Established in 2021

Anansi Theatre Company was founded by Artist and Artistic Director Lauren Nicole Whitter with a vision to create a theatre company that addresses key issues in our culture and society today. Anansi is a company run by and for women of colour, providing a safe space for them to create, share, and thrive. Lauren is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and aims to make this vision accessible to everyone, from hard-to-reach communities to young people.

Our Mission

We want to live in a world where women of colour can feel safe to indulge in the freedom of creativity. Our mission is to provide safe spaces for marginalised 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.

Our Values

• Safety: Historically, women of colour have felt unwelcome and unsafe in many spaces. This is why we not only plan for the physical safety of those who work with Anansi Theatre Company but also their mental health. This is done by having a Mental Health and Wellbeing Champion present and following Anansi’s policies and procedures in keeping people safe.

• Compassion: We lead by compassion by having conversations and finding understanding. We do this so that anyone who works with Anansi feels heard and is shown respect.

• Opportunity: We want to create the next generation of women of colour artists. We do this by providing youth groups, workshops for adults and training and development opportunities

"In just 2 years, Anansi Theatre Company provides vital support that has historically been underfunded or is completely missing from parts of our society. Lauren is a force - whose tireless energy, leadership and wisdom has achieved so much in such a short space of time. The future is looking bright for Anansi Theatre Company."

- Alice Massey, Previous Executive Producer, Unlimited Theatre

What We Stand For

For us, creating a space specifically for women of colour means offering a supportive environment for those who have historically been marginalised. We resonate with this definition:

"Women of colour is a term used to describe women of racial, ethnic, and religious minority backgrounds; women who are not white; or women who experience racism. This includes all self-identifying women, and is deliberately inclusive of members of non-binary and transgender communities."

A Space for Everyone to Learn and Connect

Think of it like a menu: just because a dish is made for a particular dietary choice doesn’t mean others can’t enjoy it too. While Anansi Theatre’s work is focused on specific communities, we invite everyone to engage, connect, and learn from our stories.