Dilemmas aplenty: Susan Aderin (Mama) and Yetunde Oduwole (Sis Ronke). Picture by Ade Omoloja Play: Pandora’s Box Theatre: Arcola Tent Playwright: Ade Solanke Review by Andrea Enisuoh When Pandora’s Box was first showcased by African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi, playwright Ade Solanke was hailed as a new “enjoyable female presence” in British theatre. Her exploration… Continue reading Pandora’s Box

This quiz is the brainchild of young people participating on the Words of Colour Productions and Hackney Museum Stories of the World Youth Communications Project. Part of the Cultural Olympiad, the Hackney History Youth Quiz will pit teams of young people, aged 16-19, against each other in a battle of historical wits over three rounds… Continue reading Hackney History Youth Quiz 2012

Women and the Twittersphere are hitting the headlines – for all the wrong reasons. According to the Independent’s Twitter 100 list only 18 of the top Tweeters are women. Media campaigners are calling on broadcasters to sign a pledge to ensure that 30 per cent of guest pundits are female – and not just when… Continue reading Have women got Twitter clout? A Words of Colour panel debate

Brothers in arms? Lucian Msamati (Kayode), Pamela Nomvete (Mama), Ashley Zhangazha (Kunle). Picture by Alastair Muir Play: Belong Theatre: Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Upstairs Playwright: Bola Agbaje Review by Joy Francis Belong, Bola Agbaje’s latest play, is a far cry from her Olivier Award winning debut Gone Too Far! set on a Peckham estate. Pigeonholed… Continue reading Belong

Strained love: Ben Miles (Kenneth) and Victoria Hamilton (Sandra). Picture by Johan Persson Play: Love Love Love Theatre: Royal Court Jerwood Theatre Downstairs Playwright: Mark Bartlett Review by Julie Tomlin In Love Love Love Mike Bartlett turns a critical eye on the lives and legacy of the Baby Boomer generation.

Picture by Stroinski Despite the popularity of social media among women and the growing number of female bloggers, it appears that abusing high profile women in the Twittersphere is becoming a national pastime. Julie Tomlin reflects on the impact of the Independent’s Twitter 100 list which only features 18 women, and asks what needs to… Continue reading Women under fire

Event: Monologue Slam UK Venue: Rich Mix Price: £10; free for actors to compete via audition Review by Mesha McNeil Monologue Slam UK, a monthly event, takes place at Rich Mix in the heart of east London. The capacity audience, which includes industry professionals, spills over into the upstairs gallery to watch 20 aspiring actors… Continue reading Monologue Slam UK

Editor: Joanne Griffith Price: $16.95 Publisher: City Lights Books Review by Bengono Bessala In her new book, British-born and LA-based journalist Joanne Griffith uses interviews with renowned African-American journalists, activists and educators to look at the effect the election of Barack Obama has had on Black America.

Gary Younge is a fan of C.L.R. James as a writer and intellectual. Picture by Sean Pollock Speaker: Gary Younge Venue: Dalston C.L.R. James Library Review by Joy Francis The Guardian’s respected columnist and writer Gary Younge, now based in Chicago, always attracts a packed audience when in England. His inaugural lecture in Hackney, London,… Continue reading C.L.R. James inaugural lecture

Nick Makoha describes his poetry as “weird”. The Ugandan-born, London-based poet has been honing his craft for nearly 12 years. Makoha is one of 10 new poets selected for Spread the Word’s Complete Works development programme, which led to the Ten Anthology (2010). He recently toured his one man show My Father & Other Superheroes… Continue reading Interview with Nick Makoha