Launched in 2019, and now in its fourth year, the BBTAs are more relevant and impactful than ever before. This year the awards are supported by National Theatre and the ceremony will take place in the The Lyttelton Theatre on Sunday 16th October.
With continued support from Danny Sapani (Actor; Black Panther, Star Wars, Killing Eve) who returns to present at the ceremony again this year. The ceremony will begin with an introduction from Clint Dyer (Deputy Artistic Director of The Royal National Theatre, Director; Othello, Ali, Get Up Stand Up)
2022 presenters include; Brenda Emmanus OBE (Television Presenter and Radio Broadcaster and Journalist), Giles Terrera (Writer and Actor; Blues for an Alabama Sky, Hamilton, Othello),
The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) is the UK’s first award show to celebrate the excellence and influence of Black performers and creatives within the UK theatre industry.
Jonathan Ajayi (Actor; Wonder Woman 1984, The Brothers Size, Noughts + Crosses),
Professor Shirley Thompson MBE (Composer, Visionary Artist, Cultural Activist and Music Educator),
Brenda Garratt-Glassman (Key figure and the first Black student at The Royal
Ballet School), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Actor; Mary Poppins Returns, Justice League, Doctor Strange),
Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE (Key figure; Former Artistic Director at The Place and Director at The Africa Centre, Soloist and Choreographer London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Freelance creative consultant),
Stephen K. Amos (Comedian, Writer and Actor; My Fair Lady, My Night with Reg),
Layton Williams (Actor; Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Bad Education, Benidorm),
Valentine Olukoga (Actor; In The Land of Saint and Sinners, Underground, Unforgotten),
Aisha Jawando (Actor; Tina Turner The Musical, Fela!, The Lion King), Ray Shell (Author, Director, Producer and Actor; Five Guys Named Moe, Starlight Express, The Bodyguard) and Cedric Neal (Actor; Back to the Future, Motown: The Musical, Chess, Finalist The Voice UK).
The BBTA Co-Founders; Solange Urdang and Omar F. Okai, will be presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to the exceptional Charles Augins.
Augins was born in Virginia, US and began his successful career performing in America before coming to London to perform in and serve as Assistant Choreographer for Bubbling Brown Sugar on the West End. As a choreographer, he created work for UK productions Twelfth Night at the Old Vic, The Fix, and Chorus Girls, as well as working with Sting, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger.
He, along with Jack Levin, established the American School for the Performing Arts on Drury Lane in London and taught ballet and jazz. In 1990, Augins and Clarke Peters created Five Guys Named Moe, for which Augins won the 1991 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. Augins returned to the US when the production was brought to Broadway and earned a Tony nomination.
We are honoured to have Charles Augins at this year’s ceremony to collect this award and to celebrate his outstanding career and impact on British theatre. Augins has inspired generations of Black artists, performers and creatives. We hope this award will also provide an opportunity for the next generation to learn from Augins.
The BBTA’s aim is to forge a sustainable platform to further progress in diversifying the UK theatre industry across all fields, to celebrate excellence, illuminate black role models in UK theatre and support access and pathways into training and employment.
The BBTAs have launched a FundRazr page to allow for public donations to support their initiative and ensure they reach these aims. Be part of this pioneering movement with the most diverse, grassroots celebration of theatre excellence the UK has to offer. FundRazr
Solange Urdang and Omar F Okai, Co-Directors of the BBTAs: ‘2022 brings an unprecedented year for the BBTAs in support from industry recognition and creative growth. The public votes have quadrupled since 2021, heralding a clear and positive bright future for the ongoing work of the Black British Theatre Awards. This year we are exceptionally excited to be holding the awards The National Theatre’
About The Black British Theatre Awards
The Black British Theatre Awards (BBTAs) was established to raise the profile of black british creatives and performers who have not only influenced the UK’s artistic legacy, but impacted on an international level. October 2019 saw the inaugural ceremony of the BBTAS, launched to coincide with Black History Month. This new addition to the British theatre calendar was held at the captivating Old Finsbury Town Hall.
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