‘If we have a mini chat about Black and Brown people’s lived experience, is that a Black Lives Natter?’
Eljai Morais 23rd June 2020
Black Lives Natter CIC
Community. Creativity. Conversation.
Black Lives Natter is a London-based community arts organisation dedicated amplifying Black & Global Majority voices, nurturing creativity, creating safe spaces and providing free and low-cost opportunities and events. We centre survivors, neurodiverse and queer communities, older adults, disabled individuals, and others facing similar barriers in accessing the arts, whether economic, practical, or connected to identity and lived experience.
We believe communities thrive when the people within them are seen, heard, and supported. Through shared stories, poetry, theatre, and creative expression we aim to heal, document, and celebrate lived experiences while creating safe, non-judgmental spaces that increase access, awareness, inclusion, and engagement. All our regular events and activities take place online and at Theatre Deli, where we are a Resident Company.
Black Lives Natter: a space to celebrate
Natter
verb (used without object)
to talk incessantly; chatter.
noun
a conversation; chat.
Photo by Eljai Morais‘What does it mean to be Black and British?
Cassianne “Caxxianne” Lawrence is a Jamaican-born, Cayman Islands-raised multidisciplinary artist based between Berlin and London. Working across music, poetry, radio, and event curation, she blends elements of alternative hip-hop with house and classical instrumentation to create a sound that is distinctly her own
Jo is an engaging street poet, writer, actress and digital online movie reviewer and hosts The Soothing Session (Derby Sound Community Radio Online). She is a member of Derby Sketchingclub and is learning watercolour techniques.
The SpeakEasy Programme
The SpeakEasy programme aligns multiple Black & Global Majority voices in unison to celebrate, community joy, empowerment, and creativity through - SpeakEasy Po’JaM a bi-monthly music and spoken word open mic SpeakEasy Page-to-Stage writing workshops, SpeakEasy Co’LaB social and creative drop-in, and SpeakEasy Co’LaB LiVE a monthly one-hour open mic, all which nurture and amplify Black and Global Majority voices. SpeakEasy Saturdays bring all the strands together in a full-day in-person programme at Theatre Deli, including Page-to-Stage, Co’LaB, and our open-mic Co’LaB LiVE.
SpeakEasy
The SpeakEasy Programme is Black Lives Natter’s creative programme, nurturing and showcasing Black and Global Majority voices through writing, music, and spoken word. It consists of three key strands, each offering unique opportunities to create, perform, and connect:
SpeakEasy Page-to-Stage
SpeakEasy Page-to-Stage – monthly writing workshops, offered online and in-person at Theatre Deli, that guide participants from writing to performance. Sessions explore storytelling, monologues, spoken word, and poetry.
Page-to-Stage Mono-Scratched is a monologue showcase opportunity open to Black and Black mixed writers as part of Black History Month UK.
SpeakEasy Po’JaM
is a bi-monthly music and spoken word open-mic night at Theatre Deli Cafe/Bar, inviting Black and Global Majority musicians, singer-songwriters, and spoken word artists to share their work. Hosted by Eljai Morais with Resident Po’JaM Artists Stephane Harivelo, Josh Olusanya, and Sizterly Love, Po’JaM welcomes all artists —from beginners to sages.
SpeakEasy Co’LaB
is a free monthly drop-in community for Black and Global Majority creatives at Theatre Deli london, a space to collaborate, network, skill swap, and share work. On the first Saturday of every month as part of SpeakEasy Saturday at Theatre Deli London from 3pm - 5pm.
SpeakEasy Co’LaB LiVE
is a one-hour live open-mic, takes place as part of Co’LaB during SpeakEasy Saturday, giving artists a supportive space to showcase music, poetry, and spoken word.
SpeakEasy Saturday
brings all these strands together in a full-day, in-person programme at Theatre Deli, including Page-to-Stage, Co’LaB, and our one hour open-mic Co’LaB LiVE.
Stephane Harivelo Cruising (Smokey Robinson)
Sizterly Love Spiritually Inclined
SpeakEasy Mono-Scratched
A writing and performance opportunity for Black and Black-mixed performers.
Six performers.
Six one-act monologues.
One community showcase.
Key Dates
Readings & Rehearsals: 10th, 17th & 21st October 2026 (Online & Theatre Deli)
Performance: 22nd October 2026 – Theatre Deli, Studio 12
Submission Deadline: 31st August 2026
Notifications: All applicants will be contacted in the first week of September
Submit Your Monologue
Monologues must be original and no longer than 15 minutes. Please only apply if you can commit to all rehearsal and performance dates. Due to limited places, six writer/performers will be selected for this showcase. All applicants will be notified of the outcome.
Submit your monologue below we look forward to reading them.
‘The fact that the question is even asked, the fact that black excellence in a particular field needs ‘explaining’, tells its own story.’
Akala - Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire
BLN Pop-Up Bookshop
What is Black British Culture?
BLACK JOY PHOTO BY DIENSEN PAMBEN
‘My creativity can be traced back to my heritage, to the skin colour that defined how I was perceived. But, like my ancestors, I wouldn’t accept defeat...’
Bernadine Evaristo
Black Lives Natter. Black voices being heard.
Black Lives Natter CIC: Black & Global Majority Lived Experience Survey
(Arts Venues, Cultural Institutions & Public Spaces)
Black Lives Natter CIC invites Black and Global Majority individuals based in the UK to take part in an anonymous survey exploring lived experiences of racism, discrimination or exclusion — in arts venues, cultural institutions, or public spaces.
This work is part of our wider commitment to cultural care, creativity and justice. Your story will help:
Shape our Anti-Racism Front-of-House Training
Inform a public report grounded in anonymous contributions
Support collective calls for safety, accountability and radical change in the arts
Whether you’ve experienced this as an audience member, artist, collaborator, staff member, visitor or volunteer — or even if you haven’t — we welcome your reflections on what a safe space means to you.
Black Women’s Wellness
What if there was a centre of excellence focused on giving Black Women advice and guidance on how to improve their health and well-being? Let’s start with the ‘Black Women’s Wellness’ podcast, a one-stop shop for information, advice, community and support.
DONATE CAMPAIGN
You can support us in many ways:
Donate your time & skills — help as a pop-up bookshop assistant, with admin, finance, stage management, tech (sound & lighting), production, photography & videography, or box office.
Donate materials — books by Black & Global Majority authors, fabric, sewing supplies, art materials, tech, or equipment for our Pop-up Bookshop and our Community Quilt: The Fabric of Our Existence.
Donate money — support our workshops, open-mics, bookshop, quilt project, and the creation of a microspace and community hub.
Other ways to support — attend our events, follow us on social media, like and share our posts, give feedback on shows, or join our mailing list.
Together, we build a thriving creative community rooted in respect, kindness, and cultural care. More details on our Community page.
DONATE CAMPAIGN Black Lives Natter CIC