Bio:
malakaï (pronouns they/them) is an artist, educator and producer from pre-gentrified Hackney, London. malakaï's extensive portfolio career has seen them work actively as an artistic director, theatre director, poet, dramaturg, cultural programmer, creative producer, facilitator, creative strategist, and consultant. Led by curiosity and care, malakaï creates and interrogates through an unapologetically Afroqueer lens.
They co-founded and was Artistic Director of The S+K Project, a producing theatre company specialising in nurturing the talent of emerging Black & Asian artists, between 2014-19. S+K worked nationally to produce new writing in theatre, talent development projects, networking events and an annual cross-arts festival, engaging thousands of young people over five years. Aged 21, malakaï was appointed Associate Director at Theatre Peckham, responsible for the venue’s artistic programming, talent development and overseeing participatory community projects.
Recently, malakaï has led projects with the Royal Court, South London Gallery, UAL, Apples & Snakes, Unicorn Theatre, Mountview and Guildhall School of Music & Dance. Parallel to their work in the arts, malakaï designs and delivers bespoke, long-term anti-racism training and consultancy, predominantly for clients in the cultural and charity sectors – which have included the Albany, Young Vic and Trinity Laban Conservatoire.
A Barbican Young Poets alumnus, malakaï is currently Co-Creative Director of literary arts organisation BORN::FREE, and remains passionate about expanding the forms and reach of experimental Afro-diasporic writing. They are undertaking an MA in Black British Literature at Goldsmiths University of London.
Experience within the Industry:
Specialist:
- Acting /
- Artistic Director /
- Director (plays) /
- Dramaturg /
- Producer /
- Script Editor /
- Script Supervisor /
- Scriptwriter