Bridget Minamore is a British-Ghanaian writer from south-east London. She is a poet, critic, dramaturg, and journalist, and a regular contributor to The Guardian about theatre. She was chosen as one of Speaking Volumes’ 40 Stars of Black British Literature, has read her work internationally, and is the co-lead tutor for the Roundhouse Poetry Collective. Titanic (Out-Spoken Press), her debut pamphlet of poems on modern love and loss, was published in May 2016.

Cherrelle Skeete was born and raised in Birmingham but has made London home for the past 10 years. Trained in acting and collaborative and devised theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Cherrelle’s work as an actress has been on screen, stage, radio. She is a new character in Amazon Primes Hanna season broadcasting in 2020. She has strong grassroots organising and cofounded Blacktress UK in 2017 which she now directs with Shiloh Coke. Blacktress UK is a network and support group for self identifying black womxn actors. They host meetups events, talks, workshops and in 2018 hosted the very first Blacktress season: 19 work-in- progress shows written by Black Womxn performed at the Actors Centre over 12 weeks.

Emma Dennis-Edwards is a performer and playwright of Jamaican and Trinidadian heritage. Emma has been a participant at the Royal Court, Soho, Lyric Hammersmith and Oval House’s young writers programmes and was mostly recently awarded a commission by the Old Vic as part of The Old Vic 12 Programme.

Emma’s play Funeral Flowers was commissioned by Power Play Theatre Activists in association with the Pleasance Theatre and was part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won the Scotsman’s Fringe First Award. It has since enjoyed a sold out London transfer to The Bunker, Free Word Centre and Bernie Grant Arts Centre. Emma’s play American Dream 2.0 was recently performed at the Young Vic as part of their Neighbourhood Theatre project.

Emma is currently on the BBC Studio Writer’s Academy, writing across BBC Continuing drama as well as developing her own television projects.

Jools Walker is a blogger, tv presenter and author. Her blog VeloCityGirl focuses on different aspects of cycling, including cycle-style, her own adventures on two wheels, and how to widen participation in the activity.

Jools’ blog and social media presence has evolved from being her ‘tiny corner of the internet’ to inspiring women and young girls around the world to get on the saddle and ride. Leading publication BikeBiz lists her as one of the most influential women in the UK cycling industry. The well-respected US publication Bicycling Magazine touts her as one of the 107 Cycling Digital Superstars in the world to follow. Instagram named Jools as one of the most influential female storytellers in their #MyStoryUK campaign.

Jools now finds herself talking about cycling culture, and what it’s like to be a black woman in that domain on platforms as varied as BBC Newsnight, the Design Museum, BBC Radio 4, and Southbank Centre’s WOW Festival.

Her first book ‘Back In The Frame’ which tells the story of how Jools fell in love with all things bike and her journey into cycling, was published by Little, Brown in May 2019.

Marvin Godfrey originally started in Biochemistry before making the decision to pursue a career working in a field he has always been passionate about, talent management. Marvin has spent nearly a decade working with a range of talent from high profile leading and award-winning actors to recent graduates/ up and coming young performers. Marvin has his own list spanning across Film TV and Theatre.

Mwiza Mkandawire is the Head of Finance at Artsadmin Ltd. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a masters degree in Accounting with Finance from London South Bank University. Prior to joining Artsadmin Ltd she worked at Free Form Arts Trust Ltd and various organisations in both the commercial and charity sectors in Malawi. Mwiza has excellent knowledge and understanding of arts and charity finance.

Paula Akpan is a journalist, speaker and founding director of Black Girl Festival, an arts and cultural festival celebrating black women and girls.

Ryan Calais Cameron is the winner of the 2018 Off West End Adopt A Playwright Award for his play RHAPSODY, which was produced at the Arcola in March 2018. Ryan has been shortlisted for the 2019 Alfred Fagan award.  He is an alumnus of the Royal Court writer’s programme 2017 and the Soho Young Company 2016/17. Ryan’s play QUEENS OF SHEBA won the 2018 Edinburgh Untapped Award having played to sell-out audiences at the Camden Peoples Theatre in October 2017.   Its 4 week run at Edinburgh Fringe Fest 2018 sold out, garnering 4 and 5 star reviews across the board and winning the Edinburgh Stage Award 2018. Ryan is currently on attachment with the Royal Court Theatre and has also been commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre. Ryan co-created The Tide, Talawa’s first ever show created exclusively for outdoor performance. Ryan is the Artistic Director of multi-award winning production company Nouveau Riche, who are responsible for such projects as Timbuktu, Queens of Sheba and Typical. Ryan is also a professional actor.  His work in Theatre includes  Mogadishu (Manchester Royal Exchange/Lyric Hammersmith), The West Bridge (The Royal Court).

It’s a debate that has raged for years and rages still; whether or not Rap is Poetry or Poetry, Rap. We ain’t concerned with this, we respect, cherish and are fans of both word-art-forms. We wish to share and showcase them at their meeting… Music. This is what the R.A.P Party is about. It is neither club night nor poetry reading, rave nor literary event. It feels like a lowkey house party where a few errant guests make beautiful speeches about why the Dj’s selection is the shit.

It’s what it is.

Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu is a British-Ghanaian theatre-maker hailing from South London.  He has studied at Roehampton University & Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. Directing Credits include: Timbuktu (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Sweet Like Chocolate Boy (Jack Studio & National tour), Little Baby Jesus (Orange Tree Theatre) & Beyond The Canon Showcase 2018 (RADA). Writing credits include: Sweet Like Chocolate Boy (Jack Studio & National tour), SKEEN! (Ovalhouse) & Precious (Royal Court).