatre, making him only the second black playwright to have a play in the West End. Fix Up (2004) and Statement of Regret (2007) followed, also at the National Theatre, before he changed direction and country, becoming a highly-successful Artistic Director of Centre Stage in Baltimore in 2011, a role that he left early this year to take over the leadership of the Young Vic from David Lan. Kwei-Armah is also a well-respected broadcaster and commentator and he was awarded an OBE in 2012 for services to Drama.

At this event in the Caryl Churchill Theatre, Kwei-Armah spoke about his life and career, and discussed his recently-opened production of Twelfth Night at the Young Vic which he co-directed with Oskar Eustis. 

If you have any questions about the Centre for Contemporary British Theatre and/or this event, please contact Chris Megson (chris.megson@rhul.ac.uk).

Kwame Kwei-Armah and Dr Lynette Goddard