Intersectionality, play, joy, and mental health are integral to the foundation of Anansi Theatre Company

Established in 2021, Anansi Theatre Company is an East Midlands based theatre company founded by Lauren Nicole Whitter specifically for women of colour to feel less alienated and secluded in creative spaces.

“Anansi was formed due to the lack of creative opportunities for women of colour during the Covid lockdown as well as the reactions from the murder of George Floyd in America. Lockdown further alienated underserved communities and we wanted to bring them together and show that they are very much a part of our community.”

Lauren studied Drama at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she fell in love with physical theatre, play and storytelling.

When she moved back to the East Midlands, she honed her craft as a facilitator, physical theatre artist, clown and poet, going on to lecture at Leicester College, Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University.

Lauren leads the creative vision and projects in Anansi Theatre. Through her lived experience of mental health and being a creative woman of colour, she is able to support conversations around wellbeing, the effects of intersectionality, and navigate the communities Anansi engages.

With a brilliant team of creative women of colour who identify within many other protected characteristics, Anansi Theatre Company is ready to change the world.

Through conversations to support and enable creative thinking, Anansi works closely with women of colour, women with ill mental health, and women from working class backgrounds for whom English may not be their first language.

“We want to live in a world where women of colour can feel safe to indulge in the freedom of creativity.”

Anansi believes that integration is part of the solution to making society safer, more diverse, accessible and inclusive which is why they aim to bring the arts to underserved communities, including those who identify as women, Global Majority, LGBTQ+, and disabled. Anansi exists to facilitate a space for these people, and others, to create, share and feel safe in doing so.

“Our mission is to provide safe spaces for underserved communities to learn through creativity. We exist to up-skill, empower and nurture new and existing talent by supporting positive wellbeing practices. By building up communities we will create a stronger, more multicultural society.”.

Thanks to National Lottery players, Anansi secured almost £10,000 funding to run empowerment sessions for girls and young women of colour in Derby and aims to give them the opportunity to learn new creative skills, support their growth for wellbeing and enhance their confidence.

“This funding will allow us to provide a safe space for this group and bring families and communities together to see what they have created after being in the programme with us. We hope that it will inspire others to seek out more artistic and cultural opportunities in Derby.”